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If you're considering a trip to Jordan then you've probably read about the Jordan Pass and you’re wondering is it cheaper to buy the Jordan Pass?
The Jordan Pass is provided by the Jordan Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities and it aims to encourage tourists to visit Jordan with a pass that includes entry to all major attractions and also waives your visa fee.
So how does it work?
You can buy your pass online ahead of your visit to Jordan from jordanpass.jo. On their website you can see the list of all attractions covered by the Jordan Pass, this includes major attractions such as Petra and Wadi Rum as well as other attractions such as the Amman Citadel, Jerash and museums and galleries.
There are three types of Jordan Pass which all cover a single entry to the entire list of attractions. The only difference between them is the number of entry days into Petra.
Jordan Wanderer - 1 day entry to Petra = 70JD
Jordan Explorer - 2 days entry to Petra = 75JD
Jordan Adventurer - 3 days entry to Petra = 80JD
Which pass you buy will depend on how many days you intend to visit Petra for.
We visited Petra for two days on the Jordan Explorer Pass which I would really recommend. You can see the main sights of the Treasury and the trail up to the Monastery in a day, but I suggest an additional day to walk some of the other trails such as the Royal Tombs or The Place of High Sacrifice. You can click here for my full one week Jordan itinerary.
At each attraction you will need to show your Jordan Pass - either a print out or the QR code on your phone. This will then be scanned for entry.
How does the Jordan Pass work for your Jordan visa?
The Jordan Pass does not waive your visa, it only waives your visa fee. So when you arrive at the airport in Amman you will need to join the visa queue to obtain your visa. Here you will show your Jordan Pass and the visa agent will authorise your Jordan tourist visa without charge.
We saw several people walk straight past the visa queue and present their Jordan Pass and passport at immigration only to be sent back again to the visa queue. The Jordan Pass is not your visa!
Your visa will be stuck on a page in your passport and then stamped at immigration.
Is it cheaper to buy the Jordan Pass?
Obviously this question depends on what you intend to do it Jordan and whether the cost will work out better for you with a Pass.
But even if you intend to just do the basics in a couple of days, it still works out cheaper. For example, if you intend to enter Jordan on a visa, visit Petra for one day and visit the Amman Citadel, this is what it would cost you without a Jordan Pass:
Visa cost without Jordan Pass - 40JD
One day entry to Petra without Jordan Pass - 50JD
One entry to Amman Citadel without Jordan Pass - 3JD
TOTAL = 93JD
You would be saving 13-23JD ($18-32/£14-25) by buying any of the three Jordan Passes.
Here is everything we did in a week:
Visa entry = 40JD
Two days entry to Petra = 55JD
Entry to Wadi Rum Desert protected area = 5JD
Amman Citadel = 3JD
Amman Roman Theatre = 2JD
Jerash = 12JD
TOTAL = 117JD
If we had not bought the Jordan Pass then this would have cost us 42JD more to buy tickets for each attraction individually. ($60 or £46).
Jordan is not a cheap country to visit, but buying the Jordan Pass definitely helps to offset that. Plus there is the added ease of just having one ticket to show at every attraction, rather than juggling several tickets for every attraction and every day.
Let me know if you decide to use the Jordan Pass!
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