2-Day Petra and Wadi Rum Tour From Eilat

Petra and Wadi Rum make a powerful two-day pair: one is a carved stone city, the other is a vast desert of cliffs, dunes, and open sky. This tour takes you from Eilat across the Arava Border Crossing, through Aqaba, into Wadi Rum, and then to Petra before returning to Israel.

I like the way the tour combines a 4×4 Wadi Rum safari with a night at a Bedouin camp. I also like the practical design: transport, admission fees, meals, one Jordan-side guide, and accommodation are bundled into the $345 price.

The main catch is the pace. Day two begins at 6:00 a.m. and includes Petra, lunch, several hours of walking or exploring, a long drive, and another border crossing. Add the Israeli and Jordanian border taxes, and the final cost is higher than the headline price.

Key Points at a Glance

• Aqaba brunch comes first: Start in Jordan with hummus, falafel, foul, salads, fresh pita, and other buffet dishes.
• Wadi Rum gets a proper 4×4 outing: The afternoon safari runs from about 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., giving you time among the desert cliffs and dunes.
• The Bedouin camp is part of the experience: Expect comfortable beds, warm showers, dinner, breakfast, and a traditional zerb meal.
• Petra gets a full day: A guided visit runs from 9:00 a.m. to noon, followed by free time until 4:00 p.m.
• The group can be large: The maximum is 47 people, so this is organized group travel rather than a private trip.
• Budget for border charges: Israeli taxes are 115 ILS and Jordanian taxes are 50 JOD, paid separately and in cash.

Why Petra and Wadi Rum Work So Well Together

Petra and Wadi Rum show two very different sides of southern Jordan. Petra is structured, crowded with visual details, and full of paths, tombs, facades, and carved stone. Wadi Rum is about space, silence, changing light, and the feeling of being far from ordinary roads.

I like seeing both in one trip because they balance each other. After a guided morning among Petra’s monuments, Wadi Rum gives you a slower evening under the stars. The reverse order also helps: the desert night gives you a memorable setting before the major Petra visit.

This is not a relaxed two-day break. The tour covers a lot of ground, and the second day is especially full. Still, for someone based in Eilat who wants Petra and has limited time, the routing is efficient.

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. in Eilat. You cross into Jordan at the Arava Border Crossing, where the Jordan-side guide takes over. One useful feature is having the same guide with you in Jordan from arrival until departure, rather than changing guides at every stop.

The border process is not fully escorted from the Israeli side. The tour information provides the meeting plan, but some departures have included unclear instructions before the crossing. I would arrive early, keep your passport and cash easy to reach, and pay close attention to where the Jordan-side guide is waiting.

Aqaba Brunch: A Useful First Taste of Jordan

After crossing, the first scheduled stop is Aqaba, with brunch at a local restaurant around 10:30 a.m. The buffet includes hummus, falafel, foul, salads, fresh pita bread, and other dishes.

This is more than a quick snack. You get a proper meal before the desert ride, and there are many vegetarian and vegan choices. If you like simple Middle Eastern food, this should be one of the more satisfying meals of the trip.

The timing is also sensible. You leave Eilat in the morning, cross the border, and eat soon after reaching Aqaba. That keeps you from starting the Wadi Rum drive hungry.

The meal is included, but other food and drinks are not. Bring water and some Jordanian cash, especially since the border taxes must be paid in cash. The tour does not promise a particular drinks package, so do not assume every beverage is covered.

Wadi Rum by 4×4 From 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.

After Aqaba, the bus heads toward Wadi Rum. The 4×4 safari begins at about 1:00 p.m. and lasts until roughly 4:30 p.m., giving you a solid afternoon in the desert.

This is the part of the trip where the setting does most of the work. Wadi Rum is known for broad sandy spaces, tall cliffs, and rock formations that change color and shape with the sun. A jeep ride lets you cover more ground than walking and gives you the classic open-air desert view.

The safari is not just a transfer to camp. It is a separate activity included in the price, and it is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour instead of a Petra-only day trip.

You should expect dust, sun, and uneven movement in the 4×4. Wear practical shoes and clothing that can handle sand. A hat, sunscreen, water, and a small day bag will make the ride more comfortable.

The schedule gives you a useful amount of time, but it is still an introduction rather than an extended Wadi Rum expedition. You will see beautiful desert scenery and get the feel of the area, but the tour is designed to fit Petra into the following day.

A Bedouin Camp Night With Dinner and Warm Showers

Around 4:30 p.m., you arrive at a traditional Bedouin campsite. This is where the tour changes pace. Instead of returning to a city hotel, you sleep in the desert and share an evening built around food, conversation, and the open sky.

The camp provides comfortable beds and warm showers, which matters after an afternoon in a dusty jeep. You get the atmosphere of a desert camp without giving up the basic comforts needed for an early morning start.

Dinner includes a Bedouin-style zerb meal. Zerb is traditionally cooked underground, and the meal is one of the distinctive food experiences associated with Bedouin hospitality. The dinner and breakfast are buffet-style, with options for vegetarians and vegans.

The camp can also feel quiet for long stretches. There is no Wi-Fi, which may frustrate you if you need to work or stay constantly connected. I see it as a useful break, but you should download anything you need before leaving Eilat and tell family or friends that reception may not be available.

The schedule includes a fair amount of unstructured time at camp. That gives you room to rest, enjoy the desert, and look at the stars, but it can feel like waiting if you prefer a packed program. Bring a book, cards, or simply expect a slower evening.

The Early Start to Petra

Wake-up time is 6:00 a.m., followed by breakfast at 6:30 and departure at 7:15. The drive to Petra takes you from the desert camp to one of Jordan’s major archaeological sites, with arrival planned for about 9:00 a.m.

