Petra & Wadi Rum 3 Days 2 Tour Nights from Eilat border

Petra and Wadi Rum give you two very different views of Jordan in just three days: a Nabatean city carved into rose-colored rock, then a desert of sand, cliffs, arches, and open sky. I like the border-to-border planning and the fact that your driver, lodging, tickets, meals, and local guides are arranged in one package. The Bedouin jeep trip also goes beyond a quick photo stop, with Lawrence Spring, Khazali Canyon, sand dunes, and several rock bridges on the route.

The main catch is time. Petra gets about one guided day, and the first and last days include long transfers and border formalities. You should also be ready for plenty of walking, uneven ground, heat, and an early start in Wadi Rum. For a short Jordan visit from Israel, though, this is a practical way to see two major sights without hiring taxis or sorting out each connection yourself.

Key points to know before booking

• The tour begins on the Jordanian side of the Eilat-Aqaba border, after you handle the Israeli side of the crossing yourself.
• Petra includes about three hours with an English-speaking guide, followed by free time to explore at your own pace.
• Wadi Rum includes a four to five-hour 4×4 trip with an English-speaking Bedouin driver.
• Your two nights are split between a Petra hotel and a desert camp, with breakfast both mornings and dinner at camp.
• The package includes entrance fees, transfers, mineral water, selected meals, and visa assistance for eligible nationalities.
• Camel riding costs extra, at 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, per camel for one hour.

Why this short Petra and Wadi Rum plan works

At $635.90 per person, this is not a budget border crossing. It is a convenience package aimed at people who want Jordan arranged from the moment they enter the country until they return to the Eilat border.

The price covers a surprising number of moving parts: the Petra hotel, Wadi Rum camp, Petra and Wadi Rum admission, private transfers, guided touring, breakfasts, two lunches, dinner, mineral water, and help with the Jordanian entry process. You are paying for transport and coordination as much as for sightseeing.

I especially like the door-to-door structure. Petra is about two hours from the border, and Wadi Rum is another hour and a half from Petra. Without a planned vehicle, those transfers would mean arranging separate taxis or negotiating rides in a place you have just entered.

This is a private activity for your group, not a large bus tour. That gives you more control over the pace, though the published schedule still has fixed transfer times and a set Petra guiding period. The tour is best for you if you value simplicity and have only a few days. If you prefer slow mornings, long hikes, or several nights in each place, this itinerary will feel tight.

Crossing from Eilat into Jordan

You start at Wadi Araba Border Road on the Jordanian side of the Eilat-Aqaba crossing. You complete the Israeli part of the crossing on your own. Once you reach Jordan, a representative meets you and helps you through the arrival process.

For eligible, non-restricted nationalities, the tour provides a free visa on arrival because the stay lasts more than two nights. Do not treat this as a guarantee for every passport. Your nationality must qualify, and the operator confirms availability after booking.

After the border formalities, you meet the driver and begin the roughly two-hour ride to Petra. The pickup timing is listed for the afternoon, so your first day is mainly a transfer day. You should not expect a full Petra visit on arrival.

The border assistance is one of the package’s most useful features. Crossing between Israel and Jordan can involve paperwork, waiting, and several points where you need to know where to go next. Having a local representative meet you on the Jordanian side takes away much of that uncertainty.

The arrangement is not entirely hands-off. You still need to manage the Israeli side yourself, arrive at the correct meeting point, and allow time for border procedures. Keep your passport and booking information easy to reach, and avoid planning a tight connection immediately after the tour ends.

Petra by foot, from the Siq to the Treasury

Petra is the center of the second day. After breakfast, you meet your English-speaking guide at the Visitor’s Centre for about three hours of guided touring. The guide leads you through the main route and explains how the Nabatean capital once controlled important Arabian trade routes.

The approach begins in the Siq, a narrow gorge with tall, colorful sandstone walls. This passage builds the anticipation well. The first clear view of the Treasury comes at the end of the gorge, and it is one of the great reveal moments in Middle Eastern sightseeing.

