02 Days with 01 overnight Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border

Two wonders, one very full trip. This organized journey from Eilat makes a complicated Jordan visit much easier, combining assisted border crossing with private vehicle transfers, a guided visit to Petra, and a four to five-hour Jeep ride through Wadi Rum. I especially like the overnight format, since it gives you a desert sunset instead of a rushed day trip, and I like that meals, camping, water, and the main entrance fees are built into the price. The main drawback is the pace: border formalities, long drives, and two major sights in roughly two to three days can make this a tiring trip.

The advertised price is $587 per person, which is not cheap, but it covers far more than simple transport. You receive a Bedouin camp night, barbecue dinner, breakfast, lunch, English-speaking guides, a private car, and the Petra entrance program. Communication also seems to be a strong point, with Andrea and Mohammed singled out for being helpful and responsive. Bring extra cash for tips, optional rides, and the possible Jordan departure tax.

Key things to know before booking

• Petra gets a proper visit: You have about three hours with an English-speaking guide, plus roughly four hours set aside at the site.
• Wadi Rum is more than a photo stop: A four to five-hour private Jeep outing includes Bedouin tea, mineral water, a box lunch, and time in the Valley of the Moon.
• The overnight camp changes the experience: You can see the desert around sunset and have a barbecue dinner rather than racing back to the border.
• The 700-meter horse ride is optional: It is included in the program, but the handler expects a tip. You can also choose a carriage or camel ride.
• Extras can become expensive: The one-hour hot-air balloon option costs 130 JD, or about $185, per person.
• Border help has real value: Meet-and-assist service is included at the Eilat border, a useful safeguard when crossing into Jordan.

Why the overnight format works better than a day trip

Petra and Wadi Rum are not next door to one another, and the Eilat border adds another layer of timing. A day trip can show you the headline sights, but it leaves little room for delays or quiet moments. The overnight design gives you a more sensible rhythm, even though the overall schedule remains busy.

The biggest benefit is Wadi Rum at the end of the day. The desert is not just a stop for a quick Jeep photograph. Sandstone cliffs, broad open spaces, and shifting light are part of what makes the area special. Camping gives you a chance to experience the desert after the main sightseeing hours, with Bedouin tea and a barbecue dinner at camp.

You should still expect an early start or a long day, depending on border timing and the final schedule. The published duration says two to three days, approximately, while the core program includes one overnight. That small uncertainty is worth clarifying before you pay, especially if your onward plans from Eilat are fixed.

Crossing from Eilat into Jordan

The tour begins in Eilat, in Israel’s Southern District, with a meeting point in Eilat and assistance at the border. This is one of the strongest reasons to choose an organized trip rather than arranging Petra and Wadi Rum independently.

Border crossings are rarely the most relaxing part of a holiday. You need to handle the correct sequence of checks, understand which fees may apply, and stay on schedule for your driver. Here, the meet-and-assist service is intended to guide you through arrival at the Eilat border and help connect you with the Jordan-side transport.

The tour uses a brand-new car with an English-speaking driver and assistant driver for the transfers. That private setup is especially useful if you are traveling as a family or small group. You are not being folded into a large coach schedule, and the activity is private for your group.

There is one cost to watch. A Jordan departure tax of 10 JD, about $15, may apply and is not included. Tips for the driver and guides are also excluded. Keep Jordanian dinars or suitable cash available so these small payments do not become a last-minute nuisance.

Petra: the rose-red city in four hours

Petra is the emotional center of the trip. Its familiar entrance is the Siq, but the site is far more than the famous Treasury facade. The Nabataeans carved tombs, temples, and other structures directly into the sandstone cliffs, creating a city that feels part of the rock rather than simply placed beside it.

The color changes with the light, which explains the nickname rose-red city. Some surfaces appear pale, pink, orange, or dark red depending on the hour and the angle of the sun. The setting is as important as the individual monuments.

Your Petra visit includes an English-speaking guide for about three hours, with around four hours allocated at the site. That is enough time for an informed introduction and some independent looking, but it is not an invitation to cover every corner of Petra. If you like to move slowly, take photographs, or explore beyond the central route, you may find the time limited.

The guide adds useful context to what could otherwise become a procession of carved facades. Petra reflects Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine periods. You can see traces of tombs cut into mountain faces, a theater, a colonnaded street, and churches connected to later Christian use.

The site also preserves evidence of human settlement and land use reaching back more than 10,000 years. That longer story matters. Petra was not only a monumental city built for ancient rulers. It was also a place where people managed water, lived, traded, worshipped, and adapted to a demanding environment.

A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included in the arrangement, but it is not mandatory. The horse handler expects a tip, so do not assume the included ride means you will have no extra cost. You can also arrange a Petra carriage for $40, with space for a maximum of two people, or a camel ride for 10 JD, about $15, per camel per hour.

These choices are best handled at Petra after you arrive. The supplied information says you do not need to reserve the carriage or camel in advance, and you can ask the guide at the Petra Gate. If you prefer walking, simply skip the animal rides. That lets you keep control of both your pace and your budget.

Wadi Rum by private Jeep

Wadi Rum is known as the Valley of the Moon, a name that fits its stark sandstone and granite formations. It lies about 60 kilometers east of Aqaba and is the largest wadi in Jordan. The area feels very different from Petra, which is one reason the two destinations work well together.

Petra gives you carved architecture and archaeological detail. Wadi Rum gives you open space, rock walls, sand, and distance. The Jeep ride is scheduled for four to five hours, with an English-speaking guide who also serves as your driver. That is a substantial amount of time, not a brief transfer through the desert.

