Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat

The best reason to book this two-day Jordan tour is simple: it joins Petra and Wadi Rum without making you arrange separate transport, border transfers, tickets, meals, and lodging. You get a guided look at Petra, time to explore it on your own, a sunset jeep ride in Wadi Rum, and one night in a Bedouin camp.

I like two things here. The main costs are bundled, including Petra and Wadi Rum entry fees, dinner, breakfast, and transport from Eilat. I also like the order of the trip: Wadi Rum gives you an open-air evening after Aqaba, then Petra gets the longer second day when you are ready for its famous monuments.

The catch is the border and the schedule. Customs can take up to an hour, and the trip has a low 3.1 rating from 21 reviews, with one serious complaint about political and religious commentary from the Jordanian guide and poor planning. You should book this for convenience, not for a slow, perfectly polished tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra gets a guided morning plus free time: The main tour begins at 9:30, followed by independent time until the group heads back toward the border.
• Wadi Rum includes a sunset jeep ride: You arrive around 12:15 on day one, check into camp, and ride through the reserve before dinner.
• The $339 price covers the costly basics: Transport, Petra admission, Wadi Rum admission, dinner, breakfast, and the overnight stay are included.
• The standard camp room has shared bathrooms: A double tent is included, while a chalet with a private bathroom costs extra.
• Border delays are part of the day: Arava Border control and customs may take up to an hour in each direction, so keep your plans in Eilat flexible.
• The group can reach 25 people: This is not a private tour, and the quality of the guiding may matter as much as the sights.

Why this Eilat to Jordan trip makes sense

From Eilat, Petra and Wadi Rum are close enough to visit in a short break, but the border makes independent planning more involved than the map suggests. This tour handles the main moving parts in one booking. You are collected in Eilat, taken through the Arava Border, transported around southern Jordan, and returned to the Israeli side of the border.

That convenience has real value. The $339 price is not a bargain basement day trip, but it includes two major admission fees, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, one night in Wadi Rum, dinner, and breakfast. If you priced each part separately, you would also need to solve the border crossing and the transfer between Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra, and Eilat.

You should still think of this as a compact, active trip rather than a restful weekend. The first day starts early, the second day includes around seven hours at Petra and on the return route, and border procedures can stretch the timetable. Your reward is access to two of Jordan’s most famous places in only two days.

The maximum group size is 25. That is small enough to be manageable, but large enough that the guide will need to keep people moving. If you want complete freedom over stops and timing, a private trip would suit you better. If you want the logistics taken off your plate, this format is easier.

The Arava Border and the first morning

The tour begins with hotel pickup in Eilat. The supplied schedule lists a 7:00 am start for pickup and an 8:15 am meeting time, so confirm the exact collection time and location before you travel. That small detail matters because the border process is the first major part of your day.

At Arava Border, Israeli and Jordanian control procedures may take up to an hour. The tour information specifically asks for patience, and you should take that seriously. Bring your passport, follow the guide’s instructions, and avoid booking anything in Eilat that depends on a precise return time.

Israeli passport holders, including people with dual passports who hold an Israeli passport, must use the Israeli passport at every border crossing. The tour finishes on the Israeli side, then transportation takes you back to Eilat. This is useful to know if you expect to walk straight into a hotel or continue to another appointment.

Once across, you reach Aqaba at about 9:15 am. The schedule allows time for a city tour, the market, and lunch. This is a practical introduction to southern Jordan, but it is also one of the parts most exposed to delays. A late border crossing can shorten your time in Aqaba, so treat the city stop as a bonus rather than the central reason for booking.

Aqaba market time before Wadi Rum

Aqaba gives you a change of pace before the desert. You can look around the market and have lunch before the group leaves for Wadi Rum at approximately 12:15 pm. The stop adds local texture to a trip otherwise focused on major sights.

The drawback is that free time is limited. You will not have the day to wander Aqaba at your own speed, and lunch is not listed as included in the price. Plan to pay for your own meal unless the operator gives you different instructions.

The transfer to Wadi Rum is part of the appeal. Instead of spending your first afternoon moving between transport connections, you ride in an air-conditioned vehicle and arrive at the camp with time to check in. After that, you have some free time before the evening jeep ride.

Wadi Rum at sunset

Wadi Rum is not just an overnight stop. The sunset jeep tour is one of the trip’s main experiences, and the timing gives you a chance to see the reserve as the light changes. The tour description allows about two hours for the Wadi Rum stop, though the exact rhythm will depend on transfers and the day’s border timing.

The jeep ride is a good counterpoint to Petra. Petra is about carved stone, paths, and monuments. Wadi Rum gives you a broad desert setting viewed from an open jeep. You are not simply checking into a camp and waiting for dinner.

After the ride, dinner is served as a buffet at the Bedouin camp. Breakfast is included the next morning. These meals help with the practical side of the trip, since you are in a remote desert area and do not need to arrange a separate evening meal.

Be clear about the sleeping arrangements. The standard option is a double tent with shared bathroom facilities. That may be perfectly fine if you see the camp as part of the experience, but it will not suit everyone. A chalet with an ensuite bathroom is available as an upgrade, and you need to contact the provider for details.

The camp is the point where expectations matter. This is not a conventional hotel night. You should choose it for the setting and the link to the Wadi Rum experience, not for private facilities or a long list of hotel comforts.

The long road to Petra on day two

After breakfast, you leave Wadi Rum for Petra. The route uses the Desert Way, described as a wide and comfortable highway, then follows a scenic mountain route toward the ancient site. The transfer gives you a look at southern Jordan beyond the two headline attractions.

