If you're looking for a Jordan packing list with kids, this guide is for families planning to visit Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Aqaba and Amman and wondering what they actually need to bring.

Quick answer: What to Pack for Jordan with Kids?

Jordan is surprisingly easy to pack for, but the challenge is that you're packing for three very different environments in one trip: desert, beach and city travel. You'll need comfortable walking clothes for Petra, layers for cooler desert mornings and evenings, and swimwear for the Dead Sea and Aqaba.

We travelled Jordan as a family with Joshua our 7 year old son and quickly realised that a few small items made a much bigger difference than expected. A cooling towel, small cool bag and comfortable walking shoes were used far more than many of the items we carefully packed "just in case."

This guide covers exactly what to pack for Jordan family travel, including packing for Petra with kids, what to pack for a Wadi Rum desert trip, beach essentials for Aqaba and the Dead Sea, and the travel gear that made our Jordan road trip easier.

Just a quick note: some links in this guide are affiliate links. This doesn't affect the price you pay, and we only recommend products we've used ourselves or would happily buy again.

What Clothes Should You Pack for Jordan?

The good news is that most of Jordan is fairly casual and easy to pack for.

During our trip we packed:

• lightweight shorts, t-shirts and dresses

• a light jumper or cardigan for cooler mornings and strong air conditioning

• swimwear

• comfortable walking shoes

• sandals or flip flops

• hats and sunglasses

The key is versatility. You might be exploring Petra in the morning, sitting by the Dead Sea pool in the afternoon and eating outside in cooler temperatures in the evening.

Don't Underestimate the Jordan Sun

One thing we didn't fully appreciate before travelling was how intense the sun can feel during long sightseeing days.

For Joshua, two items made a huge difference:

• a Cooling towel

• a portable handheld fan

The cooling towel was particularly useful during hotter days at Petra and Wadi Rum and helped keep him comfortable when everyone else's energy levels were starting to drop.

What to Pack for Petra With Kids

When people ask what to wear in Jordan with children, what they usually mean is: What should I pack for Petra?

Petra is by far the most demanding sightseeing day of most Jordan itineraries.

You'll want:

• comfortable walking shoes

• refillable water bottles

• sunscreen

• SPF lip balm

• snacks

• hat and sunglasses

• lightweight backpack

• wipes and hand sanitiser

The biggest mistake would be treating Petra like a normal sightseeing stop. We covered far more distance than expected and were grateful for every snack we packed.

For a detailed breakdown, see Can You Do Petra in One Day With Kids? and Visiting Petra With Kids: A Practical Family Guide to Planning the Lost City.

What to Pack for a Wadi Rum Desert Trip

If Petra is all about walking, Wadi Rum is all about the desert. The item we wish we'd prioritised more? A head scarf. The sand gets everywhere once the jeep starts moving, and a baseball cap simply doesn't provide enough protection.

For Wadi Rum we'd recommend:

• sunglasses

• head scarf or buff

• closed-toe shoes

• lightweight clothing

• lip balm

• plenty of water

Closed shoes are important. The sand can get surprisingly hot and many tours involve scrambling over rocks and dunes. If you're planning a desert stay, see Wadi Rum With Kids: A Practical Guide and How to Choose a Wadi Rum Desert Camp.

Pool and Beach Essentials

One thing we quickly learned during our Jordan trip is that pool time becomes a major part of the holiday.

Whether you're staying:

• at the Dead Sea

• in Aqaba

• or at a hotel in Amman with a pool

those downtime hours help everyone recharge.

For pool days we packed:

• swimwear

• flip flops

• pool sandals

• small pool toys

• goggles

• swim shoes for the dead sea

• Waterproof phone case (really useful for places like dead sea)

All of our hotels provided pool towels, so we didn't need to pack bulky beach towels. A few small pool toys went a surprisingly long way with Joshua, particularly during our stay in Aqaba.

If you're deciding where to stay, see:

• Hilton Dead Sea Resort Review: Is It Right for Families?

• Grand Tala Bay Resort Aqaba Review: Best Family Base by the Red Sea

Car Comfort Essentials for a Jordan Road Trip

Many families choose to self-drive Jordan. The drives aren't particularly long, but you'll still spend plenty of time between stops.

