Middle East

Jordan in January

The quietest month. Crisp, clear days between rain spells; desert camp nights near freezing. Occasional snow can briefly close Petra.

Quiet valueCold for a desert, Petra highs near 50F (10C), Aqaba near 70F (21C)

The Monastery at Petra, Jordan — JordanPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Jordan. The quietest month. Crisp, clear days between rain spells; desert camp nights near freezing. Occasional snow can briefly close Petra.

Weather: Cold for a desert, Petra highs near 50F (10C), Aqaba near 70F (21C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What January is like in Jordan

January is Jordan's quietest and coldest month. Petra highs sit near 50F (10C), desert camp nights drop close to freezing, and rain spells pass through between crisp, clear days. Rare snow can briefly close Petra, and heavy rain can shut the siq for flash-flood safety. Down south, Aqaba stays mild at around 70F (21C). Crowds and prices are at their lowest.

This month suits hardy travelers who want Petra nearly to themselves and do not mind packing for cold. Families and anyone who hates chilly nights should pick March or October instead. If you do come, lean your plan south toward Aqaba and the Dead Sea, and keep one flexible day for Petra in case of weather.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Jordan this month.

Petra with almost no one

January crowds are the thinnest of the year. On a clear morning you can walk the siq and reach the Treasury with only a few other people.

Aqaba's mild winter

The Red Sea coast stays around 70F (21C), making it the warm corner of a winter itinerary. Snorkeling on the reefs is still possible for the brave.

Winter stars in Wadi Rum

Cold, dry nights mean sharp skies over the desert. Book a camp with heating or heavy bedding and it becomes a highlight.

What to pack for January

A warm down jacket for desert nights
Thermal base layers and a warm hat
A waterproof shell for rain spells
Sturdy hiking shoes with grip
A swimsuit for the Dead Sea or Aqaba

Our timing tip

Book two nights in Wadi Musa so you have a backup day if rain closes the siq or snow shuts Petra.

Book Jordan for January.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Jordan
Opens a hotel search for Jordan in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
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Vacation rentals in Jordan
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
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Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Jordan
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Jordan for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in January

Petra by Night

Several evenings a week, year-round, weather permitting

The siq and Treasury plaza lit by candles, with Bedouin music. Touristy and worth it once; check the current schedule locally as nights can change.

Ramadan in Jordan

Dates shift about 11 days earlier each year; check the current window

Petra, Rum, and hotels operate normally and tourist restaurants stay open, but many local eateries close until sunset, some site hours shorten, and evenings turn festive. The Eid holidays that follow bring busy domestic travel.

Things to do in Jordan

Full guide

Petra, over two days

One day barely covers the siq, Treasury, and city center. A two-day ticket costs little more and buys you the Monastery climb and the high places without racing. Start at opening, 6am, to walk the siq nearly alone.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The Monastery trail at Petra

About 800 rock-cut steps up from the city center to Petra's biggest facade. Go mid afternoon when the sun swings onto the facade and the day-trip crowds have drained.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Wadi Rum by 4x4, then a night in camp

A sunset jeep tour into the protected area, dinner in a Bedouin camp, and a night under the stars. Staying over is the whole point; day trips miss the silence.

Tickets and tours →

Floating in the Dead Sea

Use a resort or managed beach for showers, you will want them, and keep the water out of your eyes. Mornings are calmest; mud on, float, rinse, repeat.

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Jerash

One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, an hour north of Amman: colonnaded streets, theatres, and a hippodrome, usually gloriously uncrowded.

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Amman's citadel and downtown

The citadel's Temple of Hercules overlooks a Roman theatre and the downtown souk. Finish with knafeh, the local dessert obsession, at a downtown sweets house.

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Beat the crowds

Enter Petra at 6am. The tour-bus wave from Amman and the cruise ports arrives mid morning; walking the siq at dawn, and reaching the Treasury with a handful of people, is a different experience from the same walk at 11am.
Sleep in Wadi Musa two nights and buy the two-day Petra ticket: day-trippers see the front of the site, you get the Monastery, the high places, and the quiet hours at both ends of the day.
Do the Monastery climb after 3pm, when the light hits the facade and the midday crowd has gone; do the Treasury and siq at dawn. Opposite ends of the day, opposite ends of the site.
Book Wadi Rum camps directly and stay two nights if you can: sunset and sunrise in the protected area happen after the day-trip jeeps leave.

Know before you go

Petra is open every day of the year, but heavy winter rain can close the siq on short notice for flash-flood safety, and rare snow occasionally shuts the site entirely for a day or two. Between November and March, keep one flexible day in the plan.
Wadi Rum camps run year-round, but winter nights drop near freezing and the cheaper camps are canvas-and-blanket affairs: from December through February, book a camp with heating or serious bedding, or expect a cold night.
During Ramadan, the headline sites and tourist services all operate, though some hours compress and many local restaurants outside tourist zones close until sunset. Alcohol service is reduced. Dates shift about 11 days earlier each year.
Petra by Night runs only on certain evenings each week and cancels in bad weather; if it is on your list, arrange your Wadi Musa nights around the current schedule rather than assuming any given evening.

Jordan in January, quick answers

Is January a good time to visit Jordan?

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Jordan. The quietest month. Crisp, clear days between rain spells; desert camp nights near freezing. Occasional snow can briefly close Petra.

What is the weather like in Jordan in January?

Cold for a desert, Petra highs near 50F (10C), Aqaba near 70F (21C).

Is Jordan crowded in January?

January is one of the quieter months in Jordan; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Jordan in January?

Petra by Night (several evenings a week, year-round, weather permitting); Ramadan in Jordan (dates shift about 11 days earlier each year; check the current window).