Jordan is a country made for road trips and photographers. Its deserts stretch wide, its mountains rise sharp, and the Dead Sea glows under the sun. Every mile brings a new view worth capturing.
Unlike group tours or crowded buses, renting a car in Jordan makes it easier to explore. You can stop at hidden viewpoints, quiet valleys, and wide-open roads. The country is full of landscape photography spots you wouldn’t want to miss. Here’s a guide to the most scenic drives in Jordan.
If it’s your first time traveling in Jordan, it helps to know that car rentals are easy to find. Pick-up locations are available in major city centers and tourist hubs like Amman, Aqaba, and near Queen Alia International Airport. Many travelers choose to rent a car right after landing to start their journey with ease. Here’s why renting a car in Jordan is the best way to capture the country’s stunning landscapes:
If you rely on buses or tours, you'll likely miss out. Many of the best places for photography are far from city centers or fixed routes. Public transport in Jordan is limited, especially in remote areas like Wadi Rum, Dana Biosphere Reserve, or the scenic King's Highway.
Golden hour light makes a massive difference in your photos. In Jordan, sunrise happens between 5:30 and 6:30 AM and sunset between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, depending on the season. Public transport doesn’t run this early or late, and group tours stick to fixed times. With your own car, you can drive out before dawn or stay out to catch the best landscape photos in Jordan.
Some of the must-see landscapes in Jordan aren’t marked on maps. A bend in the road, a cliff with a view, or a lone tree in the desert can make stunning photos. Renting a car in Jordan gives you the freedom to stop anytime. You can pull over and take a shot all the time.
For History and Highland Views
The King’s Highway is one of Jordan’s oldest and most scenic roads, running from Amman to Petra. It winds through highlands and historic towns like Madaba, Mount Nebo, Karak, and the Dana Biosphere Reserve. For photographers, this route offers a rare mix of dramatic landscapes and ancient history, all in one drive.
One of the standout stops is the Wadi Mujib viewpoint, where deep canyons slice through the land. It’s an ideal location for wide-angle shots, especially at sunrise. Soft morning light reveals layers of color and shadow in the sandstone cliffs, making your images more dynamic and detailed.
Further along the drive, Dana Biosphere Reserve reveals one of Jordan’s most photogenic landscapes. As you approach the village of Dana, the road opens up to sweeping views of cliffs and deep valleys stretching toward Wadi Araba. The viewpoint near Dana Guesthouse is one of the best spots for photography. You can capture the layered ridges, stone houses clinging to the hillside, and the vast wilderness below.
This area is perfect for long-exposure shots during golden hour. A tripod and ND filter help capture soft, warm light as it hits the rocky landscape. Around sunset, the cliffs glow in golden and orange tones, adding depth and mood to your shots. Dana’s high elevation also offers clear, dry air, which is ideal for sharp images using a zoom lens.
Salt Crystals and Sunset Shots
Driving along Highway 65 from Amman to Aqaba takes you past the shores of the Dead Sea, one of the lowest and most surreal places on Earth. This route is perfect for photographers looking for water reflections, salt patterns, and soft evening light. It’s one of the top Jordan landscape photography spots for wide, open scenes with a peaceful, otherworldly feel.
Along the drive, you’ll find several viewpoints and roadside pullovers. These spots offer clear views of the Dead Sea with the Moab mountains rising behind the water. The contrast between the still blue water and the soft, hazy mountains makes for beautiful layered compositions. Some areas also have natural salt formations—great for close-up shots or creative framing with a foreground.
The best time to shoot along the Dead Sea Road is from late afternoon to sunset. As the sun lowers, the water surface turns reflective, which can capture soft skies and glowing colors. Bring a tripod to stabilize your camera for low-light images, and try using a polarizing filter to cut glare and bring out texture in the salt.
Mars on Earth
The drive down Highway 15, also known as the Desert Highway, leads you to Wadi Rum. With its endless red sand, towering rock formations, and open skies, this area looks like the surface of Mars.
As you turn off the main road and enter the Wadi Rum Protected Area, the scenery becomes even more dramatic. Massive sandstone cliffs rise from the desert floor, and scattered Bedouin camps add cultural depth to your images. The open space is perfect for wide-angle shots, and you can show scale and distance. If you're using a drone, this is one of the best places in the country to capture overhead views of shifting dunes and rock corridors.
For the best light, enter the desert early in the morning around 6:00 AM. The low sun highlights textures in the sand and casts long shadows from the cliffs. The soft light brings out the deep reds and oranges that Wadi Rum is known for. Public transport doesn’t go into the desert, and tours often rush through the area. If you have a car, you can drive to the Wadi Rum Visitor Center, check in, and take your time arranging a jeep tour or a local guide.
Northern Jordan’s Green Escape
This lesser-known drive in northern Jordan connects two of the country’s most impressive historical sites, Umm Qais and Jerash. The route winds through green hills, olive groves, and quiet villages, which contrasts with the country’s desert south. It’s a great photography spot, especially in spring, when the fields are lush and the skies are clear.
Start in Umm Qais, where you can photograph Roman ruins overlooking the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, and even parts of Israel on a clear day. From there, take the scenic roads through Ajloun and Aljoun Forest Reserve, where you’ll find rolling hills and patches of pine forest. This is great for landscape shots with layers and depth.
End your loop at Jerash, home to one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy. The golden afternoon light here is perfect for photographing ancient columns, wide plazas, and dramatic shadows. Fewer tourists in this region also mean you can take your time composing shots without crowds in the frame.
This loop features landscapes in eastern Jordan from green marshes to dry, flat desert plains. Start your drive toward Azraq Wetland Reserve, a surprising pocket of life in the middle of a vast desert. Then continue to nearby Desert Castles like Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharana, and Qasr Azraq, all set against wide open skies and black basalt landscapes. This contrast is one of the most unique Jordan landscape photography spots.
In Azraq Wetland Reserve, bring a zoom lens or telephoto to capture birds, water buffalo, and mirror-like reflections in the still water. Arrive early, around 6:00 to 7:00 AM, to catch golden light and see the most wildlife activity before the heat sets in. Use a low ISO and fast shutter speed to freeze birds in motion or highlight detail in the reeds.
From there, the drive to the Desert Castles leads you across flat, empty roads. These roads are perfect for capturing the feeling of isolation and endless space. Use wide-angle lenses to frame the low, ancient buildings against clean desert horizons. The best light hits the castles in the late afternoon, which casts long shadows and warm tones on their stone walls.
Now that you know where to take landscape photos in Jordan, it’s time to plan how to get the best shots. Jordan’s diverse terrain offers endless photo opportunities, but getting the perfect shot depends on your timing, gear, and awareness of local customs.
After exploring Jordan’s most scenic drives, one thing is clear. This country is built for photographers who love the open road. Every stretch of highway delivers a new scene worth stopping for. Driving in Jordan isn’t just about getting from point A to B. It’s about pulling over for that perfect shot, chasing golden hour light, and finding viewpoints that most tours miss.
If you’re ready to experience these landscapes on your own terms, rent a car with FinalRentals. We have pick-up points in Amman, Jabal Downtown, and Queen Alia International Airport. Enjoy flexible cancellation, instant booking, and a wide variety of cars, from budget-friendly to luxury vehicles.
