02 Days with 01 overnight Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border

Two ancient worlds fit into one short trip. This private tour makes the crossing from Eilat into Jordan much easier, then pairs Petra’s carved stone city with a night in the desert at Wadi Rum. I especially like the assisted border crossing and the fact that transport, meals, guides, camping, and entrance fees are handled for you. I also like the overnight format, since a quick Petra day trip would leave little room for Wadi Rum’s sunset and open desert views.

The main drawback is the pace. You cover two major Jordanian sights in roughly two to three days, with long transfers and a four-hour visit to Petra. The $587 price is not small, and optional rides, tips, and possible departure tax add to the final cost. Still, for someone based in Eilat who wants Jordan without arranging every detail alone, this is a well-organized package.

Key Points At a Glance

• Petra gets about four hours: Enough for the main route and major sights, though not enough for every trail.
• Wadi Rum includes a four to five-hour Jeep tour: You get a real desert outing rather than only a quick photo stop.
• One night is spent at a Bedouin camp: Dinner, breakfast, tea, water, and a box lunch are included.
• The border crossing comes with assistance: This matters when you are moving between Israel and Jordan on a tight schedule.
• The tour is private: Only your own group participates, with transfers in a new car and an English-speaking driver.
• Optional extras cost more: Camel rides, a Petra carriage, and an early morning hot air balloon ride are not part of the base price.

Why This Tour Works From Eilat

Petra and Wadi Rum are not difficult to admire, but they are awkward to combine on your own from Eilat. You need to cross an international border, arrange transport on the Jordanian side, organize a Jeep tour, find a place to sleep, and coordinate entry and guides at Petra. This package puts those moving parts under one booking.

The meeting point is in Eilat, in Israel’s Southern District. From there, meet-and-assist service is provided at the Eilat border. That help is one of the most useful parts of the trip, especially if you are unsure where to go, which documents to show, or how the transfer works after crossing.

The tour uses a brand-new car for transfers and an English-speaking driver, described as an assistant driver. Since the tour is private, you are not tied to the habits of a large bus group. That gives the experience a more personal feel, though your exact timing will still depend on border procedures and the road schedule.

You should allow for a full, busy program. The advertised duration is approximately two to three days, and the wording reflects the reality of cross-border travel. This is not a relaxed resort break. It is a compact Jordan trip designed to give you Petra, Wadi Rum, and one night under the desert sky.

Crossing From Eilat Into Jordan

The border assistance deserves more attention than it might first receive. International crossings can turn a simple sightseeing day into a confusing chain of lines, forms, fees, and handoffs. Having someone meet you at the Eilat border gives you a clear point of contact.

The tour includes all transfers by car, rather than leaving you to find a taxi or negotiate a ride after entering Jordan. Mineral water is available in the vehicle, a small but welcome detail when the day includes heat, walking, and long stretches on the road.

A possible extra charge is the Jordan departure tax, listed as 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, when applied. Tips for the driver and guides are also not included. Keep cash available for those costs, along with any optional activity you choose.

The private format is especially useful for couples, families, and small groups who prefer to move together. You do not have to share the vehicle or the schedule with strangers. It also means the $587 price is charged per person, so the value improves when the group can share the private transport and planning benefits.

Petra: Four Hours In The Rose-Red City

Petra is the emotional center of the trip. The city was carved into rose-colored sandstone by the Nabataeans, whose trading kingdom once controlled important routes through the region. The famous rock-cut tombs are only part of the story. Petra also contains temples, a theater, a colonnaded street, and churches shaped by later Roman and Byzantine influence.

The site also records human settlement and land use going back more than 10,000 years. That long span is what makes Petra more than a collection of dramatic façades. You are looking at a place where natural rock, engineering, burial customs, religion, trade, and later cultures all meet.

Your entry ticket is included, as is an English-speaking Petra guide for three hours. That guide helps give order to a huge archaeological site. Without some context, it is easy to spend your time admiring the stone color while missing why the tombs, streets, and public buildings mattered.

The total Petra stop is listed as four hours. That is enough time to experience the main approach and see important sections of the ancient city. It is not enough time to walk every possible path or treat Petra as a full-day hiking destination. Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably, and pace yourself rather than trying to collect every viewpoint.

A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included, but it is not mandatory. The horse handler expects a tip, so do not mistake the included ride for a fully tip-free activity. You can also arrange a horse-drawn carriage at the Petra Gate for $40, with room for a maximum of two people. A camel ride is another option, listed at 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, per camel per hour.

The carriage may help if someone in your group has difficulty with the approach, but it is an added expense and not part of the essential Petra experience. The same is true of the camel ride. I would treat these as optional extras, not reasons to choose the tour.

Lunch at Al Qantara Restaurant or a similar restaurant is included. That keeps you from having to stop and search for food during a tightly scheduled Petra visit. Breakfast, dinner, and another lunch or box lunch are also included according to the day’s schedule, so check the exact timing with the operator before departure.

Wadi Rum By Private Jeep

Wadi Rum is known as the Valley of the Moon, a broad desert valley cut into sandstone and granite in southern Jordan. It lies about 60 kilometers east of Aqaba and is the largest wadi in Jordan. Its appeal is not a single monument. It is the combination of open sand, towering rock formations, silence, and the feeling of moving through a place shaped by geology rather than city life.

The included Jeep tour lasts approximately four to five hours. Your English-speaking Wadi Rum guide is also your driver, which keeps the outing simple. Instead of seeing the desert from the road and returning to town, you get a proper desert ride through the valley.

