03 Days – 02 Nights Petra & Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border

Two great Jordan sights, one border crossing. This private 3-day tour from Eilat combines Petra’s carved stone monuments with Wadi Rum’s wide desert, and I like the way it handles the awkward parts: border assistance, Jordanian transport, entry fees, and a visa arranged in advance. I also like the mix of stays, with one night in a Bedouin camp and one night at a 3-star hotel in Petra.

The main consideration is the price: $820 per person is a serious spend, especially before tips and any Jordan departure tax. The tour also packs a lot into a short time, so you should expect long drives, early starts, walking on uneven ground, and only about three hours with a Petra guide.

Key points at a glance

• Wadi Rum by 4×4 Jeep: Spend four to five hours visiting Lawrence Spring, Khazali Canyon, sand dunes, rock bridges, and other desert sites.
• A real camp night: Drink Bedouin tea, visit your guide’s family home, eat a barbecue dinner, and sleep at a camp beneath the desert sky.
• Petra with a local guide: Follow the Siq to the Treasury, then continue to the Street of Facades, Royal Tombs, Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint.
• Visa and border support: Your passport details are needed in advance so the operator can arrange the free Jordan visa.
• Private touring: Only your own group takes part, with a minimum of two people per booking.
• Extra costs to plan for: Tips, personal expenses, optional camel rides, horse-handler tips, and a possible 10 JD Jordan departure tax are not included.

Why this short Jordan trip works

From Eilat, Petra and Wadi Rum are close enough to combine, but not so close that the trip feels effortless. You cross an international border, change vehicles, travel through southern Jordan, and then spend much of the time walking or riding over rough ground.

This tour earns its keep by taking care of the moving parts. A representative meets you at the Eilat border, an English-speaking driver handles the road transfers, and the operator arranges the Jordan visa ahead of time. That is useful when you want to see Petra without building a full Jordan itinerary from scratch.

The private format matters, too. You are not tied to a large coach group. Your own party takes part, so the pace may be easier to manage, particularly if your group includes children or older family members. One booking included six people with two children and two seniors, and the flexible transport was praised as a good fit for a mixed-age group.

Still, this is not a lazy escape. The first day includes the border, a transfer to Wadi Rum, a four to five hour Jeep ride, sunset, dinner, and a camp night. The second day moves on to Petra for a guided walk. The third day offers another Petra visit or optional trails before the return to Eilat.

Crossing from Eilat into Jordan

The tour begins at Eilat in southern Israel. The information gives a meeting time of 10:00 am, while the first-day instructions ask you to arrive at the border between 8:00 am and 12:00 or 1:00 pm at the latest. I would confirm your exact meeting time before departure, since a border crossing is not the place for guesswork.

A representative meets you after arrival and assists with the Jordan entry process. You must send passport details in advance so the operator can arrange the free visa. That is one of the strongest practical features of the trip, but you still need to carry the correct passport and allow time for border formalities.

After crossing, you meet your English-speaking driver and transfer for about one hour to Wadi Rum. The vehicle is described as a new car, and mineral water is provided during the road journeys. The driver also acts as an assistant, which gives you one point of contact for transport and timing.

This arrangement is especially helpful if you do not want to rent a car or negotiate a taxi at the border. You are paying for a controlled handoff from Israel into Jordan, not only for sightseeing.

Wadi Rum by Jeep: four to five hours in the desert

Wadi Rum is the most active part of the first day. At the visitor center, you meet your English-speaking Bedouin guide, who also drives the 4×4 Jeep. Before setting out, you receive Bedouin tea and coffee and visit a real Bedouin family at the guide’s home.

That family visit gives the desert stop more meaning than a simple vehicle excursion. You get a small look at local hospitality before heading into the open desert. The tea and coffee are included, along with bottled water and a box lunch during the Wadi Rum portion.

The Jeep route includes a strong collection of Wadi Rum sights:

• Nabatean Temple
• Lawrence Spring
• Sand dunes
• Khazali Canyon
• Little Bridge
• Um Frouth Rock Bridge
• Lawrence House
• Burdah Rock Bridge, also called Burdah Arch

The appeal here is variety. You are not sitting in a vehicle for four hours looking at the same view. You stop at rock formations, a canyon, a spring, dunes, and places linked with Lawrence of Arabia. The guide can get you out of the Jeep for short walks and photo stops, although the supplied schedule does not specify how long you spend at each location.