We found these useful:

• refillable water bottles

• snacks

• neck pillows

• small cool bag

• tissues

• travel sickness medication

If you're hiring a car, read Driving in Jordan: Car Hire Tips, Road Rules & What It's Really Like.

Tech and Travel Essentials

Technology made our Jordan trip much easier.

We packed:

• tablet with headphones

• power bank

• charging cables - a cable with a USB is usually helpful to have to plug your phone into the car phone

• UK to Jordan plug adaptor

• multi-USB charger

One thing I'd consider essential is an eSIM .

We used an Airalo eSIM, which allowed us to:

• use Google Maps

• search for restaurants

• access bookings

• navigate Jordan easily

We also downloaded offline Google Maps before travelling as a backup.

Travel Health Kit

A small travel health kit saved us several times during the trip.

We packed:

• plasters

• antiseptic wipes

• antihistamines

• children's pain relief

• insect repellent

• Swimmers ear treatment (Joshua suffers with this)

• travel sickness medication

This was particularly useful because Joshua occasionally suffers with swimmers ear and travel sickness. The Dead Sea can also be uncomfortable on cuts, grazes and eczema, so having basic first aid supplies is worthwhile.

For more on that, see Dead Sea With Kids: What to Expect (And What Surprised Us Most).

Packing Strategies That Actually Help

A few simple packing strategies can make family road trips much easier.

Use Packing Cubes

Packing cubes made moving between hotels significantly easier. Instead of unpacking entire suitcases every few days, we could quickly grab what we needed and stay organised.

Use Luggage Trackers

We always travel with luggage trackers. They're one of those purchases you hope you'll never need, but they're incredibly reassuring during flights and airport transfers.

Choose Suitcases with Split Compartments

For family road trips we use Surfanic Maxim roller bags, which have a split-level design. This allows you to separate: clean clothes, dirty laundry, wet swimwear or pool gear. This design makes hotel repacking far quicker when moving between destinations a Jordan road trip.

Before You Travel

Two things I'd organise before anything else:

Travel Insurance

We use Just Travel Cover because it compares multiple providers and helps find suitable medical and cancellation cover.

Mobile Data

An eSIM is one of the easiest upgrades you can make to your trip. Having maps, bookings and messages available as soon as you land removes a lot of stress.

Final Thoughts

Packing for Jordan is easier than it first appears.

The key is remembering you're packing for:

• historical sites like Petra

• desert experiences like Wadi Rum

• beach and resort time at the Dead Sea and Aqaba

• city stops in Amman

Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, swimwear and a few practical family travel items will get used far more than most of the "just in case" items people tend to pack.

For us, Jordan was one of the easiest family trips we've packed for — and with a bit of preparation, you really don't need anything unusual to have an amazing experience.

FAQs: Jordan Packing List With Kids

What shoes should you pack for Jordan?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential, especially if you're visiting Petra. We packed trainers for sightseeing and sandals for hotel downtime, which covered everything we needed.

Read Can You Do Petra in One Day With Kids? to understand just how much walking a Petra day can involve.

Do you need different clothes for Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba?

Yes. Jordan combines desert, city and beach environments, so you'll need lightweight clothing for sightseeing, layers for cooler mornings and evenings, and swimwear for Aqaba and the Dead Sea.

Our 9-Day Jordan Family Itinerary shows how those different environments fit into one trip.

What should children wear in Wadi Rum?

Lightweight clothing, sunglasses, a head scarf and closed-toe shoes work best. The desert can be hot, dusty and windy, especially during jeep tours.

See Wadi Rum With Kids: A Practical Guide for more desert-specific tips.

How much luggage do you need for a Jordan family trip?

We travelled with two large suitcases for the three of us and found that more than sufficient for a 10-day Jordan itinerary. Packing cubes helped keep everything organised while moving between hotels.

If you're still planning your route, our How to Plan a Family Trip to Jordan explains exactly how we organised the trip.

plan your TRIP TO jordan

If you’re planning your family trip to Jordan, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.