Petra 2-Day Tour from Tel-Aviv

Petra is the reason to take this trip: after crossing from Eilat into Jordan, you enter the narrow Siq and suddenly face the Treasury, carved into rose-colored rock. The tour also includes the tombs, amphitheater, local lunch, a hotel night, and time to see more of the site on day two. I like the included Tel Aviv to Eilat flight and the fact that you do not have to arrange Jordanian transport on your own. I also like the second day, which gives Petra more breathing room than a rushed day trip.

The main catch is the border and the very early start. Your flight leaves around 6:40 a.m., the Jordan crossing can take time, and the group may include as many as 55 people. The $430 price also excludes listed border fees of $65 and a Jordan visa charge of $75 per person.

Key details before you book

• Petra gets two days of attention: Day one covers the Siq, Treasury, tombs, and amphitheater, while day two allows time for the Monastery and further exploring.
• The trip starts with a flight: You fly from Ben Gurion Airport to Eilat, then take a local shuttle to the meeting point before the Jordan transfer.
• Aqaba is part of the route: The journey includes a short panoramic tour of Aqaba before travel back toward Eilat or the stated end point in Aqaba.
• The price is not all-inclusive: A 3-star hotel, breakfast, lunch, transport, and domestic flights are included, but border and visa charges are extra.
• Expect a sizeable group: The maximum group size is 55 people, so border transfers and meeting points may take patience.
• Petra requires walking: You need a moderate level of fitness, and the full sightseeing period on day one lasts about 3.5 hours.

Why Petra makes this two-day trip worthwhile

Petra is not a single monument you walk up to, take a picture of, and leave. The approach matters. You enter through the Siq, a long, narrow rock passage, and the Treasury appears at the far end in a dramatic reveal. That first view is one of the strongest moments in the whole trip.

The Treasury is only the beginning. Petra has more than 800 structures still standing, including tombs, an amphitheater, churches, valleys, and other carved remains. The organized visit focuses on the main sights, so you get a useful first orientation instead of wandering without knowing what you are looking at.

I especially like that the tour does not treat Petra as a quick border excursion. You stay overnight near Petra, then have free time on the second day. That extra time matters because the site is large, and the Monastery requires additional walking beyond the main route.

The experience is best for you if Petra is a major reason for visiting the region and you value having transport, lodging, meals, and border arrangements grouped together. It is less suitable if you want a quiet, private visit or dislike fixed schedules.

The 6:40 a.m. flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat

The day begins early at Ben Gurion International Airport. The advertised flight departure is about 6:40 a.m., so you need to plan for a pre-dawn airport arrival, even though the exact check-in instructions are not detailed here.

After landing in Eilat, take Egged shuttle number 30. It leaves from the right side of the exit door when you leave the airport and costs about 5 NIS per person. The ride takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes and brings you to the main bus station.

A tour representative is scheduled to meet you there around 8:15 to 8:30 a.m. From that point, you transfer toward the Jordanian border. This handoff is important: you are not met directly at the Eilat airport, so keep the shuttle details handy and allow yourself time to locate the bus station.

The flight saves you a long overland journey from Tel Aviv, which is a real advantage on a two-day schedule. The tradeoff is that you have several separate transport stages before Petra: flight, airport shuttle, meeting point, border processing, and onward road transfer.

Crossing into Jordan and reaching Aqaba

The border is one of the least predictable parts of the trip. You should expect document checks and waiting, with the possibility of delays. One account describes spending a long time at the Jordanian border, and another describes a late pickup after multiple tours were grouped together. These details do not mean every departure will run late, but they show why you should not plan a tight independent schedule around the crossing.

The tour lists border fees of $65 per person and a Jordan visa charge of $75 per person as extra costs. At the listed $430 tour price, those charges bring the stated total to $570 per person before personal spending and the airport shuttle. Check the current entry rules and charges for your nationality before paying, since the tour information does not explain exceptions or changes.

Aqaba receives a short panoramic tour. The information does not give a precise list of stops, so think of this as a brief introduction rather than a full Aqaba sightseeing day. It adds a useful sense of place before you continue inland toward Petra, but Petra is clearly the main event.

Transport is by air-conditioned minivan once the group is on the ground. With a maximum of 55 people, different parts of the trip may involve group coordination and waiting. If you prefer a nimble schedule, ask the operator how the group is divided for each transfer before booking.

Entering Petra through the Siq

The first Petra visit takes about 3.5 hours and concentrates on the best-known central sights. You go through the Siq, the rock passage that forms Petra’s natural entrance, and reach the Treasury at the far end.

The Treasury is often the image people carry home from Petra, but the pleasure of this route is seeing how the city unfolds around it. The carved tombs show the scale of Petra’s rock-cut architecture, while the amphitheater gives a different view of how the Nabataean city functioned.

You should wear practical walking shoes and carry water. The tour requires a moderate fitness level, and the site includes walking over uneven ground. The material does not specify the amount of shade, restroom locations, or accessibility arrangements, so do not assume that every section will be easy for anyone with limited mobility.

The main guided visit is helpful for a first look. A guide can give the Treasury, tombs, and amphitheater context that you would miss if you simply followed the path and took photographs. At the same time, the set schedule means you may not get as much time as you want at every carving.

Local lunch and the overnight hotel

Lunch is scheduled at about 3:00 p.m. in an authentic local restaurant. That is later than many people are used to, but the timing follows the Petra visit. If you need food earlier in the day, carry a small snack, since the included meal comes after the main sightseeing period.

