Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat

Petra and Wadi Rum make a powerful pair: one is a carved Nabatean city, the other a huge desert reserve of sandstone cliffs and open sand. This two-day trip from Eilat gives you both without having to arrange Jordanian transport, accommodation, entry fees, and border transfers yourself. I especially like the sunset jeep ride in Wadi Rum and the fact that dinner, breakfast, and Petra admission are already covered.

I also like the useful combination of guided time and free time. You get an introduction to Petra, then several hours to look around independently. The drawback is the packed schedule. Border formalities can take up to an hour, the first day includes several transfers, and the return to Eilat is not expected until about 7:00 in the evening.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra and Wadi Rum in one trip: See Jordan’s best-known archaeological site and desert reserve over two days.
• A sunset jeep ride is included: Wadi Rum is not just a place to sleep, but a major part of the experience.
• The border crossing takes patience: Immigration and customs at the Arava Border may take up to an hour.
• Standard camp lodging is simple: Double tents use shared bathroom facilities, with a chalet upgrade available.
• The Petra visit is long but focused: A guided tour begins at 9:30, followed by free time until the return transfer.
• The guide matters: One serious complaint concerned political and religious talk replacing useful historical explanation, so ask for clear site interpretation early.

What the $339 price really covers

At $339 per person, this is not a bargain-basement day trip, but it covers several expenses that quickly add up in Jordan. The price includes transportation from Eilat, border assistance, entry to Petra, entry to Wadi Rum, a jeep tour, one night at a Bedouin camp, dinner, and breakfast.

That package has real value if you want to see both places but do not want to arrange each moving part yourself. Petra admission alone is a meaningful cost, and private transfers between Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Petra would require more planning. You also avoid the trouble of finding a camp and arranging a separate desert ride.

Still, I would judge the price against your comfort expectations. This is a practical, tightly scheduled excursion, not a luxury Jordan tour. The basic tent has a shared bathroom, and the road schedule leaves little room for delays or personal detours. You are paying for convenience and access more than for spacious rooms or a relaxed pace.

The group can contain up to 25 people. That is small enough to be manageable, but large enough that border movement, meals, and group transfers may take time. If you prefer private guiding, quiet camps, and the freedom to change the schedule, this will feel restrictive.

Starting from Eilat and crossing into Jordan

Pickup begins at hotels in Eilat, with the listed start time at 8:15 a.m. The detailed schedule says the tour begins at 7:00 a.m. with a transfer to the Arava Border, so confirm your exact pickup time before the day begins. That difference is important. You do not want to arrive late because you relied on the later time.

The border process is part of the trip, not a minor footnote. Israeli passport holders, including people with dual passports who hold an Israeli passport, must use the Israeli passport at every border crossing. Customs and passport control can take up to an hour, so keep your documents easy to reach and expect a wait.

After entering Jordan, you reach Aqaba at about 9:15 a.m. Aqaba is a useful first stop because it gives you a short introduction to the country before the longer drives. You have time to see the market and stop for lunch. The schedule does not include lunch, so plan to pay for it separately.

The Aqaba stop is also a reminder of the trip’s rhythm. You will not have a long, open-ended visit in the city. The tour moves on at about 12:15 p.m., and the main focus is Wadi Rum rather than Aqaba sightseeing.

Wadi Rum begins with a camp and a sunset ride

The transfer from Aqaba to Wadi Rum takes you into one of Jordan’s most memorable desert settings. The reserve is known for broad open spaces, sandstone formations, and the feeling of being far from ordinary city life. You arrive at the Bedouin camp, check in, and have some free time before the jeep trip.

The included sunset jeep ride is one of the strongest parts of this tour. A vehicle lets you cover more of the reserve than you could on foot, and the late timing gives you changing light across the rocks and sand. The exact route and length of the ride are not specified, so you should think of it as a scenic introduction rather than a full-day desert expedition.

After the jeep ride, you return to camp for a buffet dinner. Having an included evening meal is helpful after a day of border formalities and road transfers. It also means you do not need to search for a restaurant in an unfamiliar area.

The standard overnight arrangement is a double tent with shared bathroom facilities. That is basic, but it fits the character of the stop. If a private bathroom matters to you, a chalet with an ensuite bathroom is available as an upgrade. Contact the provider for the current price and exact room details before booking.

I would bring a small overnight bag rather than carrying everything from Eilat into the camp. The supplied details do not promise hotel-style facilities, so pack with a simple desert stay in mind. Keep anything essential, including medicine and documents, with you.

The Petra transfer follows Jordan’s desert road

Breakfast comes at the camp before the transfer to Petra. The route uses the desert way, described as a broad and comfortable highway, then follows a scenic mountain route toward the archaeological site. The drive is part of the experience, but it also makes day two another full day on the road.

Petra is one of Jordan’s major archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was the center of the Nabatean civilization, whose stone-carved buildings and trading position made the city famous across the ancient Near East. The most recognizable approach leads through a narrow passage toward the Treasury, but the site extends well beyond that first view.

Your guided Petra visit begins at about 9:30 a.m. and covers the main highlights. That is useful if you have never been to Petra and want help understanding what you are seeing rather than simply walking past carved facades. A guide can also give the large site some order, which matters when your time is limited.

The guide experience deserves careful attention. One complaint describes a guide spending too much time on political and religious ideas and not enough on Petra’s history. That does not prove every departure will be the same, but it gives you a practical question to ask early: request clear historical explanation of the Nabatean city and the places you are visiting.

The provided information does not give the guide’s name, so there is no named guide to request. Keep your expectations practical. This is a group tour, and the quality of the explanation may depend heavily on the individual assigned that day.