Petra is scheduled to begin at 9:30 am. The guided portion covers the key highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage site. That structure works well for a first visit because Petra is large and the main approach can feel confusing without some orientation.

The famous entry route leads through the Siq, a narrow passage that opens toward Petra’s best-known carved facade, the Treasury. From there, the site spreads into a much larger collection of tombs, paths, and monuments. The provided schedule does not promise every corner of Petra, so listen closely during the guided section and use your free time for the places you most want to see.

At noon, you receive free time inside the site until the return journey. This is one of the strongest parts of the plan. A fully guided Petra visit can feel rushed, while an entirely independent visit can leave you unsure where to go. Here, you get an introduction followed by a chance to choose your own pace.

Seven hours are allocated to the Petra portion and the return transportation. That sounds generous, but remember that Petra involves walking and that the return to the border is long. Wear practical shoes, keep track of the meeting time, and do not wander off assuming you can simply catch up later.

The free time is also your chance to manage your energy. You might want more monuments, or you might prefer to sit, take photographs, and enjoy the scale of the site. The tour does not require you to spend every minute following a guide, which is useful at a place that rewards unhurried pauses.

What the guiding can mean for your day

A guide can make Petra easier to understand, especially during a short visit. You need context for the Nabatean city, help with the route, and clear instructions about where and when to regroup. The tour promises a guided visit, but no guide names are provided in the available information.

That lack of a named guide makes it hard to predict the style of the commentary. One published complaint describes the Jordanian guide as spending too much time on Muslim ideology and political or religious subjects, with too little attention to Petra’s history. You should treat that as a real consideration, especially if clear site interpretation is central to your decision.

The practical response is to ask at the beginning how much of the Petra visit is guided and where the free-time meeting point will be. If the commentary does not suit you, the independent hours give you some control. Still, a group tour depends on the guide for timing and border assistance, so the human element cannot be removed entirely.

The 3.1 rating from 21 reviews suggests uneven satisfaction rather than a sure thing. The sights themselves are not the uncertain part. The questions are organization, communication, and the quality of the Jordanian guiding on your particular departure.

Returning to Eilat after Petra

The group aims to reach the border at about 7:00 pm. You then cross back into Israeli territory with assistance from the guide, followed by transportation to Eilat. Since border processing can take time, the final arrival in Eilat is not given as a precise hour.

Plan your evening accordingly. Do not schedule a flight, long-distance bus, restaurant reservation, or other fixed commitment immediately after the tour. The tour ends on the Israeli side of the border, which is helpful, but it does not mean you will be back at your hotel at 7:00 pm.

The return is tiring, particularly after walking around Petra. That is the tradeoff for fitting the site into a two-day trip. You save the cost and work of arranging another night in Jordan, but you give up the flexibility of staying longer near Petra or returning at a leisurely pace.

Is $339 a fair price?

At $339 per person, this tour earns its value through bundled logistics. You receive round-trip transfers from Eilat, air-conditioned transport, Petra admission, Wadi Rum admission, one night at the camp, dinner, and breakfast. You also receive assistance at two international border crossings.

The price is easier to justify if you are starting in Eilat and have only two days. The tour removes several decisions that can be difficult to coordinate across countries. It is less attractive if you already have Jordanian transport or prefer to choose your own hotel and restaurants.

Lunch in Aqaba is not listed among the included meals. The standard camp accommodation also uses shared bathrooms, so check the cost and details of the chalet upgrade if a private bathroom matters to you. These are not hidden luxuries, but they affect the final value.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund. That policy gives you some protection, but it does not solve the problem of a delayed border crossing or a tiring schedule.

Who should book this Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

This trip suits you if you want the major sights with minimal planning. It is a good match for a first visit to Jordan from Eilat, especially if you value included entry fees, a fixed vehicle, a camp night, and a guide to help with the border.

It also suits people who enjoy variety. In two days you get a Jordanian city stop, desert scenery, a jeep tour, a camp dinner, and Petra’s monumental ruins. That is a lot of contrast in a short time.

You may want another option if you need a calm pace, private bathrooms, or exact control over your schedule. It is also a weaker choice if you dislike group travel or expect polished historical commentary throughout. The group can have up to 25 people, and the negative account of the guiding is worth weighing before you pay.

Final advice: book it for convenience, not perfection

I would book this tour if your priority is seeing Petra and Wadi Rum from Eilat without arranging a cross-border trip yourself. The combination of transport, admissions, meals, camp lodging, and a sunset jeep ride gives the $339 price a reasonable practical value.

I would hesitate if your priority is expert interpretation, quiet pacing, or hotel-style comfort. Before booking, confirm your pickup time, ask about the chalet upgrade, and make sure you can use the correct passport at the border. Keep your return evening open, pack for walking, and approach the trip as an efficient introduction to southern Jordan rather than a leisurely private journey.

FAQ

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

The experience lasts approximately two days. Day one covers the border crossing, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, the sunset jeep tour, dinner, and the overnight camp. Day two covers breakfast, Petra, the return to the border, and transportation back to Eilat.

What time does the tour start?

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

Is hotel pickup available in Eilat?

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

Does the price include Petra and Wadi Rum entrance fees?

Yes. Admission to Petra and Wadi Rum is included in the $339 price.

Are dinner and breakfast included?

Yes. A buffet dinner is included after the Wadi Rum jeep tour, and breakfast is included at the Bedouin camp the following morning. Lunch in Aqaba is not listed as included.

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, with details provided by contacting the operator.

Is the Petra visit guided?

Yes. The Petra visit begins with a guided tour of the site’s highlights at about 9:30 am. You then have free time inside Petra from approximately noon until the group begins the return journey.

How many people can join the tour?

The group can include a maximum of 25 travelers.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.