Petra, Wadi Rum & Aqaba 2-Day Tour from Eilat

Two countries, one unforgettable night. This two-day trip links Petra and Wadi Rum with Aqaba, giving you a fast but memorable taste of southern Jordan from Eilat. I like the mix of a guided archaeological visit and a jeep ride through the desert, and I especially like that the overnight stay is more than a basic hotel night: you sleep in a private Bedouin tent with a bathroom, WiFi, and climate control.

I also like the included meals, air-conditioned transport, Petra entrance, and licensed Jordanian guide. The main drawback is the pace. You have only about three to four hours at Petra, and the border crossing can take up to an hour. You should also budget for Jordanian border and visa charges, which can add $65 or $125 in cash.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra receives only three to four hours: Enough for the Siq, Treasury, Theater, Obelisk Tomb, and main colonnaded street, but not enough for every trail.
• Wadi Rum includes a sunset jeep safari: The ride reaches famous desert formations such as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
• The overnight camp is a highlight: Private tents include bathrooms, WiFi, and climate control, with a Martian Bubble Tent upgrade available.
• Border costs are extra: Be ready with $125 in cash, or $65 if you already have a valid visa stamp or do not need a visa.
• Aqaba is more than a transfer point: You get free time for the waterfront, with optional boat, snorkeling, beach, pool, and Jacuzzi activities at extra cost.
• The group can reach 40 people: That keeps the price reasonable, but it may feel less personal than a small private tour.

Why this two-day Jordan trip works

At $335 per person, this tour packs a lot into a short visit. Your price covers transport from Eilat, a licensed Jordanian guide, Petra admission, dinner, breakfast, lunch, the Wadi Rum jeep safari, and overnight glamping. Those inclusions matter because arranging Petra, Wadi Rum, meals, and transport separately can become complicated, especially with an international border in the middle.

I see the tour as a practical shortcut for anyone based in Eilat who wants to see Jordan without planning several separate bookings. You do not need to arrange a hotel in Wadi Rum, find a driver between the desert and Petra, or work out where to buy Petra tickets.

The price does not cover everything. You should allow extra cash for border and visa charges, drinks, and any optional Aqaba water activity. Depending on your nationality and visa status, the Jordanian authorities may charge $125 or $65. This fee is not a small footnote, so include it when comparing the trip with other Petra excursions.

The group limit is 40 people. That is not a tiny group, but it is still manageable for a major cross-border trip. If you want a quiet, highly personal experience with long stops and flexible timing, a private tour may suit you better. If you want convenience and a broad mix of sights for a fixed price, this group format makes sense.

Crossing from Eilat into Aqaba

The day begins at about 7:15 a.m. You should arrive ready for a full day, with your passport and any required visa paperwork in hand. Border control and customs can take up to an hour, so the first part of the morning may feel slow. That delay is normal for this kind of trip, and you should not schedule anything tight in Eilat that afternoon.

Passport details are required during booking. Israeli passport holders must use their Israeli passports at every border crossing on the tour. Some nationalities need a visa in advance, so you should check the Jordanian Ministry of Interior requirements before paying for the excursion.

Once across, the first major stop is Aqaba. The city gives you a change of mood after the border process: seaside views, colorful streets, and time near the water. You visit Mamluk Castle, a 16th-century fortress with a remarkable viewpoint. From the top, you can see Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia in one broad panorama.

That viewpoint is a good reason not to treat Aqaba as merely a place to pass through. The stop also gives you free time for beach and sea activities. Optional choices include a three-hour boat trip with snorkeling or access to a private beach area with a pool and Jacuzzi. These activities cost extra, so bring a swimsuit only if you plan to use the free time this way.

The tradeoff is time. Aqaba, the border, Wadi Rum, and the evening camp all fit into one long day. You will not get a relaxed beach holiday here. Think of Aqaba as a useful introduction to Jordan and a pleasant pause before the desert, not a full city visit.

Wadi Rum by jeep at sunset

From Aqaba, the route turns toward Wadi Rum through open desert and mountain scenery. The change is dramatic. Wadi Rum is known as the Valley of the Moon, and its broad red sands and weathered rock formations have served as a setting for Star Wars films and Lawrence of Arabia.

