2-Day Petra and Wadi Rum Tour From Eilat

Two countries, one packed weekend. This tour links Petra and Wadi Rum with a Jordanian guide, air-conditioned transport, meals, and a night in a Bedouin camp. I like the easy route from Eilat and the chance to combine Petra with a 4×4 desert safari, rather than seeing either place as a rushed day trip. I also like the warm camp setup, with beds, showers, dinner, and breakfast included.

The main drawback is the schedule. Day two runs for about 11 hours, and the border fees add to the advertised $345 price. The group may reach 47 people, so you should expect a shared coach experience rather than a quiet private tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra gets a full morning plus free time: You receive a guided visit until noon, then several hours to explore on your own before meeting the bus at 4:00 p.m.
• Wadi Rum includes a real 4×4 safari: The desert portion runs from about 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., with scenery of dunes, cliffs, and open desert.
• The Bedouin camp has practical comforts: You sleep in a proper bed and have access to warm showers, not just a sleeping bag under the stars.
• Border charges are extra: Budget 115 ILS for Israeli border taxes and 50 JOD for Jordanian border taxes, both separate from the tour price.
• Meals are buffet style: Brunch, lunch, dinner, and breakfast are provided, with vegetarian and vegan choices available.
• The tour is highly organized but full: A guide stays with you from your arrival in Jordan until your departure, though the overall group can reach 47 people.

From Eilat to Aqaba at 9:00 a.m.

The tour begins with pickup in Eilat at 9:00 a.m. You cross into Jordan through the Arava Border Crossing, then meet the Jordanian guide on the other side. This arrangement helps keep the crossing organized, but it is worth paying close attention to instructions.

The Israeli-side staff member does not accompany the group across the border. One person reported that the guidance from the Eilat side was not clear enough, so do not rush off in confusion. Keep your passport and documents handy, follow the group carefully, and confirm where you should meet the Jordanian guide.

Once across, the tour heads to Aqaba for a traditional Jordanian brunch at a local restaurant. The meal includes hummus, falafel, foul, salads, fresh pita bread, and other buffet items. This is a generous start to the trip and gives you a first taste of everyday Jordanian food before the desert portion begins.

The Aqaba stop is scheduled for about three hours. That leaves time to eat without turning the morning into a race. Drinks and food outside the included meals are not covered, so bring cash for extras.

Wadi Rum by 4×4 from 1:00 p.m.

After Aqaba, the group continues toward Wadi Rum. Around 1:00 p.m., you board a 4×4 vehicle for a desert safari lasting roughly three and a half hours.

This is one of the tour’s strongest features. Petra is a major archaeological site, but Wadi Rum gives the trip its sense of open space and adventure. You pass among dunes and cliffs, with the changing colors and shapes of the desert providing a sharp contrast to the narrow stone passages of Petra.

The tour description promises beautiful Wadi Rum scenery, but it does not list individual stops or named rock formations. That means the precise route can depend on the local operator and the day’s schedule. You should expect a broad desert outing rather than a detailed geology tour.

The 4×4 ride also has a practical benefit: you see much more of Wadi Rum than you could on foot during a short visit. The tradeoff is that the safari is shared, and the group size for the entire tour may reach 47 people. If you want long, quiet stretches alone in the desert, this is not the right format. If you want a safe, efficient introduction, it makes good sense.

A Bedouin camp with beds and hot showers

At about 4:30 p.m., you arrive at a traditional Bedouin campsite for dinner and the overnight stay. The camp is described as being in the heart of the desert, with an overnight experience under the stars.

The useful detail here is comfort. You have a proper bed and warm showers, so this is not rough camping. That matters after a long border crossing, a coach ride, and several hours in a 4×4. You can enjoy the setting without giving up the basics.

Dinner is a Bedouin-style buffet, including an authentic zarb meal. Zarb is traditionally cooked in an underground oven, and it gives the evening a local food element instead of another standard restaurant buffet. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available across the included buffet meals.

There is no Wi-Fi at the camp. I consider that a plus for this particular overnight stay, but you should know it in advance. The lack of internet gives you a chance to talk with the people around you and pay attention to the desert setting. If staying connected is important, download anything you need before arriving.

The camp can also leave you with spare time. One account praised the desert outing but felt there was a lot of free time at the camp. You may enjoy that slower pace, especially after the busy first day. If you prefer a tightly scheduled evening with activities from dusk until bedtime, the camp portion may feel underplanned.

Early breakfast and the road to Petra

The second day starts early. Wake-up is at 6:00 a.m., breakfast begins at 6:30, and the group leaves for Petra at 7:15. The drive is scheduled to take about an hour and 45 minutes, bringing you to Petra at approximately 9:00 a.m.

This early start is necessary. Petra is large, and a later arrival would leave too little time for both a guided visit and independent exploration. Breakfast at the camp is included, which saves you from having to find food before departure.

The early hour can be tiring, especially if you spent the evening sitting outdoors or talking late into the night. Still, the timing is sensible. You gain access to Petra early enough for a substantial visit, while the return to Eilat remains possible the same evening.

Petra from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Petra is the centerpiece of the tour. The guided portion runs from about 9:00 a.m. until noon. A local guide leads you through the main visit and explains the site, its monuments, and the Nabataean world that created this remarkable city.

The schedule gives Petra two different parts. First comes the guided introduction, which helps you understand what you are seeing. Then comes lunch at noon, followed by free time from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for further exploration.

I like this structure. A guide can help you get oriented, but no guide can show you every corner of Petra in a few hours. The free afternoon lets you set your own pace and return to places that caught your attention.

You should be realistic about what three hours of independent time can provide. Petra is not a small monument beside a parking lot. It is a large site with uneven ground, long walking distances, and plenty to see beyond the famous Treasury. You will need to choose your priorities.

