Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat

Two countries, two unforgettable sights. This two-day trip from Eilat combines Petra’s carved stone monuments with Wadi Rum’s wide desert and sunset jeep ride, making it an efficient choice if you want Jordan’s major highlights without arranging transport and lodging yourself. I like the round-trip Eilat transfers and the fact that the $339 price includes Petra and Wadi Rum entry fees, dinner, and breakfast.

I also like the contrast between the two days: Petra gives you an ancient city and a guided walk, while Wadi Rum brings open desert, a Bedouin camp, and a jeep tour. The main concern is the schedule. Border formalities, long drives, and a short block of free time in Petra can make this feel rushed, and one published account gave a strong warning about political and religious commentary from the Jordanian guide.

The key points at a glance

• The trip begins with a border crossing from Eilat into Jordan, and customs may take up to an hour, so the first morning requires patience.
• Aqaba is included as a short stop, with time for the market and lunch before the group continues to Wadi Rum.
• Wadi Rum includes a sunset jeep tour, buffet dinner, overnight stay, and breakfast the next morning.
• Petra’s guided visit begins at 9:30, followed by free time until noon before the long return to the border.
• The standard camp room is a double tent with shared bathrooms, while a chalet with a private bathroom is available for an extra charge.
• The group can include up to 25 people, and transportation is by air-conditioned vehicle.

Is this the right way to see Jordan from Eilat?

If you are based in Eilat and have only two days, this tour solves several awkward problems at once. You do not need to arrange a Jordanian driver, find a Petra ticket, book a desert camp, or work out how to return across the border. Those practical details matter here because Petra and Wadi Rum are not next door to each other, and the border adds another layer of timing.

The $339 cost is not a simple sightseeing ticket. It covers transportation, admission to both major sites, a night in Wadi Rum, dinner, and breakfast. You are paying for convenience and coordination as much as for the sights. That can be good value if you want a ready-made trip from Eilat, but less so if you prefer a slow visit, a private guide, or control over every stop.

This is a demanding two-day outing rather than a restful break. The first day starts early, includes customs, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and a sunset jeep ride. The second day includes Petra, a long transfer back, another border crossing, and arrival at the Israeli side at about 7:00 in the evening. You should choose it for access and variety, not for a leisurely pace.

Leaving Eilat and crossing into Jordan

The morning pickup is listed as 7:00 from Eilat hotels, while the general start time is shown as 8:15. Treat the hotel pickup time as the important one, and confirm the exact pickup details before departure. The tour transfers you to the Arava Border on the Israeli side, where you complete the required checks before entering Jordan.

Border control and customs can take up to an hour. That is not a minor footnote. It can affect the rest of the day, and you should not expect the schedule to run with train-like precision. Keep your passport easy to reach, bring water, and avoid planning anything later that depends on an exact return time.

Israeli passport holders, including people with dual passports who hold an Israeli passport, must use that Israeli passport at every border crossing. The tour ends on the Israeli side of the border, followed by transport back to Eilat. This is useful to know if you are arranging a hotel transfer or an evening booking.

Aqaba gives you a short taste of city life

The group is scheduled to reach Aqaba at about 9:15. The stop includes a city tour, time to look around the market, and lunch at your own expense. This breaks up the journey and gives you a quick look at Jordan’s Red Sea port before the desert portion begins.

The Aqaba stop is brief, so think of it as an introduction rather than a full city visit. You may have enough time to browse and eat, but you should not expect a detailed exploration. If the border takes longer than expected, this is one of the places where free time may feel compressed.

Lunch is not included, so budget for it separately. The tour information does not specify a restaurant or a fixed amount of free time, which means you should keep your choices simple and watch the meeting time. Missing the departure would create a serious problem on a tightly timed group trip.

Wadi Rum arrives with a sunset jeep ride

At about 12:15, the group continues to Wadi Rum. After reaching the Bedouin camp, you have some free time before the sunset jeep tour. The timing is one of the strongest parts of the trip. Wadi Rum is at its most appealing when the harsh midday light softens, and the jeep ride gives you a better sense of the reserve than simply driving past it on the way to camp.

The tour includes admission to Wadi Rum Protected Area and a jeep tour of the reserve. You should expect broad desert views and striking rock formations, though the exact route and stops are not specified. Since this is a group outing, the pace and route are set by the operator rather than by you.

Sunset is the natural payoff. Bring a layer for the evening because desert temperatures can change quickly, even though no specific weather conditions are promised. Comfortable shoes are sensible, and a small day bag is easier to manage than a large suitcase during the jeep ride.

After the excursion, you return to camp for a buffet dinner. Dinner is included, which makes the overnight stop easier to manage, especially after a long day of transport and border procedures. Breakfast is also included the next morning.

Sleeping in a Bedouin camp

The standard accommodation is a double tent with shared bathroom facilities. That arrangement suits you if you see the camp as part of the experience and do not need hotel-style privacy. It may not suit you if an ensuite bathroom is important, so ask about the chalet upgrade before booking rather than assuming it is included.

A chalet with a private bathroom is available at an additional cost. The provided information does not give the upgrade price or room details, so you will need to contact Tourist Israel for those specifics. The standard double tent also means solo participants should check how room sharing is handled.

The overnight stay is valuable because it gives you more than a quick pass through Wadi Rum. You have time at the camp, a sunset outing, dinner, and breakfast before moving on to Petra. Still, this is a functional overnight stop within a packed tour, not a full desert retreat with a wide range of included activities.

The road to Petra and the 9:30 start

After breakfast, the group heads toward Petra along the desert highway, described as a broad and comfortable road with a scenic mountain route. The transfer connects the two main attractions, but it also explains why the tour feels full. Petra is the main event on the second day, yet much of that day is spent getting there and back.

