5 Unmissable Adventures When You’ve Exhausted Diving In Aqaba

Diving in Aqaba has been growing in popularity, and the corals themselves are currently in excellent condition. Furthermore, the seafloor contours and the gulf where most of the dive sites are located offers a great range of dive sites suitable for experts and beginners alike.

Nevertheless, despite the depth of diving opportunities, every diver needs a day off the reef or something fun to do once all the dives have been exhausted.

Here’s my list of unmissable Jordan day trips to take from Aqaba:

1. Iconic Petra

If you’re in Jordan you can hardly miss out on a visit to iconic Petra. Voted by the public to be one of the modern 7 wonders of the world, the World Heritage Site was the trading hub of the Nabataean civilisation which controlled the region from 168 BCE to 106 CE.

Striking facades have been carved into the sandstone mountains, and there are remains of mosques, churches and pagan worship temples at the site. 

The walk through the narrow canyon to see The famous Treasury is a truly unmissable experience.

You can visit Petra in one day from Aqaba. I recommend renting a car for an easy well-signposted 1.5-2 hour drive each way. Or you can use one of the many companies based in Aqaba running day tours to the site. 

Petra is huge so if you can manage to spend one night in Petra then a two day, one night visit from Aqaba is also an excellent option and you’ll be able to see much more of the massive site.

2. Float in The Dead Sea

No-one who’s in Jordan should miss the opportunity to try the bizarre experience of floating effortlessly in the salty Dead Sea waters. 

You can swim anywhere in the Dead Sea, but if you want to enjoy a beach with some facilities such as showers then the most southerly and closest to Aqaba is the luxury O-Beach. This is just over 3 hours of driving each way. With an early start and late finish, you can do this as a day trip from Aqaba. If you prefer a simpler experience then see #5 for a slightly closer alternative, but this option would require an overnight stay to access the Dead Sea.

Jordan has three main north-south roads. One is the ‘fast’ highway from Amman to Aqaba the other is the central and winding Kings Highway, and the last hugs the west border of Jordan along the Dead Sea and down to Aqaba. You can rent a car and use this road to get to the Dead Sea and appreciate the beautiful landscapes along the way. The drive is almost as special as the swim in the Dead Sea itself.

3. Wonderous Wadi Rum

Adjectives aplenty have been used to describe Wadi Rum. The soaring gnarly cliffs, rolling sand dunes of interweaving red and white sand have the knack of taking visitors breath away.

You can get to Wadi Rum easily from Aqaba with a rental car and an easy 1-hour drive. Then you can find a guide ad-hoc on arrival, or book at the Visitor Center choosing a tour from their set menu. Or you can also book an all in one tour from Aqaba which includes transport to and from the protected area

If you rent a car, I recommend spending some time to find a local guide online and booking a tour in advance with them. Most local operations will also have a Bedouin camp, so you could turn your day out into a one day tour with an overnight stay (which works better for their business model too). The overnight stay in Wadi Rum is often a highlight for people visiting Jordan. There is something special and enchanting about the atmosphere of the desert at night. Think views to the milky way framed by the dramatic shapes of the sandstone mountains, fires and Bedouin-style sing-songs.

Most people with only one day to explore will take a Jeep tour. Most Jeep tours include a range of different places of interest but really these stopping points are a device to get you around and through the landscape, and it is the desert landscape itself that is the main site.

4. Shopping trip in Eilat

Once the pandemic is over and Israel opens up again, a trip to Eilat, Israel is possible from Aqaba. You can take advantage of the VAT-free brand-name shopping and treat yourself to a fancy spa day.

Eilat can be seen from Aqaba, and the border-crossing is usually very easy to navigate. If you’re visiting on a holiday (Jewish or Muslim) get there early because the border can get busy with long queues or be closed completely.

If you’re planning to visit Saudi Arabia for their upcoming grand-opening then this day trip is not recommended. Once you’ve got the Israeli stamp in your passport then you’ll have to get a new passport before you can visit Saudi.

5. Wadi Mujib Visitor Center

This is almost the farthest afield place I’m suggesting for a day trip from Aqaba, but again, it can be combined with an overnight thus making a 1.5/2 day trip. The drive is about 3 hours or just under. You can get there with a driver, or rent a car and drive yourself. The route is not difficult to navigate.

The dramatic Wadi Mujib reserve stretches from the Dead Sea and East up into the mountains. The narrow canyons host the only permanently flowing streams/ watercourses in Jordan. 

Apart from winter, when the hikes close, you can enjoy an adventurous 2-5 hour wet canyon hike in the reserve. There is an easy trail and a more challenging trail to choose from. Make sure to book your hike with Wild Jordan in advance, don’t just show up.

The Visitor Center is found on the Dead Sea road and most of the hikes you can do in the reserve start from there.

If you want to stay overnight give the Wadi Mujib cabins run by Wild Jordan a try. Located on the shore of the Dead Sea (with private access to swim) you can combine Wadi Mujib and the Dead Sea into one trip. The cabins aren’t very well-known so there’s a good chance you’ll have the place to yourself, especially mid-week.

All the highlights in easy reach

While many Jordan sites are in the north of the country, Aqaba is well-positioned in the South with easy access to the most popular and significant sites the country has on offer. Namely Petra, The Dead Sea and Wadi Rum.

This means if you want a non-diving adventure on your diving holiday, you are within reach of the best Jordan has to offer. Win, win if you ask me.