From the Treasury, the route continues along the Street of Facades toward the Royal Tombs, the Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint. Those stops give you more than a single famous photograph. You see the scale of the city, the different types of carved buildings, and the way Petra spreads beyond its best-known monument.

The three-hour guide period is a sensible compromise. You get context at the places where it helps most, then have free time to set your own pace. I like that balance, especially in a site where you may want to pause for photographs or simply sit near the Treasury for a few minutes.

The tradeoff is that the free time is not unlimited. The itinerary gives Petra about seven hours, including the guided portion, walking, and your return to the entrance. It specifically covers the main route toward the Theatre and Qasr Al Bint, not every possible trail in the archaeological area.

You should expect a physically active day. Petra involves substantial walking over uneven surfaces, with exposure to sun and heat. The experience requires moderate physical fitness, so comfortable shoes, water, sun protection, and a realistic view of your pace matter.

A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included and not mandatory. The handler expects a tip, and horse-drawn carriages and camel rides are not included. I would treat the horse ride as an optional convenience, not a central part of the Petra experience, and confirm the arrangement with your guide before setting off.

After your guided tour and free time, you walk back to the entrance gate. That return matters when planning your energy. Petra is not a quick stop where you can see the Treasury and leave. Even the basic route takes time and effort.

From Petra to a night in Wadi Rum

After Petra, you meet your driver for the roughly one-and-a-half-hour transfer to Wadi Rum. The change is dramatic: the carved stone city gives way to wide desert views and isolated rock formations.

The desert portion begins with time to enjoy sunset and the night sky, followed by a Bedouin-style camp stay. Dinner is a barbecue, with vegetarian food available. Breakfast is served at the camp the next morning.

A camp night gives you a different kind of Jordan experience from the hotel in Petra. The appeal is the setting, the quiet, and the chance to sit outdoors under the stars. It is also a simple stay rather than a city hotel, so you should choose it for the desert atmosphere, not for the same facilities you expect in a standard property.

The tour includes dinner and breakfast at camp, along with two lunches during the overall trip. Meals and drinks not specifically listed remain your responsibility. Mineral water is provided in the vehicle, which is helpful during the long road transfers and outdoor touring.

One practical point: you do not get a full Wadi Rum jeep tour on arrival day. The main 4×4 outing takes place the next morning, so the first evening is for sunset, dinner, and the camp setting.

The Wadi Rum jeep route

After breakfast, you take a four to five-hour 4×4 jeep tour with an English-speaking Bedouin driver. The route includes a long list of desert sights:

• Nabatean Temple
• Lawrence Spring
• Sand Dunes
• Khazali Canyon
• Little Bridge
• Um Frouth Rock Bridge
• Lawrence House
• Burdah Rock Bridge or Burdah Arch

This is a strong part of the itinerary because the jeep ride is not limited to one viewpoint. You get a mix of archaeological remains, narrow rock formations, open sand, and natural stone arches. The references to Lawrence of Arabia also connect the area with the famous desert stories associated with Wadi Rum.

The names can sound similar on paper, so your Bedouin driver is important here. The driver handles the route and gives you local context while taking you between the stops. You should expect a working desert vehicle and outdoor conditions, not a polished sightseeing coach.

Several stops involve climbing or walking over sand and rock. The itinerary does not promise that you climb every bridge or arch, and your comfort level will guide how much you do at each place. The heat, loose sand, and uneven rock can make a four to five-hour outing tiring.

Camel riding is an optional add-on from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring. It costs 10 JD, or about $15, per camel for one hour. If you want to add it, bring cash and confirm the timing so it does not cut into the jeep route.

At the end of the day, the vehicle takes you approximately one hour back to the Eilat border for your departure from Jordan. The tour ends at the same general meeting point where the Jordan portion began.

Hotels, meals, and the people handling the details

The first night is at a Petra hotel with breakfast. The second night is at a Wadi Rum camp, including dinner and breakfast. The exact hotel and camp names are not specified, so you should ask what properties are available before you finalize the booking if accommodation standards are important to you.

The tour includes two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner. The wording around inclusions means you should not assume every meal or drink is covered. Personal expenses, tips, travel insurance, and unlisted food and beverages are extra.