The guided visit begins at about 9:30. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but the label alone does not prepare you for the approach. The tour is designed to cover the major highlights, giving you a structured introduction rather than a detailed examination of every path and monument.

A guide can help you understand what you are seeing and keep the group moving. However, the quality of that explanation matters greatly. One account of this experience criticized the Jordanian guide for spending too much time on political and religious ideas and not enough on Petra’s history. That is a serious concern because guided commentary is a central part of the visit.

I would go in with realistic expectations. The guide should help orient you, but you may want to use your free time to focus on the places that interest you most. The tour details do not promise a specialist archaeological guide, a private guide, or a particular guide by name.

Petra needs more time than this schedule allows

Petra is the emotional center of the trip, and the site deserves attention. The guided portion covers the highlights, then you receive free time until noon. That gives you some independence, but it is not a full day inside the ancient city.

The short free period is the clearest weakness for anyone who loves archaeology, photography, or walking. You may have to choose between lingering at a major monument, taking extra photographs, finding a viewpoint, or simply sitting down to absorb the setting. The exact options depend on where the guided tour ends and how quickly the group moves.

The tour is better suited to a first look than to a complete Petra visit. You will see the core sights with a guide, but you should not book it expecting to cover every trail or explore the site at your own pace. Wear shoes you can walk in, carry water, and keep close track of the meeting instructions because the group must begin the long return journey.

The tour does include Petra admission, which is important. You are not paying $339 and then discovering that a major entry fee is extra. That inclusion, along with the Wadi Rum ticket, helps justify the price.

The long return to Eilat

After free time in Petra, the return journey begins. The group is expected to reach the border at about 7:00 in the evening, then cross back into Israeli territory with help from the guide. Transportation continues to Eilat after the border procedures.

This is where the itinerary demands the most patience. A morning in Petra followed by a long highway transfer and border formalities can be tiring. The return time is approximate, and the tour itself warns that border processes can take time. Do not schedule a flight, dinner reservation, or important appointment immediately afterward.

The air-conditioned vehicle is a useful inclusion. You will spend substantial time on the road, and climate-controlled transport is more comfortable than trying to piece together separate buses or taxis. The group size can reach 25 people, which is large enough for the vehicle and guide to affect the pace, but still smaller than a very large coach tour.

What the $339 price really buys

At $339 per person, the price is best judged as a package. Included are round-trip transfers from Eilat, air-conditioned transportation, Petra admission, Wadi Rum admission, a guided Petra visit, the Wadi Rum jeep tour, a camp night, dinner, and breakfast.

Aqaba lunch is not included, and the chalet bathroom upgrade costs extra. The information does not list other optional expenses, so you should ask the operator what is covered before departure if you want a precise spending plan.

I see reasonable value here for a first-time visitor who wants Jordan arranged in one booking. The border, transport, tickets, lodging, and meals are the pieces that make an independent two-day trip complicated. The value drops if you already have private transport or would rather spend a full day at Petra and book Wadi Rum separately.

The modest overall rating of 3.1 from 21 published ratings should make you read the schedule carefully rather than book on impulse. The central sights are excellent, and the inclusions are practical, but the tour depends heavily on smooth coordination and a good guide. The complaint about poor planning and unwanted political or religious discussion is especially relevant because there is little spare time in the itinerary.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

This trip makes the most sense for you if:

• You are staying in Eilat and want a simple route into Jordan.
• You want to see both Petra and Wadi Rum in only two days.
• You value included admission, meals, transport, and accommodation.
• You can handle early starts, long drives, and border delays.
• You are satisfied with a highlights visit to Petra rather than a full exploration.
• You are comfortable with a double tent and shared bathroom, or willing to pay for the chalet upgrade.

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed pace, extended time at Petra, a private guide, or certainty about the return time. It may also frustrate you if you dislike group schedules or want to choose your own restaurants and desert activities.

Practical advice before you book

Confirm the hotel pickup time because both 7:00 and 8:15 appear in the timing information. Ask where the vehicle will meet you and how the group will reconnect after border control.

Check the accommodation arrangement. The standard room is a double tent with shared bathrooms, not an ensuite hotel room. If you want the chalet, ask for the price and availability before paying.

Plan for lunch in Aqaba, and keep a little flexibility for delays. Since the tour requires good weather, a cancellation caused by poor conditions can result in another date or a full refund. If you cancel yourself, free cancellation applies only when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.

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, and the return to Eilat.

Is transportation from Eilat included?

Yes. Pickup is offered from hotels in Eilat, and the tour includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour ends on the Israeli side of the border, followed by transport back to Eilat.

Are Petra and Wadi Rum entry fees included?

Yes. Admission to Petra and the Wadi Rum Protected Area is included in the tour price.

What meals are included?

Dinner at the Bedouin camp and breakfast the next morning are included. Lunch in Aqaba is not included.

What type of 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, but the upgrade details must be requested from the provider.

Can Israeli passport holders join the tour?

Yes, but Israeli passport holders, including dual passport holders with an Israeli passport, must use their Israeli passport at every border crossing.

Should you book this Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

Book it if you want the easiest organized route from Eilat to Jordan’s two major sights and you accept a quick, tightly managed visit. The included tickets, meals, camp stay, jeep tour, and transportation give the $339 price a solid practical basis.

Think twice if Petra is your main reason for going. The free time is short, the return day is long, and the guide experience may shape the whole visit. For a first glimpse of Petra paired with a memorable Wadi Rum overnight, this tour can work well, but you should book it with patience, flexible evening plans, and modest expectations about how much of Petra you can cover.