2-Day Petra and Wadi Rum Tour From Eilat

Petra and Wadi Rum make a strong two-day pairing: one is a grand Nabataean city cut into red rock, the other is a wide desert of cliffs, sand, and silence. From Eilat, you cross into Jordan, eat a traditional Aqaba brunch, ride a 4×4 through Wadi Rum, and sleep in a Bedouin camp before reaching Petra early the next morning.

I like the one-guide arrangement from your arrival in Jordan until departure, and I like the practical mix of included transport, entrance fees, meals, and a desert camp. Guides named Mahmoud and Mohammed have received especially warm praise on past departures. The main drawback is the pace: day two runs from 6:00 in the morning until about 7:00 at night, with border taxes paid separately.

Key points to know

• Aqaba brunch comes first: Expect hummus, falafel, foul, salads, fresh pita, and other buffet-style choices.
• Wadi Rum is more than a photo stop: The included 4×4 safari gives you several hours among the cliffs and sand.
• The camp has real comforts: You get a bed, warm showers, dinner, and breakfast, not just a sleeping bag in the open.
• Petra gets a guided morning: The formal guide ends at noon, leaving you roughly three hours to explore on your own.
• Border costs are extra: Budget 115 ILS for Israeli taxes and 50 JOD for Jordanian taxes, both separate from the tour price.
• The group can reach 47 people: This keeps the price practical, but it may feel less personal than a small-group outing.

Why this two-day Jordan trip works

At $345, this is not a bare-bones transfer between two famous sights. The price covers an air-conditioned vehicle, Jordanian entrance fees, a 4×4 Wadi Rum ride, a Bedouin campsite, breakfast, dinner, and two lunches. You also have a guide with you in Jordan, which matters on a cross-border trip where timing and meeting points can otherwise become confusing.

You still need to add the Israeli border tax of 115 ILS and the Jordanian border tax of 50 JOD. The Jordanian charge is payable in cash, so plan ahead. Travel insurance, extra drinks, and other food are also outside the price.

The value is strongest if you want Petra and Wadi Rum in one short trip from Eilat. Arranging both independently can mean sorting out transport, a Petra entrance ticket, a desert ride, dinner, and an overnight stay. This tour joins those pieces together. The tradeoff is control. You follow a fixed schedule, share transport with a group of up to 47 people, and have limited time to linger.

Crossing from Eilat into Aqaba at 9:00

The day begins with pickup in Eilat at 9:00, followed by the Arava Border Crossing. The border is close to Eilat, but it is still a formal international crossing, not a quick city checkpoint. Keep your passport and required documents handy, and carry the Jordanian border fee in cash.

The tour provides border guidance, but the Israel-side representative does not accompany you across. That means you need to pay close attention to instructions and stay with your group. Past departures have generally found the process straightforward, but unclear directions at the Israeli side have caused some frustration. This is one place where a calm start and careful listening help.

Once in Jordan, your Jordanian guide takes over. The guide stays with you through the Jordan portion of the trip, including Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra, and the return to the border. Names reported on past departures include Mahmoud and Mohammed, but your guide can vary.

Aqaba brunch with hummus, falafel, and fresh pita

The first Jordanian stop is Aqaba, where brunch is scheduled for about 10:30. The meal includes hummus, falafel, foul, salads, fresh pita bread, and other buffet selections.

This is a useful first stop for more than simple refueling. You get an immediate taste of everyday Jordanian food, with plenty of choices for vegetarians and vegans. Since all meals are buffet style, you can choose what suits you rather than relying on a single set dish.

The timing is also sensible. You have crossed the border and reached a restaurant before heading farther into the desert. Drinks and other food beyond the stated meals are not included, so check what is provided before ordering extras.

Wadi Rum by 4×4 from 12:00 to 16:30

After Aqaba, the group heads to Wadi Rum. The 4×4 safari is one of the strongest parts of the trip because it gets you away from the road and into the desert itself.

Expect broad views of sand, cliffs, and open space rather than a string of indoor sights. The appeal is physical and visual: you sit in an open-style desert vehicle, move through the dunes and rock formations, and stop to take in the scenery. The tour schedule allows about three and a half hours for the Wadi Rum portion, including the journey into the area and the safari.

You should bring sun protection, water for personal use, and shoes suited to sandy ground. The tour vehicle is air-conditioned for the road portions, but the desert stop itself is an outdoor experience. There is also free time at the camp later in the afternoon, so do not expect every minute to be filled with organized activity.

That unstructured time can be a plus if you want to sit quietly, take photographs, or talk with other people in the group. It may feel slow if you expected a tightly packed sightseeing program. Wadi Rum works best when you allow yourself to pause and look around.

A Bedouin camp with dinner and a warm shower

You reach the traditional Bedouin campsite at about 16:30. Dinner and the overnight stay are included, and the camp provides comfortable beds and warm showers. This is an important distinction. You get the atmosphere of a desert camp without having to give up basic comfort.

The meal is described as a Bedouin-style dinner, including an authentic Zerb preparation. Zerb is cooked slowly in an underground oven, and it gives the evening meal a local character that a standard hotel buffet would miss. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available across the buffet meals.

The camp is in the desert, so do not expect hotel-style connectivity. There is no Wi-Fi at the camp. I see that as part of the point, provided you know it in advance. You can use the evening to talk, rest, and enjoy the setting rather than checking messages.

The phrase under the stars should be understood as a desert-camp experience, not a guaranteed open-air mattress. You sleep in a bed inside the camp, while the surroundings offer the dark sky and quiet of Wadi Rum. Bring a small overnight bag rather than relying on access to your main luggage during every part of the trip.