Free time at Petra is useful, but short

At noon, the guided portion ends and you have free time in Petra until the return transfer. This is a good feature. You can revisit a favorite view, take photographs, spend more time around the main monuments, or simply move at your own speed for a while.

The free period is not unlimited, though. Petra is large, and the schedule does not provide enough time to see every path and monument at a leisurely pace. Treat the guided visit as your foundation, then use the free time for one clear priority rather than trying to cover everything.

You should also watch the meeting instructions closely. Missing the group at Petra could create a serious problem because the return involves the border crossing and a long drive back to Eilat. The tour does not promise flexible departure times.

The site itself can be tiring. You have already crossed a border, driven from Aqaba to Wadi Rum, slept in a basic camp, and then traveled to Petra. Comfortable shoes and sensible clothing will matter more than trying to look polished for the day. The supplied information does not specify a dress code, so follow practical standards for visiting a major historical site in Jordan.

The return to Eilat is a long final stretch

The Petra visit is followed by the drive back toward the border. Arrival at the border is expected at about 7:00 p.m., followed by assistance returning to Israeli territory and transportation back to Eilat.

This is not a two-day trip with two relaxed sightseeing days. It is a two-day route built around two major stops and several necessary transfers. Day one begins with border procedures and continues through Aqaba and Wadi Rum. Day two combines breakfast, a highway transfer, a major archaeological visit, another long drive, and a second border process.

That makes the tour best for you if your priority is seeing Petra and Wadi Rum in one organized trip. It is less suitable if you want long meals, slow walks, private exploration, or a flexible schedule.

The return timing also deserves attention when you make plans in Eilat. Do not schedule an evening activity that requires a precise arrival time. Border delays are outside the tour’s full control, and the stated return is approximate.

What is genuinely strong about this itinerary

The most useful feature is the pairing of Petra and Wadi Rum. Many short Jordan trips focus only on Petra, but this route gives you an archaeological site and a desert reserve, two very different sides of the country.

The included Wadi Rum jeep ride is another strong point. Without it, the overnight camp would feel like a transfer stop. The sunset timing gives the desert visit a clear highlight, even though the schedule does not describe the exact route.

The included meals simplify the overnight stay. Dinner and breakfast remove two planning tasks, while the entry fees mean you can compare the $339 price with fewer hidden costs.

The Eilat pickup is also practical. You do not have to make your own way to Aqaba, find transport to Petra, or organize a separate return across the border. For a short trip, that convenience has real worth.

The free time at Petra is important, too. A completely guided visit can feel rushed and rigid. Here, you receive an organized introduction and then some control over the final part of your time at the site.

The main cautions before you reserve

The schedule is ambitious. Border delays, road traffic, group movement, and the size of the Petra site can all affect how relaxed you feel. You should be comfortable with early starts, long transfers, and a late return.

The camp is basic in its standard form. Shared bathrooms will not suit everyone, especially after a full day in the desert. The chalet upgrade may solve that issue, but you need to arrange it in advance.

Guide quality is another variable. A guide who focuses on useful history can make Petra much easier to understand. A guide who turns the explanation toward politics or religion, as one account describes, may leave you feeling that the site itself received too little attention.

The tour’s rating of 3.1 from 21 reviews suggests a mixed experience overall. I would not treat that number as a reason to reject the trip automatically, but I would take it as a signal to confirm the pickup time, lodging type, guide arrangements, and border instructions before departure.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund. Poor weather can also lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who should book this Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

I would recommend this trip to you if you are based in Eilat, have only two days, and want the simplest practical route into Jordan. It suits people who value seeing the major sights over having a spacious schedule.

It is especially useful for first-time visitors who do not want to arrange border crossings, Jordanian transport, camp accommodation, entry tickets, and desert activities separately. The package keeps those pieces together.

I would hesitate if you need a private bathroom, dislike long drives, or want detailed historical guiding guaranteed throughout the day. I would also hesitate if your main goal is an in-depth Petra visit, since the schedule gives you only a focused guided visit and a few hours of independent time.

For the best chance of enjoying it, confirm the early pickup, ask about the chalet upgrade, carry a passport that meets the border rules, and set aside the whole evening for the return to Eilat. Book it for access and convenience, not for a leisurely pace.

FAQ

How long is the Petra and Wadi Rum tour from Eilat?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The first day includes the border crossing, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, the sunset jeep ride, dinner, and the overnight camp. The second day includes Petra and the return to Eilat.

What time does the tour start?

The listed meeting time is 8:15 a.m., while the detailed schedule says the tour begins with hotel pickup at 7:00 a.m. Confirm your exact pickup time before departure.

Is hotel pickup available in Eilat?

Yes. Pickup is offered from hotels in Eilat, followed by a transfer to the Arava Border.

How long can the border crossing take?

Border control and customs may take up to one hour. Israeli passport holders, including dual passport holders with an Israeli passport, must use their Israeli passport at every border crossing.

Is lunch included?

No lunch is listed as included. You have free time in Aqaba to visit the market and eat lunch, so plan to pay for lunch separately.

What accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

The standard accommodation is a double tent at a Bedouin camp with shared bathroom facilities. A chalet with an ensuite bathroom is available as an upgrade.

Are dinner and breakfast included?

Yes. A buffet dinner is included after the Wadi Rum jeep ride, and breakfast is included the following morning.

Is the jeep tour included?

Yes. The tour includes a sunset jeep ride in the Wadi Rum Protected Area.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends on the Israeli side of the border, followed by transportation back to Eilat.