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

Jordan begins at the border. This three-day private tour links Petra and Wadi Rum with border assistance, hotel and camp stays, meals, entrance fees, and transport back to Eilat. You cross the Israeli side on your own, then meet a representative on the Jordanian side who helps with the arrival process and connects you with your driver.

I like the door-to-door transport, since you do not need to bargain for taxis after a tiring border crossing. I also like the mix of structure and free time: an English-speaking guide leads you through Petra for about three hours, then you continue at your own pace, while Wadi Rum gets a proper four to five-hour 4×4 visit with a Bedouin driver. The main drawback is the pace. You see two major Jordanian sights quickly, and Petra in particular can feel demanding after an afternoon arrival and a long walking day.

Key points to know before you book

• Border-focused planning: The tour is built for people entering and leaving Jordan through the Eilat-Aqaba crossing.
• Two very different nights: You sleep one night in a Petra hotel and one night at a Wadi Rum camp, with breakfast at both.
• Three-hour Petra guide: An English-speaking guide covers the main route, including the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Royal Tombs, Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint.
• Bedouin-led desert outing: A four to five-hour 4×4 trip visits springs, canyons, dunes, bridges, and sites linked with Lawrence of Arabia.
• Horse ride included, but not required: A 700-meter horse ride at Petra is provided, though the handler expects a tip.
• Camel riding costs extra: The optional one-hour ride from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring costs 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, per camel.

Why this route works well from Eilat

Aqaba and Eilat sit close together, but the border can make a short Jordan trip feel more complicated than the map suggests. This arrangement removes several moving parts. Once you reach the Jordanian side, a representative meets you, assists with the qualifying visa process, and takes you to your driver.

That help matters most if you are arriving in the afternoon. You still complete the Israeli side of the crossing yourself, so this is not a guided border crossing from start to finish. But after you enter Jordan, you have a clear handoff instead of searching for a taxi or trying to arrange a transfer on the spot.

The transfer to Petra takes about two hours. That is a useful piece of the schedule to understand: your first day is mainly an arrival and transfer day, not a full Petra sightseeing day. You stay at a Petra hotel that night and have breakfast before the main visit on Day 2.

The tour is private, so only your own group takes part. That gives you more control than a large coach trip, though the overall route and timing remain fairly fixed because Petra and Wadi Rum are far enough apart to require careful planning.

Arriving at Petra after the border crossing

The first night at Petra is practical rather than packed with activities. After the afternoon border arrival, you travel by modern vehicle for roughly two hours to your hotel. The included room and breakfast save you from arranging a late check-in after the crossing.

The package lists an English-speaking driver, an assistant driver, and mineral water in the vehicle. Those small touches are useful on a cross-country route. You can settle in, keep your water topped up, and focus on the next morning rather than handling local transport yourself.

The accommodation itself can vary because the exact hotel is not specified. One useful point from the supplied feedback is that hotel requests were handled well, with one traveler noting that the chosen hotels matched what had been requested. If the standard room or hotel category matters to you, ask for the exact property before paying.

Petra from the Siq to Qasr Al Bint

Petra is the centerpiece of the trip, and the visit begins at the Visitor Centre. Your guide leads you through the Siq, the narrow passage that slowly reveals Petra’s rose-colored sandstone. The first sight of the Treasury at the end of the gorge is carefully staged by nature: the rock walls close in, then the carved facade appears ahead.

The guided portion lasts about three hours. That is enough time to understand the principal route without giving up your whole day to a guide. You walk past the Street of Facades toward the Royal Tombs, the Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint, with the guide providing context along the way.

I like this arrangement because Petra is much more than a quick photograph at the Treasury. The Siq explains how the city is approached. The Treasury gives you the famous image, but the tombs, theatre, and religious buildings show the scale of the Nabatean capital and its place along major Arabian trade routes.

After the guided tour, you have free time to explore on your own. The stated route has you walking back to the entrance gate the same way you came. That return trip is not glamorous, but it lets you see the rock colors and carved details from another angle. It also means you should keep an eye on the time and your energy.

