From Eilat: 2-Day Tour of Petra, Wadi Rum & Aqaba

Wadi Rum is the star of this trip. Its giant sandstone walls, open desert, and Seven Pillars of Wisdom make the place feel almost unreal, which explains why filmmakers used it for Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia. You ride through it by Jeep, then watch the sun drop over the desert before sleeping in a private Bedouin glamping tent.

I like two things here: the tour links three very different Jordanian sights in only two days, and the included air-conditioned vehicle, guide, meals, Petra ticket, and overnight camp remove much of the planning work. The border crossing can also feel less daunting when a guide and driver are helping you through it.

The main caution is cost and schedule flexibility. The advertised price is $335 per person, but border and visa charges can add $125, while Aqaba beach activities cost extra. One organized outing also had Aqaba skipped after Petra was moved to the first day, so you should confirm the day-by-day plan before departure.

Key points to know before you book

• Wadi Rum is the trip’s most memorable outdoor stop: A Jeep safari takes you past towering rock formations and ends with a desert sunset.
• Petra gets a focused visit, not a leisurely stay: You walk through the Siq to the Treasury, Theater, Obelisk Tomb, shrines, and Colonnaded Street.
• Aqaba is optional in practice: The town and Mamluk Castle are part of the planned route, but beach time costs extra and the schedule can change.
• The camp is more comfortable than basic camping: Private tents have bathrooms, WiFi, and climate control, with a Martian bubble tent upgrade available.
• Border costs materially change the price: Prepare $125 in cash for visa issuing and border fees, or $65 if you already have a valid visa or do not need one.
• The tour works well for solo visitors: You get hotel pickup, transport, a guide, and help at the border, but the pace is busy.

Crossing from Eilat into Aqaba

Your journey begins with hotel pickup in Eilat and a border crossing into Jordan. This is not a quick formality. Border control and customs can take up to an hour, so you need patience and your passport ready.

If you hold an Israeli passport, you must use that passport at every border crossing during the tour. The booking process requires each participant’s passport number, date of birth, issue date, expiration date, and nationality. Some nationalities need a visa in advance, so check the Jordanian Ministry of Interior requirements before paying for the tour.

The cash requirement deserves close attention. You should carry exactly $125 in USD, euros, or Israeli shekels for visa issuing and border fees. Travelers with a valid visa or those who do not require one pay $65 instead. Health insurance and drinks are not included.

This is one place where the organized format earns its keep. A guide and driver can help you navigate the process, and one account describes the crossing as safe and useful for a solo visitor. Still, the extra border payment can make the final bill feel high, especially if you began with the assumption that $335 was the full cost.

Aqaba’s castle, coast, and optional beach time

Aqaba is Jordan’s Red Sea port, and the first planned stop is Mamluk Castle. The 16th-century fortress gives you a wide view across Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. That is a remarkable bit of geography from one lookout, and the stop offers a quick sense of Aqaba’s role as a crossroads.

The tour then allows free time for beach activities. You can choose three hours of boating and snorkeling for $75, or pay $25 to use a private beach with a pool and Jacuzzi. These are optional, so you can keep your money and remain with the sightseeing portion of the day.

I would think carefully before adding this stop. If your main goal is Petra and Wadi Rum, Aqaba beach time may make an already tight schedule feel rushed. On the other hand, after a border crossing and vehicle ride, a few hours beside the Red Sea can be a welcome change from ruins and desert.

There is also a scheduling warning. The route may be rearranged, and Aqaba has been skipped when Petra was moved to the first day. Ask the operator to confirm whether your departure includes Mamluk Castle, beach time, and the intended order of stops. That simple check can prevent disappointment.

A Jeep ride through Wadi Rum’s Valley of the Moon

Wadi Rum is where this tour feels most distinct from an ordinary Jordan sightseeing circuit. The desert is often called the Valley of the Moon, and the description fits the huge rock walls, broad sandy spaces, and strange formations that appear along the route.