The tour includes a box lunch in Wadi Rum, mineral water, Bedouin tea, and what is described as real Bedouin hospitality. These details matter because the desert portion lasts several hours. Water is not a luxury here, and tea gives the stop a local touch without adding another charge.

The timing allows for a desert sunset, one of the strongest reasons to choose an overnight tour instead of a rushed day trip. The exact sunset location and time are not specified, so you should confirm the day’s schedule with your guide. Still, the overnight format gives Wadi Rum room to feel like a place, not just another stop between attractions.

A camel ride is available in Wadi Rum for 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, per camel per hour. You do not need to reserve it in advance, and you can ask your guide when you arrive. I would decide based on your group’s interest and the available time. The Jeep tour is already included, so the camel is an optional change of pace rather than a necessary part of the visit.

One Night At The Bedouin Camp

The overnight stay is at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum. Dinner is a barbecue, and breakfast is included. The package also lists mineral water and Bedouin tea, along with lunch and a box lunch during the wider program.

The camp is the practical reason this tour can show you more of Wadi Rum. You are not forced to leave the desert as soon as the Jeep ride ends. You get an evening there, then continue with breakfast before the next part of the trip.

The accommodation is camping, so set your expectations accordingly. The supplied information does not specify room style, private bathrooms, bedding, or heating. Ask Jordan Horizons Tours for those details before booking if comfort standards are important to you.

The camp setting will suit you if you want a desert night and a more direct connection with local hospitality. It may be less suitable if you want a conventional hotel room, a fixed private bathroom, or a slow, polished holiday. This is a practical overnight base that supports the itinerary rather than a luxury stay.

What The $587 Price Really Covers

At $587 per person, this tour costs more than arranging only a Petra entrance ticket and a hotel night. But the price covers a long list of items: border assistance, private transfers, a new vehicle, an English-speaking driver, the Wadi Rum Jeep tour, a Wadi Rum guide, Petra entry, a Petra guide, camping, dinner, breakfast, lunch, a box lunch, water, tea, and the included horse ride.

That bundled cost can make sense if you value convenience. You are paying to avoid piecing together cross-border transport, a desert excursion, accommodation, meals, and local guiding. You are also paying for a private group rather than a large shared coach.

The value is weaker if you already have Jordanian transport or prefer to arrange budget accommodation and activities yourself. The advertised package does not include tips, insurance, personal expenses, the possible 10 JD departure tax, a Petra carriage, camel rides, or the hot air balloon option.

The hot air balloon flight is an early morning extra, available for one hour between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. It costs 130 JD, or about $185, per person, and must be booked in advance. That is a major addition to the budget, so decide before the trip if it is a priority.

The most praised service detail is the responsiveness of Andrea and Mohammed. Their names are specifically associated with helpful communication, which is important for a trip involving a border, multiple transfers, and optional activities. Even with good support, confirm the final price, departure tax, camp facilities, and daily schedule in writing.

Who Will Get The Most From This Trip

I would recommend this tour to you if you are staying in Eilat and want to see Petra and Wadi Rum without managing Jordanian logistics alone. It is also a good fit for families and small private groups that value a dedicated vehicle and an assisted crossing.

The tour suits people who want major sights rather than a slow, specialized archaeological visit. Petra receives about four hours, and the schedule includes a substantial Wadi Rum outing, so you get a strong first look at both places.

You should think twice if your main goal is long-distance hiking in Petra. Four hours will limit your ability to explore the wider site. You may also want a different plan if you dislike camping, prefer a hotel, or want complete control over meal and departure times.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The horse ride is optional, and the camel rides are optional, too. If walking is a concern, ask about the exact transfer and site arrangements before you pay, since the supplied details do not describe accessibility beyond the available rides and carriage.

The cancellation terms are straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and the experience requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want the simplest practical route from Eilat to two of Jordan’s most famous places. The strongest reasons are the border assistance, private transport, included meals, full Wadi Rum Jeep outing, and one night at a desert camp.

Do not book it expecting a leisurely Petra holiday or a luxury camp. The schedule is compact, extra costs can appear, and Petra deserves more than four hours if you want every trail and monument.

For a first Jordan visit from Eilat, I see good value in the structure. You get the big sights, local guides, desert time, and help with the complicated parts. Just confirm the final costs and camp details, then bring a flexible attitude and enough cash for tips and optional rides.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Eilat, in Israel’s Southern District, with meeting arrangements connected to the Eilat border.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two to three days and includes one overnight stay in Wadi Rum.

Is Petra admission included?

Yes. Entrance to Petra is included in the tour price.

How much time is spent at Petra?

The Petra stop lasts about four hours, including approximately three hours with an English-speaking guide.

Is a guide provided at Petra?

Yes. An English-speaking Petra guide is included for three hours.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transfers are provided in a brand-new car with an English-speaking driver or assistant driver.

What is included in the Wadi Rum visit?

The package includes a four to five-hour Jeep tour, an English-speaking guide who is also the driver, mineral water, Bedouin tea, and Bedouin hospitality.

Where do you sleep?

You spend one night camping at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum.

Are meals included?

Yes. Dinner, breakfast, lunch, and a box lunch in Wadi Rum are included according to the tour schedule.

Are camel rides and the hot air balloon included?

No. Camel rides and the Petra carriage cost extra. The optional one-hour hot air balloon ride costs 130 Jordanian dinars, or about $185, per person, and requires advance booking.