Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 38–40°C in Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Jordan Valley between June and August. It's genuinely hot — but manageable with the right scheduling, and it's also Jordan's most discounted season.
How We Adjust the Schedule
On our summer departures, outdoor activity blocks shift earlier — trekking, canyoning, and major site visits start at or before 7:00am, with a long midday rest and any remaining touring resumed after 4:00pm. Petra's Monastery climb and Wadi Rum scrambles are never scheduled during midday hours in summer.
What's Actually Fine in Summer
The Dead Sea and Aqaba are hot but tempered by water, and stay busy with regional weekend guests — these sections of an itinerary are largely unaffected by the heat. Wadi Rum's evening and nighttime hours (stargazing, dinner) are genuinely pleasant even in peak summer.
Why Summer Is Cheaper
Group sizes shrink and mid-range hotels discount to compete for the smaller pool of travelers — our Summer Heat season pricing (June 15–August 31) runs 15% below standard rates across itineraries, with Dead Sea and Aqaba resort discounts more modest since they stay busier.
Practical Heat Management
- Start major site visits at opening time, not mid-morning
- Carry more water than feels necessary
- Lightweight, breathable, sun-covering clothing over minimal clothing — counterintuitively, covering up often feels cooler than exposed skin in direct desert sun
- Treat the midday hours (roughly 11am–4pm) as rest time, not touring time
Frequently Asked Questions
Is summer a bad time to bring kids?
Our Jordan for Families itinerary adjusts specifically for this — the Petra treasure-hunt morning starts early, and water-based days (Ma'in, Dead Sea) are scheduled to work well with the heat rather than against it.
Are the Adventure itinerary's canyoning routes affected by summer heat?
They run earlier in the day to avoid peak heat, but summer isn't a weather-risk season the way winter rain is for canyoning — see our Rift Valley Traverse itinerary for details.