How to Travel Amman to Petra by Bus on JETT

Instead of hiring a driver or being part of a tour group, I have elected to explore Jordan on my own. As a solo traveller, this is the way I prefer to travel. Yes, its intimidating being here by myself, but I believe I can do this. My real adventure starts today. How to travel Amman to Petra by bus on JETT. Its easy!

Tickets

First thing first, procuring a ticket. I had read online about other travellers having a heck of a time trying to purchase a ticket using the JETT website online. I met a traveller from India at the Roman Theatre, and he reinforced this was his experience as well.

Needing to travel the next day, I decided it was not a wise idea to wait until the morning of my journey. Instead, I hopped in an Uber and for 1.2DR or $2.50 CAD, I went to the JETT Abdali Office in the city. This is where the bus will originate from, but will also do a pick up from the 7th Circle.

There is no actual bus station here, simply a small and clean office that will sell you your tickets in person. Cost to Petra is 10DR and I am told to arrive here at 6am for the bus that departs at 6:30.

Departure

Once again, I take an Uber from my hotel downtown to the bus office. Besides having two rides drop, this was a painless experience. When I arrive just after 6am, the JETT office is open and already a handful of passengers are here.

The bus pulls up along the sidewalk at 6:20 and we place our suitcases and large luggage underneath and climb onboard. I didn’t realize this, because my ticket is in Arabic of course, but there are pre-assigned seats. One I figure it out, I head up to seat number one, my assigned seat, right at the front.

At 6:30am we depart the Abdali office and the next stop is across town at the 7^th Circle. From there, its onto the highway and out of the city.

First Half

The trip is about four hours long, with a break in the middle. At first, we drive for a while, just getting beyond the city limits. This being at sunrise, the views of the golden sun right in front of me are perfect.

Seats are comfortable and the windows are fairly clean. I’m excited as can be. While most other passengers have fallen asleep, I’m wide awake and wanting to take in everything I can. In actuality there is not a whole lot to see. The landscape for most of this portion of the trip is flat, light coloured stone and sand, and besides going through a few smaller towns, becomes monotonous.

Pit Stop

At the half way mark we are given what turns out to be 45 minutes at a large gift shop. We are told we have 25 minutes but the driver continues to smoke and chat for an extra 20. The gift shop is large, has washroom facilities, and a restaurant where travellers can find a meagre hot breakfast or snacks, including tea and coffee. Outside are a resident cat and puppy that most people are having a wonderful time interacting with.

Second Half

Now things outside the windows, begin to get a little more interesting. The terrain ever so slowly becomes undulated. Larger rocks and small jebals start to appear on the horizon.

Before long, we are travelling up and down, into and out of valleys. We go through a few checkpoints where the driver has come to a stop and has shown his license.

Wadi Musa

The town that has sprung up near the entrance to Petra is called Wadi Musa. Thirty years ago, there was not a trace here except for perhaps one humble hotel. Today, visitors can find a downtown area and if you can believe it, a total of over 300 hotels in the vicinity.

As the bus arrives into Wadi Musa we go past a large concrete entrance gate, through the town itself and down towards the visitor’s centre and entrance to Petra. The bus pulls into a large parking lot and we get off here. It is quite literally, right beside the Petra Museum, and entrance into the site.

For me, I have a 15-minute walk uphill to my hotel where I will be staying whilst here. I am absolutely elated to have arrived. The bus was easy, direct, affordable and completely doable. I feel so proud of myself to have completed my first leg of this epic trip through Jordan.