Plan for a moderate physical effort. The day is listed at about seven hours, and Petra involves substantial walking over uneven ground. Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and the mineral water provided in the vehicle are sensible basics.

A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included and not mandatory. The horse handler expects a tip, so carry some small cash if you plan to accept it. The package does not include horse-drawn carriage rides or other camel rides at Petra, so do not confuse this short horse transfer with a full guided ride through the site.

Petra can be tiring even when the route is straightforward. The free time is valuable, but you may prefer to use it for a steady visit rather than trying to add every possible trail. The tour description does not promise the Monastery route or other longer hikes, so treat the main route as the reliable plan.

The road from Petra to Wadi Rum

After your Petra visit, you meet your driver and travel about one and a half hours to Wadi Rum. This is a good point in the schedule for a rest. You will have already spent hours walking through Petra, and the desert portion begins with a very different rhythm.

Wadi Rum is not a conventional sightseeing stop. The appeal is the open desert, the red rock formations, the quiet after sunset, and the chance to move through the area in a 4×4 rather than on foot. A Bedouin camp provides the overnight setting, dinner, and breakfast.

The evening includes sunset viewing and time to look at the night sky. The camp dinner is a barbecue, with vegetarian options available. Accommodation details beyond the fact that it is a camp are not specified, so ask what type of tent and facilities are included if that affects your comfort.

This night is one of the strongest parts of the itinerary because it changes the mood completely. Petra is about carved stone and crowded visual landmarks. Wadi Rum is about space, rock, sand, and Bedouin hospitality. You get both without spending a night arranging a separate desert transfer.

A four to five-hour Wadi Rum 4×4 route

After breakfast at camp, you set out with an English-speaking Bedouin driver for approximately four to five hours. The vehicle carries you between several named sites, making this more than a short photo stop near the camp.

The route includes:

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

The visit follows the broad pattern many people hope for in Wadi Rum: a little archaeology, a little local association, open desert, narrow rock formations, and natural bridges. The references to Lawrence of Arabia add a familiar thread, but the Bedouin driver is just as important because the desert makes more sense with local eyes and practical knowledge.

You should expect stops rather than a continuous drive. At sand dunes and rock bridges, you may have time to walk around, climb short sections, or take photographs, but the exact amount of time at each site is not stated. The tour requires moderate fitness, and some surfaces may be uneven, so sensible footwear remains useful after Petra.

A one-hour camel ride is optional from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring. It costs 10 JD, about $15, per camel, and is not included in the main package. If you want the ride, confirm the timing with your driver so it fits the 4×4 route and the final border transfer.

Getting back to the Eilat-Aqaba border

On Day 3, the tour drives you approximately one hour back to the Eilat border for departure from Jordan. The activity ends at the meeting point on Wadi Araba Border Road in Aqaba.

The timing is worth treating seriously. This is not a leisurely final morning with an open-ended desert breakfast. You have a scheduled transfer after the jeep outing, and you should keep your belongings ready before the drive begins.

The same border location also makes this trip easy to pair with an Eilat stay. You start and finish at the crossing, rather than being dropped in central Aqaba or left to arrange a separate connection. That is a clear benefit for anyone whose Jordan visit is limited to Petra and Wadi Rum.

What the $635.90 price covers

At $635.90 per person, this is not a bargain-basement Jordan trip. The value comes from the number of separate costs bundled into a short private journey.

The package includes Petra and Wadi Rum entrance tickets, the Petra guide, the Wadi Rum 4×4 outing, the Petra hotel, the desert camp, breakfasts, dinner, listed lunches, border assistance, transfers, and mineral water. It also includes the free visa on arrival for eligible nationalities, provided you qualify under the stated conditions and stay more than two nights in Jordan.

The listed inclusions say two breakfasts and two lunches, plus dinner. The day-by-day schedule clearly describes breakfast on both mornings and the camp barbecue dinner, while lunch arrangements are not described in detail. I would confirm where and when the lunches are served before booking, especially if you have dietary needs.