The Jeep safari brings you into places an ordinary road vehicle cannot reach. You pass rock formations linked with the Seven Pillars of Wisdom and hear about the area’s geology from a local Jordanian guide. The scenery is also part of cinema history. The Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One used Wadi Rum for their alien-looking settings, while Lawrence of Arabia helped make the desert famous.

I would not book this trip only for film locations, though. The real appeal is the scale of the place. You are not simply looking at a single monument. You are moving through an open desert framed by cliffs, with the shapes and colors changing as the light shifts.

The safari ends with a Wadi Rum sunset, one of the strongest moments in the two-day plan. Sunset timing depends on the day’s schedule, but the design of the route gives this natural event a proper place rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

Expect a practical, not private, desert outing. You are part of a guided group, and the route is designed to fit a larger itinerary. That tradeoff is worthwhile for many people because reaching Wadi Rum independently requires transport planning, border arrangements, local coordination, and an overnight stay.

What the Bedouin glamping night is really like

The overnight camp gives you a more comfortable version of desert camping. You stay in a private tent with its own bathroom, WiFi, and climate control. Full-board accommodation is included, along with dinner on the first day and lunch on the second day.

That setup matters because the desert can be tiring after a full day of driving, border formalities, and a Jeep ride. You get the atmosphere of a Bedouin camp without giving up basic privacy or climate control. The camp can also be upgraded to a futuristic Martian bubble tent, though the supplied details do not state the upgrade price.

Do not expect the overnight stop to feel like a resort stay. The setting is the point, and the facilities are there to make the night manageable rather than to create a long list of amenities. WiFi is useful, but the desert views and evening meal are likely to be more important than staying connected.

Dinner is included, but drinks are not. I would plan for that small extra expense and bring any personal essentials you need for an overnight stop. The activity is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, or wheelchair users, so the camp and desert terrain require a reasonable level of mobility.

Entering Petra through the Siq

On the second day, you travel along the Desert Highway through Jordan’s desert and mountain scenery before reaching Petra. The archaeological city is about 2,300 years old and was shaped by the Nabateans, who carved important structures directly into red rock.

The walk begins at the Siq, a smooth, narrow gorge leading toward the Treasury. This approach is part of Petra’s magic. The cliffs close in around you, then the Treasury appears at the end of the passage in a sudden burst of carved stone.

You can choose to enter the site on foot or horseback. The information provided does not explain the exact horseback arrangements or any additional cost, so ask before choosing that option. On foot, you can set a steady pace and stop for photos along the Siq. The route also lets you notice the changing colors and marks in the rock before the famous view opens up.

The Treasury is Petra’s best-known monument, but it is only one part of the visit. The route includes the Obelisk Tomb, Petra Theater, decorated shrines, and the ancient Colonnaded Street. You will have time to take pictures and hear about the city’s past from the licensed Jordanian guide.

The guide’s role is important here, and this is also where expectations need managing. The tour promises a fully guided visit, but the actual amount of explanation can depend on the individual guide. One guide was described as kind and careful, yet the visitor had to ask questions to draw out more history. I would come prepared with a few questions about Nabatean engineering, trade, burial practices, and the carved facades.

Petra is a large site, and a two-day tour cannot show you everything. The itinerary focuses on the Siq, Treasury, Theater, tombs, shrines, and Colonnaded Street rather than offering a full-day exploration of every trail. If you want a slower Petra visit with time for higher viewpoints and lesser-known paths, a separate Petra stay may suit you better.

Transport, guides, and the pace of the route

Transportation is by an air-conditioned vehicle, a major comfort in Jordan’s desert heat. The route covers Eilat, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and Petra in a short period, so a comfortable vehicle matters more than it might on a compact city tour.

The tour includes a licensed Jordanian guide, with English and Spanish available. No guide names are provided, so you cannot request a particular person in advance. The strongest guide feedback points to kindness, warmth, clear explanations, and a willingness to help. The driver also received praise for being careful and dependable.