The jeep safari is the active heart of the first day. You ride into the desert in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, stopping to see rock formations and other notable sites. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom is one of the named sights, and your guide explains some of the area’s geology along the way.

I like this part because the desert is best understood from inside it. From a road vehicle, you might see Wadi Rum as a distant wall of cliffs. A jeep ride carries you into the open spaces, where the scale becomes easier to grasp. The red rock, sand, and isolated formations create the otherworldly feeling that makes this area so popular with filmmakers.

The timing also helps. The safari ends with a Wadi Rum sunset, when the rock changes color and the desert becomes cooler. You should have your camera ready, but do not spend the whole stop looking at a screen. The simple pleasure here is sitting in a huge, quiet space with the last light on the cliffs.

The supplied schedule gives an unusually short written duration for the Wadi Rum stop, but the full first day clearly includes the transfer from Aqaba, the jeep safari, sunset, dinner, and the overnight camp. You should expect a substantial desert visit rather than a six-minute stop. Exact timing can shift with the border crossing and road conditions.

Sleeping in a private Bedouin tent

The overnight stay is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip instead of a standard Petra day tour. You stay at a Bedouin camp on a half-board basis, with dinner on the first night and breakfast the next morning.

The accommodation is described as glamping rather than rough camping. Private tents have bathrooms, WiFi, and climate control. That combination lets you enjoy the desert setting without giving up basic comfort. The camp also has a bar, and the atmosphere, food, and tent are important parts of the experience rather than a place to sleep between sightseeing stops.

A reviewer who chose the upgraded Magic Rum Martian Tent described it as a special first-time experience. You can upgrade to this futuristic bubble-style tent if you want a more unusual room and a wide view of the desert surroundings. It costs extra, and the standard private tent already includes the most useful comforts, so I would choose the upgrade for the novelty rather than necessity.

Dinner includes a Bedouin grill. This is a welcome feature after the jeep ride, and it gives the evening a local character that a restaurant meal on the highway would not provide. Beverages are not included, so plan to pay separately for drinks.

Bring warm clothing in winter. Desert nights can feel cold even after a sunny day. In summer, take a hat and protect yourself from the strong sun. Comfortable walking shoes are important throughout the trip, especially at Petra.

Reaching Petra through the Siq

After breakfast, you travel along the Desert Highway toward Wadi Musa, the town beside Petra. The route offers desert and mountain views, and it gives you time to shift from the open spaces of Wadi Rum to one of the world’s great archaeological sites.

Petra dates back about 2,300 years. The Nabataeans carved important buildings and tombs directly into the red sandstone cliffs, creating a city that feels both monumental and surprisingly intimate as you approach it.

You can enter the site on foot or horseback. The central approach leads through the Siq, a narrow gorge with smooth rock walls. The passage builds anticipation because the Treasury is revealed only as you move through the canyon. This is one of Petra’s most memorable moments, even if you know exactly what is waiting at the end.

The Treasury is the star image of Petra, but you should not stop there. The route also includes the Obelisk Tomb, Petra Theater, decorated shrines, and the ancient colonnaded street. Your guide helps connect these carved facades and ruins to the larger Nabataean city, so the visit feels like more than a photo stop.

The guide is licensed and Jordanian, and a guide named Nizar is associated with this experience. If he is leading your group, you can expect helpful advice on how to use the limited Petra time and where to focus your attention. A local guide is particularly useful here because the site is large, the paths are not all obvious, and the most famous facade is only one part of the city.

Making the most of three to four hours at Petra

This is where you need realistic expectations. The Petra portion is listed as about six hours overall, but the actual time inside the archaeological site is about three to four hours. That is enough for the main route, but it is not enough for every viewpoint, tomb, and mountain trail.

I would focus on the Siq, Treasury, Theater, Obelisk Tomb, and colonnaded street. Keep your walking shoes on and avoid spending too long at the entrance. The site is large, and even the main route requires steady walking.

You may enter on foot or horseback, but the tour does not promise a horseback ride as a separate included feature. Ask the guide about the available choice before setting off. You should also remember that the Treasury is a facade, not a furnished palace you can freely explore inside. Petra’s power comes from the setting, the carved stone, and the remains of a once-important trading city.