Breakfast is included on day two, and the overnight stay is in a 3-star hotel in Petra. The hotel category gives you a basic level of accommodation, but the information does not name the property or specify room facilities. I would treat the hotel as a practical base rather than a highlight of the trip.

An overnight stay does two useful things. It removes the need to rush out of Petra immediately after the first visit, and it gives you a chance to return to the site when the second day begins. You also avoid trying to combine the full Petra visit with a same-day return flight from Eilat.

Petra by Night may be available twice a week for an extra charge. It is optional, not included, and the information does not provide its operating days or price. Ask about availability when you book rather than counting on it.

Day two and the walk to the Monastery

Day two is described as a free day in Petra. You can use it to revisit areas from day one or walk farther toward the Monastery. This is one of the strongest features of the trip because you can use the second visit according to your energy and interests.

The Monastery is a particularly useful goal for day two, but the tour does not state how much time is allocated for the walk or whether a guide accompanies you. You should ask about the meeting time and return instructions before setting off. The group is scheduled to travel back toward Aqaba at about 4:00 p.m., so you need to watch the clock.

The free time gives you more independence than the first guided circuit. You might spend it looking more closely at the tombs, exploring the amphitheater again, or continuing beyond the central monuments. The drawback is that the details are less structured. If you want a fully guided second day, confirm what support is provided.

One practical point needs clarification: the overview says return flights between Tel Aviv and Eilat are included, while the inclusion list specifically says domestic flights Tel Aviv to Eilat. The itinerary says the group travels back to Aqaba, and the stated end point is Aqaba, Jordan. Ask the operator to confirm the exact return route, flight, and final drop-off before you commit.

What the $430 price really covers

At $430 per person, the price is easiest to judge as a package rather than as a simple Petra entrance fee. You receive the Tel Aviv to Eilat domestic flight arrangement, ground transport by air-conditioned minivan, one night in a 3-star hotel, breakfast, lunch, border transfer support, and guided sightseeing.

That package can be useful if you are staying in Tel Aviv and do not want to coordinate Eilat transport, Jordanian transfers, accommodation, and Petra touring separately. The second Petra day also gives the price more value than a quick one-day crossing.

Still, the advertised price does not cover everything. Add the $65 border fee and $75 Jordan visa charge listed for each person. The Egged shuttle from Eilat airport to the bus station costs about 5 NIS per person, and Petra by Night costs extra if you choose it.

The non-refundable booking rule deserves attention. Once booked, the experience cannot be canceled or changed for a refund. Since flights, border rules, security conditions, and passport details can affect the trip, only book after checking your schedule and entry documents carefully.

Group size, timing, and possible delays

The maximum group size is 55 people. That is not a small walking tour, and it can affect the pace at airport meeting points, border control, hotel transfers, and the start of the Petra visit.

I would arrive prepared for a long day on day one. The flight starts around 6:40 a.m., while Petra sightseeing, lunch, and the hotel transfer continue into the afternoon. The schedule is efficient, but it leaves little room for a missed connection or a slow border crossing.

The operator states that it is not responsible for late flights caused by technical or security issues. If a flight arrives late, private transportation may cost an extra $100 per vehicle. This is a significant possible charge, so keep a financial cushion and do not assume a delayed flight will simply be absorbed into the group plan.

Bring your passport, and make sure the booking includes the passport name, number, expiry date, and country for every participant. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Vegetarian meals are available if requested at booking time.

Who should take this Petra tour?

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time, are based in Tel Aviv, and want a packaged route into Jordan. It suits people who prefer an organized border crossing and included transport over arranging several independent bookings.

It is also a good match if you want to see the headline Petra sights but would like a second day for the Monastery and other areas. The combination of guided sightseeing on day one and free time on day two gives you both structure and room to wander.

Families can take the tour, but children must be accompanied by an adult, and the walking and early start may be demanding. You should also consider the group size if your family needs a slower pace.

I would hesitate if you need a flexible cancellation policy, dislike long waits, or want detailed control over the return route. I would also hesitate if the extra $140 in listed border and visa charges pushes the cost beyond your budget.

Should you book it?

Book this Petra tour if convenience is your priority and you want the main Jordan highlights handled in two days. The Siq, Treasury, tombs, amphitheater, overnight stay, second Petra day, and Aqaba tour make this a useful first visit rather than a one-photo stop.

Before booking, confirm three things: the exact return flight or transfer, the current border and visa charges for your passport, and the meeting plan for a group that may reach 55 people. If those details work for you, the package offers a practical route to Petra from Tel Aviv, with enough time to appreciate the site and attempt the Monastery.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 6:40 a.m., when the flight from Tel Aviv is expected to leave.

How do I get from Eilat airport to the meeting point?

Take Egged shuttle number 30 from the right side of the airport exit. It costs about 5 NIS per person and takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes to reach the main bus station, where a representative is scheduled to meet you around 8:15 to 8:30 a.m.

What is included in the tour price?

The package includes lunch, breakfast, one night in a 3-star hotel, domestic flights between Tel Aviv and Eilat, guided visits, and air-conditioned minivan transport.

What costs extra?

The listed exclusions are a $65 border fee per person and a $75 Jordan visa charge per person. The Eilat airport shuttle and the optional Petra by Night show also cost extra.

How much time do I spend at Petra?

The first Petra visit takes about 3.5 hours. Day two is free time in Petra, with travel back toward Aqaba scheduled at about 4:00 p.m.

Is the tour suitable for children and people with limited fitness?

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the tour recommends a moderate physical fitness level. The Petra sightseeing involves walking, including the Siq and possible routes toward the Monastery.