The pace is still demanding. You have border formalities, coastal sightseeing, a desert safari, an overnight stay, a long road transfer, and a major archaeological site packed into two days. That makes the tour efficient, but it leaves little room for delays or a relaxed morning.

I would view the schedule as an introduction rather than a slow study of Jordan. It is a good fit if you want the major highlights with one booking and limited time. It is less suitable if you dislike early starts, long road journeys, fixed group schedules, or itinerary changes.

Is $335 a fair price?

The base price is $335 per person. Included are the licensed guide, air-conditioned transport, Petra entrance, dinner, lunch, and full-board glamping. Hotel pickup is also included, which saves you the trouble of arranging transport to the starting point.

The value depends on how you calculate the border costs. Add the usual $125 in cash and the trip reaches $460 before beach activities, drinks, health insurance, or a possible visa arranged in advance. If you pay the $65 border amount, the total is lower, but it remains important to include it in your budget from the start.

For a solo visitor, the price can make sense because transport, border help, a desert Jeep trip, lodging, meals, and a guide are handled together. It also saves you from coordinating separate operators in Jordan.

For couples or families who can arrange private transport, the package may feel less compelling. The overall rating is 3.8 out of 5 from nine ratings, which suggests a generally worthwhile trip with clear weak points. The main concerns are the high total cost, limited Petra explanation in some cases, and a changed route that left Aqaba out.

My advice is to compare the final price, not the headline price. Ask about every border charge, confirm the Aqaba schedule, and clarify what kind of guiding you will receive at Petra.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to someone staying in Israel who wants to see Petra and Wadi Rum without building a Jordan trip from scratch. It is especially useful for solo visitors, first-time border crossers, and people who value a guide, included meals, and arranged transport.

It also suits people who prefer a broad sample of Jordan. In two days, you see a Red Sea port, a historic fortress, a desert famous from film, a Bedouin camp, and one of the world’s best-known archaeological sites.

I would hesitate if your priority is a long, thoughtful visit to Petra. You may prefer to skip the optional Aqaba beach time, use the available hours for the ruins, or arrange a separate Petra stay. I would also reconsider if you need wheelchair access, are pregnant, or are traveling with a child under two.

The tour has a strong core: Wadi Rum, the sunset, the camp, and Petra. The key is understanding that this is a tightly packed cross-border trip, not a slow Jordan holiday.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two days and includes hotel pickup, transportation, sightseeing, an overnight glamping stay, meals, and a visit to Petra.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins with pickup from your hotel in Eilat before crossing into Jordan.

Is the Jordan border fee included in the $335 price?

No. You should be prepared to pay $125 in cash in USD, euros, or Israeli shekels for visa issuing and border fees. Travelers with a valid visa or those who do not need a visa pay $65.

Can some nationalities require a visa in advance?

Yes. Certain nationalities require advance visas. You should check the Jordanian Ministry of Interior website for the current requirements.

What passport information is needed to reserve?

You must provide every participant’s passport number, date of birth, date of issue, expiration date, and nationality.

Which languages are available for the live guide?

The tour offers live guiding in English and Spanish.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes a licensed Jordanian tour guide, Petra entrance fees, air-conditioned transportation, dinner on the first day, lunch on the second day, and full-board overnight glamping.

Are Aqaba beach activities included?

No. Boating and snorkeling cost $75, while entry to the private beach with a pool and Jacuzzi costs $25.

What facilities are available at the Bedouin camp?

The private tents include bathrooms, WiFi, and climate control. You can also request an upgrade to a Martian bubble tent.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, pregnant women, or children under two.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want the simplest route from Eilat to Jordan’s two headline sights and you are comfortable with a busy schedule and extra border costs. Before paying, confirm the Aqaba stop, ask how much Petra guiding is provided, and budget the full amount rather than relying on the $335 headline price.