The early start is not optional in spirit. Petra is too large for a rushed hour, and reaching the site early gives you a better chance to make useful progress before the return journey. It also leaves room for the free afternoon after the guided portion.

The guide leads you through Petra until noon. A good Jordan-side guide can help you understand what you are looking at rather than leaving you to see only the famous facade. Guides named Mahmoud and Mohammed have led Jordan portions of this route, and the strongest feedback about the guiding has focused on friendly service, clear English, and careful driving.

Guide quality can vary by departure, as it does on any group tour. The benefit here is that one guide stays with you through Jordan, handling the route and explaining the sites. That continuity is helpful at the border, in Wadi Rum, and in Petra.

Seeing Petra With Three Hours of Guidance

Petra is most famous for the Treasury, but it is not a single monument you walk up to and leave. The site stretches along a route with a narrow entrance passage, carved facades, tombs, and larger archaeological areas beyond the main viewpoint.

Your guided tour ends around noon. That gives you the basic story and orientation, but it is not enough to see every corner of Petra at a leisurely pace. You need to use the guided time well, stay with the group, and ask questions while the guide is present.

After the tour, lunch is scheduled in Petra. The tour includes lunch, and the broader meal plan is buffet-style with vegetarian and vegan choices. After eating, you have free time from about 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for more exploring.

That free afternoon is a major advantage. You can revisit a place that caught your attention, walk farther along the main route, take photographs, or simply rest before the long return drive. The drawback is that you need to manage your own time and be back at the Visitor Center at 4:00 p.m.

Petra involves walking, uneven ground, and a long day. The tour is described as suitable for most people, but fitness and mobility still matter. An 82-year-old participant used Bedouin guides with mules to help with access, showing that extra local support may be possible, but it is not listed as part of the standard package.

If you want to see Petra in depth, two days is still a short visit. If your goal is to experience the main route and combine it with Wadi Rum, the timing is workable.

Returning to Eilat by 7:00 p.m.

The group gathers at the Petra Visitor Center at 4:00 p.m. The bus departs at 4:15 and is scheduled to reach the Arava Border Crossing around 7:00 p.m., followed by the crossing back into Israel.

The return is a long finish after a demanding morning. You will likely be ready for a quiet evening by the time you reach Eilat. The upside is that the tour ends back at the original meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer.

Border timing can change. The schedule gives planned times, not guarantees, so avoid booking a tight evening connection from Eilat on the same night.

What the $345 Price Really Covers

At $345, this is not a budget border hop, but it includes a lot for a two-day Jordan trip. The package covers an air-conditioned vehicle, guiding, entrance fees, the 4×4 safari, the Bedouin campsite, dinner, breakfast, and two lunches.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to arrange several separate services: a Jordan transfer, Petra admission, a Wadi Rum jeep, a desert camp, meals, and a return ride. The guided border-to-border structure also reduces the stress of coordinating transport in a foreign country.

You must add 115 ILS in Israeli border taxes and 50 JOD in Jordanian border taxes. Both are separate from the advertised price, and the Jordanian charge is payable only in cash. Travel insurance is also excluded, as are extra food and drinks.

The group size can reach 47 people. That helps keep the price in check, but it also means less flexibility than a private tour. You will follow fixed departure times, wait for the group, and share the guide’s attention.

Who Should Book This Tour

I would recommend this trip if you are staying in Eilat, want Petra and Wadi Rum in one efficient package, and prefer having transport and guiding arranged for you. It is also a good fit if you value the desert camp as much as the ruins.

The tour suits independent-minded people who can handle a fixed schedule. You get free time in Petra and a quiet evening at camp, but the main route, meal stops, and departure times are set.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, long bus rides, group travel, or border procedures. Petra deserves more time than this tour can provide, and the second day will test your energy.

It can work for older relatives or people who need some help, but mobility needs should be discussed before booking. Petra is a large site, and possible assistance with mules is not included in the standard price.

The cancellation terms are strict. Cancel at least six full days before departure for a full refund, cancel two to six days ahead for a 50 percent refund, and cancellations within two days are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can lead to a rescheduled trip or full refund.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want the easiest practical route from Eilat to two of southern Jordan’s major attractions. The Wadi Rum camp night, included 4×4 safari, buffet meals, and full Jordan-side guiding give the trip real value beyond a quick Petra transfer.

Do not book it expecting a slow, private, or deeply detailed Petra visit. You are buying a well-packed introduction, not a leisurely archaeological holiday. Bring cash for both border charges, prepare for a 6:00 a.m. start, and accept that the group may be large.

For a first taste of Jordan from Eilat, the combination is hard to beat. Petra supplies the unforgettable ancient site, while Wadi Rum supplies the desert night that turns a standard sightseeing trip into a fuller Jordan experience.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. in Eilat and ends back at the meeting point at about 7:00 p.m. the following day, after crossing back into Israel.

What is included in the $345 price?

The price includes dinner, breakfast, two lunches, an air-conditioned vehicle, full guiding, entrance fees, the Wadi Rum 4×4 jeep tour, and one night at a Bedouin campsite.

Are border taxes included?

No. Israeli border taxes are 115 ILS, and Jordanian border taxes are 50 JOD. The Jordanian taxes must be paid in cash.

Where do you sleep in Wadi Rum?

You sleep at a traditional Bedouin campsite in the desert. The camp provides comfortable beds and warm showers.

How much time is available at Petra?

The guided Petra visit runs from about 9:00 a.m. to noon. After lunch, you have free time for further exploration until gathering at the Visitor Center at 4:00 p.m.

Can the tour be canceled for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six days before departure receives a 50 percent refund, while cancellations within two days are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may result in a new date or a full refund.