What You Need to Know About Solo Travel to Jordan

I spent about 10 days traveling solo in Jordan (as a female) and want to share my experiences to hopefully help (and encourage) any other solo travelers or solo travel curious explorers to try it too!

Jordan is a middle eastern country that has managed to stay out of conflicts despite its location in the middle of many countries that sadly have not. It’s very progressive for the Middle East, is constantly ranked among the safest countries in the area, and has kind, hospitable people and incredible landscapes, culture, and history.

Here I will detail my experiences as a solo female traveling in Jordan. I arrived in Jordan on the ferry from Nuweibaa, Egypt, and traveled up the country solo until I reached Amman. I visited Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra, the Dead Sea, Amman, and Jerash on a day trip.

I took a variety of transports from organized transfers, public busses, a car with new friends I met while traveling, and ubers (in Amman). I stayed in a variety of accommodations, but mostly cheaper private rooms in hostels/budget hotels. You can check where I stayed in my Jordan Itinerary or see my Jordan playlist on tiktok (@kimmconn) for tips.

Solo Travel Safety in Jordan

I cannot honestly say I ever felt unsafe in Jordan apart from ONE time when I was arriving and some taxi driver tried to pretend he was my transfer, which I will talk more about later.

But even through spending time solo with bedouins in Petra, walking all around Petra and Amman alone, and taking public transport many times, I was more than welcomed in this country and felt safer than ever – even more than I would have back in the US.

Tips for Solo Travel to Jordan

Here are some things to know about solo female travel in Jordan from my experience and research!

Organize Private Transfers Ahead of time When You Can

One of the best ways to feel safe as a solo traveler in Jordan is to know that your private ride is coming for you. I love to organize private transfers through either a hotel I am staying at OR online on Viator (or similar) so I know that this driver has a loyalty to the hotel or booking platform and I can trust them.

I organized my transfer from Aqaba to Wadi Rum through my camp at Wadi Rum, and they were professional and respectful and I even had them drive me again.

BUT – Make Sure you get the Right Transfer

The scariest thing that happened to me in Jordan was someone trying to pretend to be my transfer driver to get a cab fare. Taxi drivers may be overwhelming and compete for your business even if you organized your own transfer.

A taxi driver came up to me and said ‘your transfer to Wadi Rum?’ I made the mistake of saying ‘Are you Khaled? (my driver’s name)’ and he said ‘yes.’ so I started to trust this random driver. Eventually, I learned that he was NOT Khaled when I asked a few more questions, but not until he had tried to put my bag in his trunk already!

I have learned that next time I should say ‘what is your name’ and see if he says the right name. You should too! Always ask questions.

Jordanians are Generally SO Hospitable and Respectful

I was WOW’ed by the kindness and hospitality of many Jordanians all over the country. I thought Egypt was incredible hospitality-wise but Jordan took it to another level. People constantly helped me on the street, made sure I made it to the right bus, or simply wanted to chat in a non-weird way – even the border security walked me to the exit of the ferry building.

Be Careful While Driving

If you rent a car, be sure to drive carefully as one of the biggest causes of harm in Jordan is traffic accidents. Renting a car is a great way to get around, and this is how I got from Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea to Petra (with some new friends I met at my Wadi Rum Camp) but just make sure to be EXTRA vigilant.

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Friends

This is more of a general solo travel tip than a Jordan solo travel tip, but in Jordan there are MANY kind souls and other travelers looking to explore just like you. Make sure to spend some time in the common rooms of your camps, hostels, or hotels, chat with people, and meet locals too. Jordan is a great country for that.

If I didn’t stay a bit longer by the fire in my camp’s common room I wouldn’t have met two lovely Greek friends who offered me space in their car for the next day’s adventure. I still keep in touch with them today!

Be Wary of Border Areas

Jordan does have a few slightly iffy border areas you should probably steer clear from – with Iraq, Syria, and Israel/Palestine (although many cross this border too and the Dead Dea area is fine). Just be vigilant of these, although you will likely never go near any borders while visiting the main tourist destinations that are far from any border.

Jordan is Conservative, but Progressive

Jordan is one of the most progressive middle eastern countries with a great track record for respect for women. Jordan is home to one of the highest numbers of highly educated women and has a constitution protecting their rights to equality. That being said, many parts of Jordan do observe more traditional gender roles or gender separation (especially in some bedouin communities) and there are cases the equal rights are not fully exercised.

So while it can be considered conservative in many ways, it is also progressive in many ways as well, which you will surely notice here. Be sure to be respectful of the culture, especially if visiting more remote communities and bedouin camps.

Dress More Conservatively in Jordan

You should dress more conservatively in Jordan to respect the cultural and religious standards upheld throughout the country. While they may be unwritten or unspoken, it is polite to cover up more in this country. And by cover up, I mean you can avoid unwanted attention by covering at least to your knees and elbows without skin showing otherwise. Scarves and cardigans can help with this – always have one on hand!

Take Ubers in Amman (Or Make Sure Taxis Use the Meter)

Amman has Uber, so this is the BEST way to make sure you do not get overcharged for any journeys. If you do need to take a taxi from a bus station or otherwise, make sure they are accredited taxis and that they use the meter. If they won’t use uber’s price to come up with a price to negotiate from.