One visitor traveled with an 82-year-old mother and arranged Bedouin guides with mules on the second day. That detail may be useful if someone in your group has trouble with long walks, though the mule arrangement is not listed as an included service. You would need to organize and pay for that separately.

At 4:00 p.m., everyone gathers at the Visitor Center. The bus leaves at 4:15 p.m. for the Arava Border Crossing, with arrival back in Eilat scheduled for about 7:00 p.m. You need to respect the meeting time. Petra is the sort of place where an extra half hour can become an extra hour before you notice.

Guides named Mahmoud and Mohammed received especially warm praise for being friendly, careful, and good at explaining the site. Guide quality can shape a short visit, and a strong local guide is particularly useful at Petra, where the ruins are impressive but the story behind them is easy to miss.

The return through the Arava Border Crossing

The final stage is the return from Petra to Israel. The group reaches the Arava crossing at about 7:00 p.m., then continues back to the meeting point in Eilat.

The tour includes a guide in Jordan from arrival until departure, which removes much of the uncertainty on the Jordanian side. The border itself still requires patience and attention. You are crossing between countries twice, and the process is not the same as stepping off a bus at a normal sightseeing stop.

The tour price does not include Israeli border taxes of 115 ILS or Jordanian border taxes of 50 JOD. The Jordanian charge must be paid in cash. These are important costs to arrange before departure, because running short of cash at the crossing could create a serious problem.

What the $345 price really covers

At $345, the tour is not a low-cost border hop. But the price includes many expensive pieces: air-conditioned transport, full guiding, entrance fees, the Wadi Rum 4×4 ride, two nights of meals, lunch in Petra, dinner, breakfast, and accommodation in the Bedouin camp.

You are also paying for coordination. The route crosses an international border, uses several local operators, and covers three major locations in two days. A self-arranged trip might give you more control, but it would require sorting out transport, site tickets, desert transport, camp accommodation, meals, and border timing yourself.

The value is strongest if you want the main highlights with very little planning. It is weaker if you already have Jordanian transport or want to spend several days at Petra. The schedule gives you a strong introduction, not a slow and detailed study of the country.

Remember to add the two border taxes, drinks, extra food, and travel insurance. At the listed group limit of 47 people, the price buys convenience and coverage rather than personal attention at every moment.

Food, comfort, and practical details

All included meals are buffet style, with many choices for vegetarians and vegans. That is helpful on a tightly timed tour, since you do not need to search for a restaurant at every stop.

The Aqaba brunch, Bedouin dinner, camp breakfast, and Petra lunch are included. The details list lunch twice, which indicates that lunch is provided on both days. Other food and drinks are not included, so keep some money available for anything beyond the scheduled meals.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, a welcome feature for a long road journey. The tour begins and ends at the meeting point in Eilat, and the start time is 9:00 a.m. It is near public transportation, and most people can participate.

This is not presented as a private or small-group tour. The maximum of 47 people matters most at the border, around the bus, and at fixed meeting times. In return, you get a clear structure and one Jordanian guide throughout the Jordan portion.

Booking confirmation arrives at the time of booking. The cancellation terms are strict: cancel at least six full days before departure for a full refund, cancel two to six days ahead for a 50 percent refund, and cancel within two days for no refund. Bad weather or failure to meet the minimum number of people can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Eilat and want to see Petra and Wadi Rum without building a Jordan trip from scratch. It is also a good match if you like having meals, admission, transport, and a guide arranged in advance.

The tour suits active people who can manage an early breakfast, long road transfers, desert travel, and several hours at Petra. Older visitors can still enjoy it, but anyone with limited mobility should think ahead about Petra’s walking distances and arrange any extra help in advance.

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed holiday. The second day begins before sunrise and ends after a border crossing. It is also not ideal if you want a private guide, a very small group, or several days to explore Petra at a slow pace.

Should you book the Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing Jordan’s two biggest attractions from Eilat in just two days. The best parts are the efficient route, the moving desert scenery, the 4×4 safari, the comfortable Bedouin camp, and the long Petra visit with free time afterward.

Before paying, set aside cash for 115 ILS and 50 JOD in border taxes. Accept that the group may be large, the schedule is demanding, and the camp may include unstructured downtime. With those limits in mind, the $345 package offers solid value for a tightly organized introduction to Petra and Wadi Rum.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins in Eilat, Israel, with pickup at 9:00 a.m. It ends back at the meeting point in Eilat after the return border crossing.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The first day runs from the 9:00 a.m. pickup through the overnight stay in Wadi Rum. The second day runs from the 6:00 a.m. wake-up until the scheduled return to Eilat at about 7:00 p.m.

Which border crossing does the tour use?

The tour crosses between Israel and Jordan through the Arava Border Crossing.

Are border taxes included in the price?

No. Israeli border taxes of 115 ILS and Jordanian border taxes of 50 JOD are not included. The Jordanian border tax must be paid in cash.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The overnight stay is in a Bedouin campsite in Wadi Rum. The camp provides comfortable beds and warm showers.

What meals are included?

Included meals are the Aqaba brunch, dinner at the Bedouin camp, breakfast at the camp, and lunch in Petra. Meals are buffet style, with vegetarian and vegan choices available. Other food and drinks are not included.

Is the Wadi Rum jeep tour included?

Yes. A 4×4 Jeep tour of Wadi Rum is included in the package.

How much free time do I have at Petra?

The guided visit ends at noon. After lunch, you have free time from about 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. You must gather at the Petra Visitor Center by 4:00 p.m. for the return journey.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 47 people. The tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle and includes a guide in Jordan from arrival until departure.