When to Visit Jordan? Here’s the Best Time to Visit Jordan

As you plan a trip to Jordan, you’ve likely established a few facts in your mind: 1. It’s a Middle Eastern country. 2. It’s dry and hot. 3. Because Jordan is nearer the equator than where most of us live, it must be scorching hot all year long.

Not true! Jordan has dynamic seasons and weather throughout the year. Your experience in February will be very different than in May, July, or October. Thus it’s important to know when to visit Jordan – and the best months and seasons to visit Jordan – before you start planning your trip.

I first visited Jordan in early May – and roasted in the hot Middle Eastern sun. Now that I’m planning my return trip, I’ve done a lot more research – and I know to visit during the best time of year, which I’ll reveal below. (In fact, I couldn’t be more perfect in my timing, as I’m literally straddling the two best months of the year to visit Jordan!)

If you’re curious about the best months and seasons to visit Jordan before you start planning your trip, you’ve come to the right place. In addition to describing the weather and mundane details like temperature, I’ve also included details on different events and festivals that you should keep in mind – or plan to attend – depending on when you decide to visit.

To answer the age-old question of when to visit Jordan and the absolute best time of year to visit Jordan (yep, there is a truly best time), read on!

Jordan in Different Seasons

“When to visit Jordan?” is a popular question travelers ask before diving into the logistics of planning their next trip to the Middle Eastern hotspot. As you’ll read in a minute, Jordan has four seasons, and each one offers something special. However, like most countries, there are more tourist-welcoming months than others. Ultimately, the season you choose depends on what you want to enjoy in the country.

Spring in Jordan 

If I had to describe spring in Jordan with only one word, it would be splendid. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too rainy, not too dry. Just right. The perk of traveling to Jordan in spring is that the weather is suitable to experience all the country’s attractions. 

Spring starts in the middle of March and ends in the early days of June. Temperatures begin to rise all over the country but do not reach melting hot status. Amman, the capital, sees mild weather throughout these months, with temperatures ranging from 64°F to 82°F. In rare cases, temperatures fall below 47°F or exceed 93°F.

The Red Sea and Aqaba, two of the most popular destinations, get warmer yet tolerable, with temperatures ranging around 86°F. Spring also heats the Red Sea’s crystal-clear waters, which reach an inviting 74°F.

March in Jordan

If you love hiking, March is an ideal month to enjoy this activity. You’ll be able to explore Jordan’s wildlife in all its splendor without melting under the sun. The valleys in the northern regions become surprisingly green and lush, with thousands of blooming wildflowers coating their surface.

April in Jordan

April is a busy month, mainly because it’s ideal for visiting Petra and Wadi Rum. While you can visit Petra and Wadi Rum any time of the year, you’ll have a more pleasant experience if good weather joins the equation/ picture. Trust me, visiting Petra and Wadi Rum in summer feels more like a prowess than a leisure activity.

May in Jordan

Come May, the days will be hotter, especially towards the end of the month. Nonetheless, it still is an excellent time to visit Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba, with average temperatures as high as 82°F. The only drawback of visiting Jordan in May is the Khamsin, the sand storms that coat Jordan’s cities and deserts with dust and grit. 

Spring is arguably the best time to visit Jordan, which translates into the peak season to visit Jordan. You’ll notice that Amman and other attractions are teeming with hordes of tourists and that prices are steeper than in other seasons. 

Summer in Jordan

This is the moment when Jordan being 90% desert makes sense. It’s hard to survive summers in Jordan, especially if you’re not used to high temperatures. So make sure you bring your swimsuit, sunblock, light clothes, and a hat. 

Summer in Jordan starts in June and ends in August, with the temperatures frequently exceeding 86º F and reaching up to 106°F in certain places. 

June in Jordan

June is the month when things start to really heat up. It’s also incredibly dry, which makes travelers feel even hotter. While June isn’t the best time to visit Jordan, you can still explore Jordan’s landmarks if you bring the correct gear. Also, you won’t find a better time to explore Jordan’s marine life.

Besides the obviously refreshing component, the waters of the Red Sea on Aqaba have perfect visibility (oceanic currents are calmer), so most travelers rent equipment to enjoy long scuba diving or snorkeling sessions. 

July in Jordan

July is incredibly hot in Jordan. Nearly every day, the temperature in Jordan tops 102°F when the khamseen blows, and they can reach up to 105°F. As you can see, exploring Amman or visiting Petra or Wadi Rum makes for a daunting experience during this month.

However, July has its perks. July is a low season across the country, so you can find cheap flights and hotel fates. If you were wondering when to visit Jordan without breaking your bank account, July is an excellent time. Also, since the blazing sun and high temperatures scare away most tourists, Jordan’s popular locations are quiet and crowd-free. 