The early start for Petra at 6:00

Day two begins early. You wake at 6:00, eat breakfast at the camp at 6:30, and leave for Petra at 7:15. The early departure is not glamorous, but it makes sense. Petra is too important to squeeze into a rushed afternoon, and reaching the site around 9:00 gives you the main part of the morning with your guide.

The schedule also shows why this trip demands energy. You have already spent a full day crossing the border and visiting Wadi Rum. Then you wake early, walk through a large archaeological site, and remain on the move until the return to Eilat. Most people can participate, but this is not a restful break.

If you are traveling with an older family member, mobility deserves thought. One past party arranged Bedouin guides with mules to help an 82-year-old participant reach parts of Petra. That kind of arrangement may be possible, but it is not listed as an included service, so ask before relying on it.

Petra from 9:00, with guided time until noon

Petra is the star of the second day. The tour gives you a guided visit from about 9:00 to noon, followed by lunch and free time until 16:00.

The guided morning matters because Petra is far more than the famous Treasury facade. A good guide helps you understand how the Nabataeans shaped a major city from the surrounding rock and how to read the monuments, tombs, and passageways you encounter. The guide also gives the site structure, which is valuable when you have only one day.

Guides named Mohammed and Mahmoud have been praised for being friendly, clear, and well informed on past departures. Staff assignments can change, but the tour’s design gives you a dedicated Jordanian guide rather than leaving you to navigate Petra alone.

At noon, the formal guided portion ends. Lunch follows, then you have until 16:00 for independent exploration. That is a good balance for a short visit. You get context first, then freedom to choose where to spend your remaining hours.

Still, three hours of free time is not enough to see every corner of Petra at a relaxed pace. Wear comfortable walking shoes, keep track of the meeting time, and do not wander so far that you risk missing the bus. If Petra is your main reason for visiting Jordan, you may wish for a longer stay. If you want a first look at Petra combined with Wadi Rum, the timing is workable.

Returning to Eilat by 19:00

The group gathers at the Petra Visitor Center at 16:00 and leaves at 16:15 for the Arava Border Crossing. Arrival back in Eilat is scheduled for about 19:00, followed by the return border process into Israel.

This final stretch is mostly about staying organized. The tour handles the transport, but the border crossing still takes time and can involve waiting. Keep your passport accessible, listen for instructions, and avoid planning a tight evening appointment in Eilat.

The air-conditioned vehicle is a practical benefit here. After a long Petra day, the ride gives you a place to sit rather than arrange another transfer yourself. The return is also at the original meeting point, which keeps the end of the trip simple.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this trip if you are staying in Eilat and want a ready-made way to see Jordan’s two major sights without arranging several separate bookings. It suits people who value convenience, a guide, and a clear schedule more than private transport or flexible timing.

It is also a good match for first-time visitors to Jordan. You receive help at the key stages, eat several included meals, and have someone with you through the Jordan portion. The Bedouin camp adds a real sense of place, while the warm shower and comfortable bed keep the overnight practical.

You should think twice if you dislike early mornings, long road days, group travel, or fixed departure times. A maximum group size of 47 is substantial. The cost benefits from that shared arrangement, but you should not expect the quiet pace or personal attention of a private guide.

Petra specialists may also prefer a longer Petra stay. This tour gives you a guided morning and a free afternoon, but the overall program is designed to cover two destinations in two days, not to explore Petra in depth.

Practical details before you book

The tour starts at 9:00 in Eilat and ends back at the meeting point. A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation is received when you book. The activity is near public transportation, and most people can take part.

Pack light for the overnight camp, but bring what you need for a desert evening and a long walking day. Carry cash for the 50 JOD Jordanian border tax, and remember that the 115 ILS Israeli tax is also separate. Drinks and food beyond the included meals are extra.

The cancellation terms are strict close to departure. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time, a 50 percent refund two to six days before, and no refund within two days. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum number of participants can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book this Petra and Wadi Rum trip?

Book it if you want Petra and Wadi Rum in one efficient package from Eilat, and you are comfortable with a long, early, group-based schedule. The combination of a 4×4 desert ride, a Bedouin dinner and overnight stay, a guided Petra visit, and included transport makes the $345 base price reasonable for a short Jordan visit.

Skip it if you want a slow Petra visit, private guiding, or complete control over border timing. Also budget the border taxes before comparing the price with other options. For the right kind of visitor, this is a practical way to get two major Jordan experiences without spending time building the trip piece by piece.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts in Eilat at 9:00 in the morning and ends back at the meeting point after returning through the Arava Border Crossing.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. Day one runs from the 9:00 pickup through the overnight stay in Wadi Rum. Day two begins at 6:00 and is scheduled to end back in Eilat around 19:00.

Are meals included?

Yes. The tour includes Aqaba brunch, lunch in Petra, dinner at the Bedouin camp, and breakfast at the camp. Meals are buffet style, with vegetarian and vegan options. Other food and drinks are not included.

Are the border taxes included in the price?

No. The Israeli border tax is 115 ILS, and the Jordanian border tax is 50 JOD. The Jordanian fee must be paid in cash.

What accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

You stay at a Bedouin campsite with comfortable beds and warm showers. Dinner and breakfast are included, and the camp does not have Wi-Fi.

Is the Wadi Rum 4×4 ride included?

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

How much free time do you get in Petra?

The guided visit ends at noon. After lunch, you have free time to explore Petra until gathering at the Visitor Center at 16:00.