The local team has received praise for punctuality, kind assistance, clean modern vehicles, air conditioning, and cold water. Aida is specifically associated with handling bookings, and Aladdin is mentioned in connection with the local support team. The names of your exact driver and guide may vary, so confirm those details after booking.

Tips for drivers and guides are not included. The horse handler also expects a tip if you take the included 700-meter ride. Carry small Jordanian notes if possible, since tipping is easier when you are not searching for change at the end of a busy day.

Is $635.90 a fair price?

The value depends on what you would otherwise arrange yourself. The headline price includes two nights, entrance tickets, multiple transfers, a Petra guide, a Wadi Rum jeep tour, meals, border assistance, and water. For someone starting and ending at Eilat, that is a substantial amount of coordination.

You are also buying time and reduced stress. The route crosses a national border, covers long distances, and combines two destinations that are not next door to each other. A private setup can be worth paying for if you do not want to manage taxis, hotels, tickets, and local guides separately.

Still, the price will feel high if you already have Jordan transport and accommodation arranged. It also does not include every meal, drinks, insurance, tips, or the optional camel ride. Ask for the exact accommodation details and confirm what the two lunches include before booking.

Group discounts are available, so the per-person value may improve if you are traveling with several people. Because this is a private tour, the cost structure may make more sense for a small group than for one person traveling alone.

Who should book this Jordan trip?

I would recommend it to you if you are staying in Eilat, have only three days, and want Petra and Wadi Rum without building the trip yourself. It suits people who appreciate a local guide at Petra, a Bedouin driver in the desert, and a clear plan from border arrival to border departure.

It is also a good fit if border assistance matters to you. The Jordanian representative meets you after you complete the Israeli side, then helps connect you with your driver and onward transfer.

I would be more cautious if you want a leisurely Petra visit, a longer desert stay, or a demanding hiking program. The schedule is efficient, but it is not spacious. Moderate fitness is needed, and the combination of border procedures, driving, walking, sand, and rock makes each day active.

The cancellation terms are fairly strict close to departure. A full refund requires cancellation at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead receives 50 percent, while cancellation less than two full days ahead is nonrefundable. Bad weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

My booking advice

Book this tour if your priority is seeing the two headline sights with transport, lodging, tickets, and border help in one arrangement. The strongest reasons are the well-planned connections, the three-hour Petra orientation, and the substantial Wadi Rum jeep route.

Before paying, confirm your passport eligibility for the free visa, the exact Petra hotel and desert camp, the pickup timing, and the meals included. If you accept the fast pace and prepare for a lot of walking, this is a practical and memorable way to add Jordan to an Eilat stay.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The Jordan portion starts at Wadi Araba Border Road on the Jordanian side of the Eilat-Aqaba crossing.

Do I handle the Israeli side of the border crossing?

Yes. You complete the Israeli side of the crossing by yourself. A Jordanian representative meets you after you enter Jordan.

Is a visa included?

A free visa on arrival is provided for non-restricted nationalities that qualify under the tour conditions. The stay is more than two nights, which is part of the stated qualification.

How long is the transfer from the border to Petra?

The transfer from the Jordanian border to Petra takes approximately two hours.

How much guided time do I get in Petra?

You receive about three hours with an English-speaking guide. You then have free time to continue exploring on your own.

Which parts of Petra are included?

The route passes through the Siq to the Treasury, then continues along the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs, Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint.

Is the Petra horse ride included?

A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included and is not mandatory. The handler expects a tip. Horse-drawn carriages and camel rides are not included.

How long is the Wadi Rum jeep tour?

The 4×4 jeep tour lasts approximately four to five hours and includes an English-speaking Bedouin driver.

Can I ride a camel in Wadi Rum?

Yes. Camel riding is optional from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring. It costs 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, per camel for one hour.

What happens if I need to cancel?

For a full refund, cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead receives a 50 percent refund. Less than two full days ahead is nonrefundable. Weather or minimum-participant cancellations may result in a new date, another experience, or a full refund.