The short visit is a drawback for anyone who wants to hike to the Monastery or explore Petra at a slow pace. Those longer routes need more time and energy than this schedule provides. Still, for a first look, the main corridor gives you a strong sense of why Petra deserves its reputation.

Take photos early if you can. The Siq and Treasury are the most crowded areas, and the group schedule means you may not control the quietest moment. Listen for the meeting instructions carefully, since the return drive to Eilat is long.

The ride back to Eilat

After Petra, you have a relaxing drive through the desert back toward Eilat. The return section takes about four hours, so this is not a short afternoon outing. You should expect to reach Eilat after a full second day of walking and driving.

That long ride is part of the cost of seeing both Petra and Wadi Rum in only two days. It may feel tiring, especially for families with young children or anyone who dislikes extended road transfers. The tour is not suitable for children under two, and the overall schedule suits people who can handle early starts, border formalities, desert roads, and a solid amount of walking.

The air-conditioned vehicle is a practical advantage. It gives you a cooler place to rest between stops, and transport is provided in a modern vehicle. Since the tour operates in English, you should request another language in advance if needed. Other languages are available for an additional charge.

Food, comfort, and what to pack

Meals are included in a useful way: dinner on the first day, then breakfast and lunch on the second. The camp dinner includes a Bedouin grill, while drinks are not included. You should carry water and budget for beverages along the route.

Pack light but prepare for two different climates in one trip. A swimsuit is worthwhile if you plan to use Aqaba’s boat, snorkeling, private beach, pool, or Jacuzzi options. Comfortable shoes are more important than stylish ones, and a hat is essential in summer.

Your basic packing list should include:

• Passport and any required visa documents
• Cash in USD, euros, or Israeli shekels for border charges
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Warm layers for a winter night in Wadi Rum
• Hat and sun protection for summer
• Swimsuit for optional Aqaba activities
• Phone charger and personal medications

You should have the border fee in exact cash if possible. The authorities may charge $125, or $65 for people with a valid visa stamp or those who do not require a visa. The tour provider cannot replace your responsibility to confirm visa rules for your nationality.

Who will get the most from this tour?

I would recommend this trip to you if you are staying in Eilat and want Petra and Wadi Rum in one efficient package. It works especially well for first-time visitors who value included transport, a guide, meals, and a fixed plan more than a slow independent visit.

Families can enjoy it, as shown by the positive experience with the upgraded Martian Tent, but parents should consider the early start, border wait, long drives, and limited Petra time. Very young children may find the schedule hard, and the tour does not accept children under two.

This is also a good fit if the overnight camp matters to you. The private tent, bathroom, WiFi, climate control, food, bar, and desert setting make the night feel like a central part of the trip. If you care only about Petra, a shorter excursion may be less tiring. If Wadi Rum sounds just as appealing as the Nabataean city, this combination gives you much better value.

The free cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so keep that deadline in mind.

Should you book the Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba tour?

Book it if you want three major Jordan experiences in two days and accept a brisk schedule. The strongest parts are the Wadi Rum jeep safari, the sunset, the comfortable Bedouin camp, and the guided Petra route.

Think twice if you want long hikes at Petra, a relaxed day by the Aqaba sea, or complete control over your timetable. Add the border fee, optional activities, drinks, and possible tent upgrade to the advertised $335 before making your decision.

For a short trip from Eilat, I think the tour offers solid value. You get the big sights, a memorable desert night, and the practical support needed for a complicated border crossing. Just arrive prepared, keep your expectations realistic about Petra time, and treat the camp as part of the main experience rather than an overnight stop.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at approximately 7:15 a.m.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transport is provided in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle.

Are Petra entrance fees included?

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

How much should I bring for Jordanian border fees?

You should be prepared to pay $125 in cash in USD, euros, or Israeli shekels. If you have a valid visa stamp or do not need a visa, the charge is $65.

What is included in the overnight camp?

The overnight stay is in a private tent with a bathroom, WiFi, and climate control. The accommodation is provided on a half-board basis, with dinner on the first day and breakfast the next morning. A Martian Bubble Tent upgrade is available.

Is the tour available in languages other than English?

The tour operates in English. Other languages may be available for an additional cost, and you should contact the provider for details.