August in Jordan

August is the hottest month of the year, with temperatures hovering between 86°F and 104°F. This month is still the low season, and you can score excellent flights, tours, and hotels, even for some of Aqaba’s fancy resorts. Overall, August is arguably the best time to visit Jordan if you’re on a budget. 

If you visit Jordan during the summer, you can partake in many events and festivals the country hosts. In late July and early August, you can attend the Jerash Festival, a celebration of Jordanian arts, culture, literature, food, and music. It’s an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Jordan’s fascinating history and culture. In August, you can also experience how the Perseid meteor shower lights up the sky in the sands of Wadi Rum.

Autumn in Jordan

Before I describe this season, let me tell you that autumn is another time you should keep an eye on as it’s the start of shoulder season to visit Jordan. Moreover, while prices begin to rise, they’re still affordable. 

September in Jordan

After a merciless summer, temperatures start to cool down. Fall in Jordan starts in September, with temperatures resembling the spring ones, and ends in November. Amman sees an average of 75°F, whereas Petra experiences 80°F. Aqaba remains hot, with temperatures reaching 93°F. 

As with most transition seasons, you’ll still experience a few very hot days – especially during the first half of September. They won’t be as unbearable as the summer days that just passed through. Again, September is an excellent time to visit the Red Sea and explore underwater. Some say it has the best visibility as there has been no rain or runoff from the coast for months by now. 

October in Jordan

In October, the average high temperature is 68°F, while the average low temperature is 59°F. There’s finally a little bit of rain around mid-October, bringing Jordan’s green landscapes back to life. Autumn in Jordan is an excellent time to resume hiking activities. 

Along with September, October is great if you want to explore Wadi Rum as the weather is pleasant. You can also check out the Middle Eastern Dance Festival in Kibbutz Sha’ar Hagolan, an annual festival that gives regional dance classes combined with sightseeing, swimming, shopping, and dance performances.

Winter in Jordan

As Jordan is a Middle Eastern country, one might believe the country experiences practically no winter. Well, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth! Jordan has intense winters, with frigid temperatures. So much so that Amman experiences snowfalls occasionally. Yes, you read that right. 

The winter in Jordan is very cold, with January as the coldest month of the year. Amman sees average daily temperatures below 60°F, and chilly winds aren’t uncommon either. Petra experiences snowfall and temperatures plummeting a few degrees below freezing. Temperatures in Aqaba and the Red Sea don’t decrease as drastically, and the climate is still warmer and pleasant. 

November in Jordan

November is the start of winter in Jordan, and it’s still part of the shoulder season. You’ll experience hot weather during the day, but temperatures get incredibly colder at night. You can also expect a little rainfall. If you’re still thinking of scuba diving, November is your last chance to do so. 

Decem-brr & January in Jordan

December is not the most popular time to visit Jordan as heavy rains and cold days become the rule. As I said before, January is the coldest month of the year, with an average low of 40°F and a high of 55°F. It’s also the wettest month of the year. 

Both December and January are good months to visit Petra or Wadi Rum. At least during the day. While some may argue that visiting these locations in winter is better than in summer, Petra and Wadi Rum become utterly cold and have taxing temperatures, especially at night. Petra has recorded temperatures as low as 18°F while Wadi Rum experiences 39.2ºF. 

There’s never a bad time to visit southern Aqaba. Even in the middle of January, Aqaba remains sunny and warm, with the average Red Sea and Dead Sea water temperatures at a balmy 75°F all year.

February in Jordan

If you happen to visit Jordan in February, don’t hesitate to attend Aqaba Traditional Arts Festival, which celebrates the Bedouin culture, and shows local traditional arts and crafts. As you might expect, temperatures begin to rise as the month goes on, making it a good ‘shoulder season’ month if you’re looking for flight deals or to save on other Jordan travel costs.

The Best Time to Visit Jordan

We’ve already given you hints of when’s the best time to visit Jordan. Yes, it’s spring! Nonetheless, below you’ll find a brief answer as to why spring makes for the best season to visit Jordan and during which months within this season you’ll find the best weather. 

The Best Season to Visit Jordan

The Best Month to Visit Jordan

The best months to visit Jordan are March and April. You won’t encounter rainy days, temperatures are perfect, and they rarely break the 77°F mark. The warmer weather also creates beautiful landscapes, with Jordan’s valleys covered in wildflowers.

Also, if you visit in May and April, you’ll avoid the khamseen, the dry and dusty wind that hits the Arabian Peninsula. Since Jordan has its peak season in spring, it is best to secure a flight and hotel between these two months as soon as you can. The earlier, the better.

As March edges towards April, flocks of tourists arrive at Petra and Wadi Rum. While weather-wise, these months are undoubtedly perfect to explore the country, just like the temperature, flights, and hotel prices also start to go up.

So now that you know the best months and seasons to visit Jordan, you’re all set to start planning your trip. Do you have other questions about visiting Jordan and when to plan your Jordan trip? Let me know in the comments, or join me in my Jordan Travel Tips Facebook community.