Is the Jordan Pass worth it? Let's do the maths
The Jordan Pass is one of the rare tourist products that is not a con. It bundles your tourist visa fee, Petra entry, and 40-odd other sites into one online purchase — and for the overwhelming majority of visitors it costs less than buying the visa and Petra ticket separately. But it comes with three conditions, and breaking any of them turns a bargain into an expensive mistake.
Prices and rules were checked in July 2026 and do change. Buy only from the official site, jordanpass.jo — there are lookalike sites charging a markup.
Heads up: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through one we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps these guides free. It never changes what we recommend.
The three tiers
The only difference between them is how many days you get inside Petra:
- Jordan Wanderer — 70 JD · 1 day at Petra
- Jordan Explorer — 75 JD · 2 days at Petra
- Jordan Expert — 80 JD · 3 days at Petra
All three waive the tourist visa fee and include entry to more than 40 sites, including Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Roman theatre in Amman, Ajloun, Umm Qais, Karak and the Baptism Site.
The maths, done honestly
Take a standard visitor who's coming for a week and will see Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum:
- Tourist visa: 40 JD
- Petra, one day: 50 JD
- Jerash: about 12 JD
- Wadi Rum protected area: 5 JD
- Total paid separately: ~107 JD
The Jordan Wanderer pass costs 70 JD. You save around 37 JD, and that's before you visit a single one of the other 40 sites. The visa waiver and the Petra ticket alone (40 + 50 = 90 JD) already exceed the price of the pass.
Verdict: buy it. If you are visiting Petra at all, the Jordan Pass is worth it. There is essentially no scenario where a Petra-visiting tourist is better off without one.
Spend the extra 5 JD on the Explorer tier (2 days at Petra). It's the best 5 JD in Jordanian tourism — a second day at Petra for the price of a coffee. See our Petra itinerary for what to do with it.
The three rules that catch people out
1. You must buy it BEFORE you arrive in Jordan. Buy it online, before you fly. If you land without it and buy it at the airport, the visa waiver does not apply — you'll pay the 40 JD visa on top.
2. You must stay at least 3 days / 2 nights in Jordan. If you leave sooner, the visa waiver is void and you'll be charged the visa fee on departure. This rules out the pass for people crossing from Israel or Egypt for a single day at Petra.
3. It is one pass per person, non-transferable, and tied to your passport. Buy one for each traveller, and enter passport details correctly.
One more, less-known: the pass is valid for 12 months from purchase, and activates on the day you first use it. Buying early is safe.
Who should NOT buy it
Day-trippers from Israel or Egypt. If you're crossing the border for one day at Petra and leaving, you fail the 2-night rule — and you'll also pay Petra's 90 JD day-visitor rate rather than 50 JD. In that case, buy nothing in advance and check the border visa rules for your route.
Nationalities that already get a free visa (some Arab countries, and certain visa-exempt passports). The visa waiver is the pass's main value; without it, do the maths on entrance fees alone — it may still win if you're seeing Petra plus two or three other sites, but it's no longer automatic.
People not visiting Petra. Rare, but if Petra isn't on your list, add up your actual entrance fees before buying.
What it doesn't cover
Worth knowing so you're not caught out:
- Petra by Night — separate ticket (around 17 JD).
- Your Wadi Rum jeep tour and camp — the 5 JD protected-area entry is covered; the actual desert experience is not.
- Dead Sea beach and resort access — you pay the resort or public beach directly.
- Guides, transport, food.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Jordan Pass worth it?
For almost everyone visiting Petra, yes. The cheapest tier costs 70 JD and covers the 40 JD visa fee plus Petra entry (50 JD one-day) — so it pays for itself immediately, before you use any of the 40+ other included sites such as Jerash and Wadi Rum.
How much does the Jordan Pass cost in 2026?
There are three tiers, differing only in how many days you get at Petra: Jordan Wanderer 70 JD (1 day at Petra), Jordan Explorer 75 JD (2 days), and Jordan Expert 80 JD (3 days). All waive the tourist visa fee and include 40+ sites.
Do I have to buy the Jordan Pass before arriving?
Yes. The visa waiver only applies if you buy the pass online before you arrive in Jordan. If you buy it after landing, you will still have to pay the 40 JD visa fee.
How long must I stay in Jordan to use the Jordan Pass visa waiver?
At least 3 days and 2 nights. If you leave Jordan sooner, the visa waiver is void and you'll be charged the visa fee. This is why the pass doesn't work for day-trippers crossing from Israel or Egypt.
Does the Jordan Pass include Wadi Rum?
It includes the 5 JD protected-area entry fee for Wadi Rum, but not the jeep tour, the camp, or any of the actual desert experiences — those you book and pay for separately.
Does the Jordan Pass include Petra by Night?
No. Petra by Night is a separately ticketed evening event (around 17 JD), held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.