Beware of Petty Theft + Scams (and Check Prices Ahead of Time)

The biggest safety issue in Jordan is honestly quite small: petty theft and scams. In some busy areas pickpockets and thieves may be at work, so keep your belongings close and zipped. Scams in Jordan mostly consist of overcharging for items/tours OR charging tourists for something that should be free.

If you can, try and check up on prices of certain tours, items, or journeys online so you have something to compare with prices you are being quoted (such as the Wadi Rum tour, uber/taxi journeys, Petra Tours, Jerash Tours, souvenir items, and more).

Public Transportation is Safe

Public transportation in Jordan is one of the cheapest ways to get around the country! Make sure you know you’re route beforehand and how you will get to/from your hotel from the bus station, and you can save loads of money by taking public transport. I took a public bus from Petra to Amman (the staff at my hotel helped me figure out which one) and from Amman to Jerash and back.

If you are at the bus station are unsure which one to get on, simply ask people around you. I tend to walk up to the bus and ask people on it, “Amman?” (or whichever destination you are going to) and see if they nod and say yes (and this helps with language barriers also). Make sure to ask the bus driver to confirm when they arrive. Sitting at the front helps as you can ask the driver the name of your stop and they will be able to tell you when you reach it. Follow along on Google maps as you go.

Touristy Places are Safest to Be Around (if You Stay Vigilant with Your Belongings)

Touristy places are, of course, always a safe bet for tourists. These are the safest places to walk around solo! These are also the places to be the most vigilant about scams and pick pocketing, but if you keep your belongings safe and don’t pay for anything, you will be fine.

Know About (and Avoid) the Petra Love/Romance Scam

The biggest scam in Petra, to my disbelief, is actually a love scam run by bedouins. Some bedouins may use their charm to get women to fall in love with them and keep in contact with them after their trip.

I have read about women agreeing to trips with bedouins or to sleep with them in their cave. They are exceptionally charming and may say anything to get you to fall in love with them – some might ‘profess their love’ to you in Petra, but of course, it’s not real and you should not fall for any of this. They may also tell you about ‘some horrible thing’ that happened to a family member to get you to feel bad for them which is also not true.

These love scams consist of forming a relationship with one of the men at Petra, staying in contact with them for months, forming a stronger bond, and eventually succumbing to them asking you to send them money for something that has happened or even try to get a visa to your country. Never send anyone money. Check out ‘Shakira the Donkey’ on Instagram to read about other women experiences and remain aware.

But Dont Be Afraid of Befriending Bedouins in Petra

Despite all this, many of the Petra Bedouins are kind and hospitable people. I had a great experience meeting and chatting with lots of them and didn’t experience any love scam attempts. I made it known straight away that I had a boyfriend and did not act in any romantic way, and they respected me.

Follow your gut and try and make sure that other tourists are around for anything you do with them – whether they invite you to dinner, to see their family cave, or on a tour and know how you are getting back after. Agree on a price beforehand and make sure you make it known you won’t pay a cent extra.

Don’t Pay Money to go to Any Viewpoint in Petra

This is one of the biggest ways locals try and squeeze money out of you in Petra. None of the viewpoints that are accessible via trails on the Petra map cost money to get to. You can sometimes tip a few JOD for a cup of tea or a photo if you want to. So don’t pay anyone large sums to be taken anywhere unless you want a guide, and if so, agree on a reasonable price that you have confirmed beforehand (5-15JOD should be a maximum for anything).

Where to Travel Solo in Jordan:

Here are the best places for solo female travel in Jordan:

• Aqaba (bigger city and easier to walk around or head to the beach)
• Petra (easy to walk around solo and follow the map, lots of tourists around)
• Wadi Rum (choose a camp and organize tours and rides through it, meet people)
• Dead Sea (the Dead Sea resort area is touristy and easy to pay a fee for a busy beach club)
• Amman (the city is busy and also touristy with helpful locals and plenty to do)
• Jerash (Jerash is easily reachable, touristy, and easy to walk around solo)

If you Are Unsure, Book a Group Tour for Extra Safety in Solo Travel to Jordan

If you are a bit wary of solo female travel in Jordan, there are lots of group tours that will take you to all the best spots with a group and guide built in, and therefore all the extra safety measures you could need. Many group tour companies are very solo travel friendly and will have other solo travelers you can meet.

I recommend the Jordan Discovery Tour with Intrepid Travel for solo travel in Jordan. Intrepid Travel is a globally renowned brand and has crafted a great itinerary for a good price and fantastic inclusions for about a week in Jordan (and you need at LEAST a week in this country). This will help so much with peace of mind and you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Or, Join Solo Travel Networks to Meet People

If you want to do your own thing but still be open to meeting other travelers, join solo travel networks and forums to see if others are traveling at the same time.

If you stay in Hostels, Hostelworld now has a ‘chat’ feature where you can chat in a group with other travelers at your hostel or in your destination at the same time.

You can also check out the best apps for solo female travelers for your needs or join GAFFL to find travel buddies looking at solo travel to Jordan too.

---

I hope this has helped you answer the question, ‘Is Jordan Safe for solo female travelers?” and that you are inspired to take the trip of a lifetime! Make sure to check out my Jordan itinerary that I did solo (with tips of where to stay and eat) and message me on Instagram if you have any questions I can help with 🙂