You should wear shoes that can handle sand and uneven rock. The day includes climbing dunes and rock bridges, so this is not a good match if you need flat, smooth paths throughout. The description says most people can participate, but the physical demands are still worth taking seriously.

A one-hour camel ride from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring is optional and costs 10 JD, or about $15, per camel. You can also do it the next day. This is an extra cost, not part of the tour price, and I would treat it as a pleasant add-on rather than a necessary feature. The Jeep tour already gives you the main Wadi Rum experience.

Sunset, barbecue, and a Bedouin camp night

At the end of the Jeep ride, you watch the sun set over the desert and spend the night at a Bedouin camp or under the stars. Dinner is a barbecue, with vegetarian food available. Breakfast is included the next morning.

This overnight stay is one of the tour’s most appealing choices. A hotel would be easier, but it would miss the rhythm of Wadi Rum. Tea, a shared meal, the desert silence, and the chance to look at the night sky give the first day a clear sense of place.

Keep your expectations practical. A camp is not the same as a conventional hotel. One account praised the camp but noted concerns about hot water, so you should be ready for basic facilities. The exact level of comfort may depend on the camp arrangement and conditions during your visit.

The camp also makes the schedule feel less rushed. Instead of leaving Wadi Rum after a quick Jeep outing, you get sunset and an evening in the desert. For many people, that night will be as memorable as the formal monuments in Petra.

Petra through the Siq and to the Treasury

After breakfast and sunrise, you leave the camp for Wadi Rum Visitor Center, meet your driver, and travel about two hours to Petra. The route includes a short stop for photographs and views along the Kings Highway.

At Petra, you meet an English-speaking guide at the visitor center for about three hours. The walk begins through the Siq, the narrow gorge that leads into the ancient city. The first view of the Treasury comes at the end of this passage, which is one of Petra’s most effective moments.

From the Treasury, the route continues along the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs, Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint. You then have free time to explore on your own before returning to the entrance gate along the same general route.

The guide is valuable here because Petra is more than a series of impressive carvings. The Nabateans built their capital beside major Arabian trade routes, and the sites make more sense when someone points out how the city was arranged and used. Three hours gives you a useful introduction without forcing you to stay with a guide all day.

The limit is that Petra is much larger than this core route. You can spend a second day exploring optional trails, but the main guided visit does not cover every major viewpoint or monument. Wear supportive shoes, carry water, and expect a good deal of walking. The horse ride from the main gate, about 700 meters, is included and is not mandatory, but the handler expects a tip.

The word included needs a little care here. Entrance fees and the short horse ride are covered, but tips are not. Horse-drawn carriages and camel rides are also excluded. You should have small Jordanian notes ready if you use these services or want to thank your guides and drivers.

A second Petra day gives you breathing room

The third day is flexible. You can visit Petra again by yourself, choose optional trails, or return toward the Eilat border in the morning.

That choice changes the character of the tour. If Petra is the main reason you are coming to Jordan, use the second day for more time inside the site. The first visit can feel like an introduction, and a second visit lets you walk at your own speed instead of following the guide’s route.

If you prefer a shorter final day, you can leave after breakfast and travel back to Eilat. The drive from Petra to the border takes about one and a half hours, but the border closes at 8:00 pm. That closing time is important. Do not plan a late afternoon Petra walk and assume you can cross whenever you like.

The return timing should be discussed with the driver in advance, especially if you want to use the second day for optional trails. The tour is listed as three to four days approximately, while the detailed schedule is three days and two nights. That slight difference suggests you should confirm the exact departure and return plan before paying.

The Petra hotel and what the price covers

Your second night is at a 3-star hotel in Petra, with breakfast. This is a sensible contrast to the camp. After a desert night and a full day walking through Petra, a standard hotel room gives you a more familiar place to sleep.