The private Jeep format should make the outing more flexible for your group, though the exact route is guided by the local driver and the day’s schedule. Mineral water and Bedouin tea are included, as is a box lunch during the Wadi Rum portion. These practical touches matter in a remote setting, where buying food or drinks is not as simple as it is in a city.

The camp stay adds the human side of the desert experience. You spend one night at a Bedouin camp, with real Bedouin hospitality, a barbecue dinner, and breakfast. Do not expect a city hotel experience. The appeal is the setting, the food, and the chance to spend the evening in Wadi Rum.

An optional camel ride costs 10 JD, about $15, per camel per hour. You can arrange it when you arrive in Petra or Wadi Rum by asking your guide. That makes it easy to decide on the spot, but remember that a camel ride is not part of the included package.

Optional balloon ride and other extras

The most costly upgrade is the hot-air balloon flight in Wadi Rum. It lasts about one hour and is offered early in the morning, from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. The price is 130 JD, about $185, per person, and advance booking is required.

This option may appeal to anyone who wants a broad view of the Valley of the Moon before the day becomes active. It also changes the morning schedule, so ask how it fits with breakfast, departure, and your next transfer. Do not assume it can be added casually after arrival.

The camel ride is much less expensive and can be booked locally. The Petra carriage costs $40 for up to two people. Since the horse ride is already part of the arrangement, you have several ways to move through or around Petra, but none is compulsory.

I would decide based on comfort, interest, and time rather than trying to add every activity. Petra already demands walking, and Wadi Rum already includes a long Jeep outing. The extra rides are choices, not requirements for a successful trip.

What the $587 price includes

At $587 per person, this is a premium organized excursion. The price makes more sense when you add up the pieces: private vehicle transfers, border assistance, Petra entrance arrangements, a Petra guide, Wadi Rum Jeep touring, one night of camping, dinner, breakfast, lunch, box lunch, and bottled water.

You are also paying for coordination. The value is not only the bed, car, and meals. It is having one company arrange the handoff from Eilat to Jordan, connect you with the drivers, and keep the Petra and Wadi Rum portions moving.

That convenience matters most if you are anxious about crossing the border or do not want to organize several separate bookings. A family may also appreciate the private activity format and the assistant driver.

The price does not cover tips, travel insurance, personal expenses, the possible 10 JD departure tax, or the optional rides. The hot-air balloon flight alone adds about $185 per person. Set your real budget with those extras in mind.

Food is covered at useful points: breakfast, lunch in Petra at Al Qantara Restaurant or a similar restaurant, dinner at the camp, and a box lunch in Wadi Rum. The supplied information also lists mineral water both onboard and during the desert portion. You should still ask about any dietary needs before departure, since no special meal details are provided.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this tour to someone who wants the major Jordan sights without handling every transport and border detail alone. It suits first-time visitors, families, and small groups who value a private vehicle and a fixed plan.

It is also a good fit if you want both archaeology and desert scenery. Petra and Wadi Rum offer very different experiences, and the tour gives each one meaningful time instead of using Wadi Rum only as a drive-through stop.

You should think twice if you dislike early starts, long road transfers, or a tight schedule. Petra involves walking, Wadi Rum involves a Jeep ride over desert terrain, and border procedures can affect the day. The approximately two to three-day timing also needs to fit comfortably into your wider holiday.

The English-speaking staff are important here. Andrea and Mohammed are specifically praised for being responsive and reassuring, which can be valuable when you are planning a cross-border family outing. A responsive operator cannot remove every delay, but clear communication makes a complicated trip easier to manage.

Booking, cancellation, and practical notes

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. I would wait for that confirmation before treating the trip as fixed in your schedule.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that period are not accepted for a refund, and the local time cut-off applies.

Service animals are allowed, and the information says most people can participate. Public transportation is nearby at the meeting area, but the tour itself uses private vehicle transfers.

Keep your booking details on your phone since the ticket is mobile. Bring cash for tips, the possible departure tax, camel rides, carriage rides, and other personal expenses. If the balloon flight interests you, reserve it ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning in Wadi Rum.

Should you book the Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

Book it if you want Petra and Wadi Rum in one organized package, especially if border logistics make you uneasy. The best features are the overnight desert camp, private transport, long Wadi Rum Jeep ride, Petra guide, and practical assistance at the Eilat border.

Skip it if you want a slow Petra visit, independent hotel choices, or complete control over your daily timing. At $587, the trip is worthwhile for convenience and coverage, but the optional extras and possible departure tax mean you should budget beyond the headline price.

For most first-time visitors coming from Eilat, I see this as a strong choice. You get the rose-colored ruins, the Valley of the Moon, a Bedouin camp, and help with the awkward parts of crossing into Jordan, all in one demanding but memorable package.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is in Eilat, in Israel’s Southern District.

How long does the tour last?

The approximate duration is two to three days, and the program includes one overnight stay at a Bedouin camp.

Is border assistance included?

Yes. Meet-and-assist service is provided upon arrival at the Eilat border.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transfers are provided in a brand-new car with an English-speaking driver and assistant driver.

How long is the Wadi Rum Jeep tour?

The Wadi Rum Jeep tour lasts about four to five hours and uses an English-speaking guide who is also the driver.

Is the Petra entrance ticket included?

Yes. Admission to Petra is included, along with an English-speaking Petra guide for about three hours.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refundable.