Why The Jordan Pass Is Guaranteed To Save You Money In Jordan
Jordan is, without a doubt, a bucket list destination. We had wanted to visit for years and finally got round to booking a 10 day trip to Jordan in 2018.
The kids were 3 and 5 at the time and anything that made our lives easier when we travelled with the kids was a good idea in our books. So when we came across the Jordan Pass that promised to save us time, effort and money, we had to check it out.
Most of the reviews at the time, however, stated that there were technical problems with the website and that the pass was not recognised by the sites that it claimed to cover.
We had a little back and forth with customer service at Jordan Pass and decided to buy our tickets. It was the best decision we made and we want you to know all about it before you book your trip to Jordan so that you can take advantage of its benefits too.
This guide explains everything you need to know about the Jordan Pass, including a detailed breakdown at the end of the potential savings you can make.
Interested in finding out about Luxor? We have a guide to visiting Luxor, including things to do in Luxor with kids, where to stay and where to eat.
Got your Jordan travel guide yet to help with your planning?
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and buy something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.
What is the Jordan Pass?
The Jordan Pass is essentially a tourist passport that gets you into 40 of the main tourist attractions in Jordan (including 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the Seven New Wonders of the World) essentially FREE (or almost free).
Or looking at it another way, it waives the cost of your tourist visa. See more on the actual cost savings at the end of the post.
It is an official product created by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to make travel around Jordan and entry into the main Jordan attractions easier.
How much is the Jordan Pass?
There are three different passes you can buy. The Jordan Pass cost for each one is different.
Jordan Wanderer
This pass gives you one day access to Petra, entrance to 40 tourist attractions and waiving of the tourist entry visa fees if you buy the pass before arrival in Jordan.
Cost: 70 JD (99 USD)
Jordan Explorer
This pass gives you two days access to Petra (must be consecutive days), entrance to 40 tourist attractions and waiving of the tourist entry visa fees if you buy the pass before arrival in Jordan.
Cost: 75 JD (106 USD)
Jordan Expert
This pass gives you three days access to Petra (must be consecutive days), entrance to 40 tourist attractions and waiving of the tourist entry visa fees if you buy the pass before arrival in Jordan.
Cost: 80 JD (113 USD)
We opted for the Jordan Explorer because we knew that we wanted more than one day visiting Petra. We bought one each for myself and my husband. We did not need them for the kids.
Remember to check out the savings calculation at the end of the post.
Is the Jordan Pass suitable for everyone?
While the Jordan Pass is suitable for most people, there are some instances where you will not benefit from one. Here are some facts about the pass that you need to bear in mind.
- You must be staying in Jordan for longer than 3 consecutive days (4 nights)
- If you are not eligible for a visa on arrival, you cannot use the Jordan Pass to get your visa. It waives the visa fee. It is not a visa.
- If you are entering Jordan via the Wadi Araba Border, staying 2 nights and leaving by the same border, your visa fee of JD 40 is waived
- Although the pass is valid for 12 months from purchase, it is only valid for 14 days from the day you arrive in Jordan
- Petra by Night is not included in the pass
- Children under 12 enter FREE OF CHARGE with an accompanying adult at many of the sites including Petra so it is not worth buying the pass for them
What is included in the Jordan Pass?
Over 40 tourist attractions in Jordan are included in the Jordan Pass but it’s not just about entry to the tourist attractions. Before you even set foot in Jordan, you will save money on your visa. And again, it’s not just about saving money. Getting the Jordan Pass before you arrive in Jordan will save you time at the airport.
Back to what else is included.
The most famous sites included in the Jordan Pass are:
You can find the rest of the sites here. Note that tours of the sites are not included in the price of the pass.
Also not included in the Jordan Pass are day passes to Dead Sea hotels in case you want to go swimming in the Dead Sea.
If you’re visiting Jordan with kids, read our post on the top things to do in Jordan with kids.
How do you use the Jordan Pass?
Once you have purchased the pass, a PDF copy (containing your QR code) will be emailed to you. You can download this onto your phone. The electronic copy should be enough at all tourist sites, but in case you are concerned about your battery dying, keep a paper copy on you as back up.
It may also be better to show your paper copy to passport control as they may have trouble scanning the QR code.
We just showed our electronic copy at each of the sites we visited and had no problems.
Is the Jordan Pass worth it?
Asides from the fact that the Jordan Pass will save you time and effort because you won’t need to queue and buy separate tickets at each site, it will also save you money, even if you only visit Petra.
From our point of view, it was 100% worth it. As we were travelling with kids, we didn’t see that many of the sites that are included in the pass but it still meant a saving for us.
Here’s how..
How much can I save with the Jordan Pass?
Here’s an idea of the savings you can make with the Jordan Pass.
A single entry visa on arrival in Jordan is JD 40.
As of 2021, a one-day ticket to Petra costs JD 50 per person, two-day ticket is JD 55 and three days is JD 60.
The cheapest Jordan Pass with one-day Petra entry included costs JD 70.
If you buy your visa and one day ticket to Petra separately, it will cost you JD 90, which isJD 20 more expensive than the cheapest Jordan Pass.
Obviously, if you are not planning on going to Petra, you might want to do some further maths, but why would you go to Jordan and not visit Petra?
How do I buy the Jordan Pass?
If you believe that the pass is right for you having read all of the above, you can buy the pass online at Jordan Pass. It is a secure site
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!