At $820 per person, the price is not low. The value depends on what you would otherwise have to arrange yourself. The package covers border meet-and-assist service, the Jordan visa, road transfers, mineral water, the Wadi Rum Jeep ride, Bedouin camp accommodation, barbecue dinner, breakfast, a box lunch, Petra entrance fees, a Petra guide, and the Petra hotel.

For two people, the listed cost becomes a substantial private trip. For a family or larger group, the private transport and group format may feel more reasonable, especially if you want one schedule for everyone. Group discounts are available, though the amount is not specified.

You should budget separately for guide and driver tips, personal spending, optional camel rides, horse-handler tips, and a possible Jordan departure tax of 10 JD, about $15. Travel insurance is also not included.

The high price buys convenience and coordination more than luxury. You are paying to have the border, vehicles, guide arrangements, and overnight stays organized. If you are comfortable arranging buses, hotels, and local excursions yourself, you may find the package expensive. If you have only a few days and want a direct route from Eilat, the convenience has real value.

Guides, drivers, and the human side of the tour

The strongest pattern in the feedback is the care shown by the guides and drivers. Names praised in connection with Jordan trips include Sammy, Mamoun Al Nawafleh, Mohammed, Mahmoud, Mohannad, Mustafa, and others. The exact staff member for your departure is not guaranteed, but the company has a clear record of putting emphasis on friendly, flexible service.

One useful detail is the communication at the border. Instructions included a photograph showing what the crossing looks like after leaving Israel, which can make the first minutes less confusing. The team also kept in touch from entry until the return across the border.

That support matters on a short trip. A delayed handoff or unclear meeting place can waste half a day. Here, you have a representative at the border, a driver for the road sections, and separate local guides for Wadi Rum and Petra.

The Petra guide is scheduled for three hours, while the Wadi Rum guide drives the Jeep and leads the desert route. You should ask for the names of your assigned guides when the final arrangements are confirmed if that matters to you.

Who should book this Petra and Wadi Rum trip?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want Petra and Wadi Rum in one compact trip from Eilat, and you value help with the Jordan border. It also suits families, couples, and small groups that prefer private transport over a large shared coach.

It is a good fit if you want two different overnight experiences: one desert camp and one hotel. The combination gives you atmosphere without requiring you to spend both nights in basic camping conditions.

I would be more cautious if you dislike long road transfers, rough Jeep rides, uneven walking, or simple camp facilities. The schedule is full, and the price is difficult to justify if you only want a quick look at Petra.

Before booking, confirm four details: your exact border meeting time, the name and location of the Petra hotel, the camp facilities, and whether your planned Petra second-day route fits the 8:00 pm border closing time. Those answers will tell you if the trip matches your pace.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the easiest organized route from Eilat to two of southern Jordan’s major sights. The standout strengths are the border assistance, private transport, Bedouin camp night, four to five hour Wadi Rum Jeep tour, and guided Petra introduction.

Skip it if $820 feels too high for a short trip or if you want a slow, independent visit to Petra. For the right person, this is a practical way to cross into Jordan, see the Treasury, ride through Wadi Rum, and return with the complicated pieces handled for you.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. A minimum of two people is required, and if the minimum is not met, you are offered another date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long is the Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

The trip is described as three to four days, with two nights. The detailed plan covers Wadi Rum on day one, Petra on day two, and a second Petra visit or return to Eilat on day three.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is in Eilat, in Israel’s Southern District, at the Eilat border. The listed start time is 10:00 am, but the arrival instructions allow arrival between 8:00 am and 12:00 or 1:00 pm at the latest, so confirm the exact time before departure.

Is the Jordan visa included?

Yes. The operator arranges a free Jordan visa in advance, but you must send your passport details so the arrangements can be made.

What is included in Wadi Rum?

The package includes a four to five hour 4×4 Jeep tour with an English-speaking Bedouin guide, Bedouin tea and coffee, a family visit, mineral water, a box lunch, one night at a Bedouin camp, barbecue dinner, and breakfast.

Is the camel ride included?

No. A one-hour camel ride is optional and costs 10 JD, or about $15, per camel. It can take place from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring on the first or second day.

What is not included in the $820 price?

Tips, personal expenses, travel insurance, horse-handler tips, horse-drawn carriages, camel rides, and a possible Jordan departure tax of 10 JD, or about $15, are not included.