Private transport is the biggest value for a short trip. A cheaper independent plan might still require you to organize a border transfer, Petra transport, Wadi Rum transport, site tickets, a hotel, a camp, and a jeep tour. Here, the price buys simplicity and a dedicated vehicle, not just admission to the monuments.

Tips, personal expenses, travel insurance, unlisted meals and drinks, the optional camel ride, and horse-drawn carriage rides are extra. Build those into your budget rather than treating the listed price as the final amount you will spend.

The service details that matter most

The strongest service points are practical ones: punctual transfers, assistance at check-ins and border crossings, cold water and air conditioning in the vehicles, and hotel arrangements handled according to requests. The supplied feedback specifically names Aida as someone who handled bookings, while Aladdin is praised alongside the wider team for helping with tours and safety.

Those names do not guarantee who your own guide or driver will be, but they show the kind of support the company aims to provide. The tour also includes an English-speaking driver and an English-speaking Bedouin driver, so you should have communication support throughout the main route.

The trip is private, but the Bedouin 4×4 segment is still led by the local driver assigned to you. If you want longer stops, more walking, or less time at a particular site, ask early and keep in mind that the border departure sets a hard limit.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this tour to you if you have only three days, are staying in Eilat, and want Petra and Wadi Rum without piecing together Jordanian transport. It suits couples, families, and small groups that value a private vehicle and direct assistance more than the lowest possible price.

It is also a good match if you want a first visit with a clear route. The Petra guide gives you an introduction, and the free time lets you look around without being accompanied every minute. The Bedouin-led jeep trip adds a local element that a simple transfer would miss.

You may want a different plan if you prefer slow travel. Petra deserves more than a rushed look, and this itinerary gives you roughly one main day there before moving on. It is also less suitable if you dislike long drives, uneven walking, desert camping, or fixed departure times.

Book only after checking passport and visa eligibility. The free visa applies to non-restricted nationalities under the stated conditions, and the tour requires a stay of more than two nights in Jordan. The provider confirms bookings within 48 hours, subject to availability, so leave room in your plans.

Cancellation is generous only when handled early: cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund. A cancellation two to six days out receives 50 percent, while cancellation less than two days before departure is nonrefundable. Weather and minimum-participant cancellations can result in a different date or a full refund.

Should you book Petra and Wadi Rum from Eilat?

Book it if convenience is your priority. You get border help, private transfers, a Petra guide, a real Wadi Rum jeep tour, two different overnight settings, meals, and entrance fees in one compact package.

I would not choose it for a relaxed Petra holiday or for a low-cost independent adventure. But if you are based in Eilat and want Jordan’s two headline sights with very little transport planning, the $635.90 price can be reasonable for the time saved and the number of services included. Confirm the exact hotels, lunch arrangements, visa eligibility, and camp facilities before you commit.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Wadi Araba Border Road on the Jordanian side of the Eilat-Aqaba crossing. You complete the Israeli side by yourself before entering Jordan.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the border meeting point after the transfer from Wadi Rum to the Eilat border.

How long is the transfer from the border to Petra?

The transfer from the Jordanian side of the border to Petra takes about two hours.

How long is the guided tour in Petra?

The English-speaking guided portion lasts approximately three hours. Afterward, you have free time to continue exploring on your own.

Is the Petra entrance ticket included?

Yes. The Petra entrance fee is included, along with the Wadi Rum entrance fee and other stated admission tickets.

Is the horse ride in Petra required?

No. A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included but not mandatory. The horse handler expects a tip.

Is the camel ride in Wadi Rum included?

No. The optional camel ride lasts one hour and costs 10 Jordanian dinars, or about $15, per camel.

What meals and accommodation are included?

You receive one night at a Petra hotel with breakfast and one night at a Wadi Rum camp with dinner and breakfast. The package also lists two lunches as included, while meals and drinks not specifically stated are extra.