Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat

Jordan in two days is possible, but it is not effortless. This tour links Petra and Wadi Rum with round-trip transport from Eilat, guided sightseeing, meals, entry fees, and an overnight Bedouin camp. That makes it a useful choice if you want to see Jordan’s headline sights without arranging hotels, transfers, and border crossings yourself.

I like the two very different nights of sightseeing: Petra gives you carved stone and ancient roads, while Wadi Rum brings open desert and a sunset jeep ride. I also like that dinner, breakfast, entrance fees, and transport are included. The main concern is the tight planning, especially the border crossing, long drives, and limited free time at Petra. One published review also raises concerns about the quality and focus of the Jordanian guiding.

Key points before you book

• Petra gets a guided morning and free time afterward, giving you some structure without removing all independence.
• Wadi Rum includes a sunset jeep tour, followed by a buffet dinner and a night in a Bedouin camp.
• The standard tent has shared bathrooms, while an ensuite chalet upgrade is available.
• Border control can take up to an hour, so the first morning requires patience and flexibility.
• The advertised price is $339 per person, which bundles transport, meals, accommodation, guiding, and admissions.
• The group can reach 25 people, a size that may feel less personal during the Petra portion.

Why this Jordan trip is appealing

The strongest reason to choose this tour is simple: it joins Jordan’s two most famous sights in one organized trip from Eilat. Petra and Wadi Rum are not next door to each other, and arranging transport between them can be awkward when you are also dealing with an international border.

You pay $339 per person, so this is not a bargain-basement excursion. Still, the price covers several costs that quickly add up: transportation from Eilat, border assistance, Petra admission, Wadi Rum admission, the jeep ride, dinner, breakfast, and overnight accommodation. If you value convenience, that package can make sense.

I especially like the contrast between the two days. Petra is a major archaeological site with a formal guided visit and time to explore on your own. Wadi Rum is more open and scenic, with the best moment planned for sunset. You get culture, ruins, desert scenery, and a Bedouin camp without having to coordinate each piece yourself.

The weak point is the schedule. The crossing, Aqaba stop, Wadi Rum transfer, Petra visit, and return to Israel all have to happen on a fixed timetable. A delay at the border can affect the rest of the day. This is a good tour for someone who wants to cover a lot, but not for someone who prefers a slow pace.

The Eilat pickup and Arava border crossing

The tour begins with pickup from hotels in Eilat and a transfer to the Arava Border. The supplied schedule gives a 7:00 a.m. start for hotel pickup, while the meeting information lists 8:15 a.m. as the start time. That difference is important. Confirm your exact pickup time before the morning of departure.

Border control and customs may take up to an hour. You should have your passport ready and expect the process to move at the pace of both border authorities, not the tour operator. Israeli passport holders, including people with dual passports who hold an Israeli passport, must use their Israeli passport at every border crossing.

The practical benefit here is assistance from the guide. You are not left to work out the crossing alone, and transport continues after you enter Jordan. The drawback is that the border is an unavoidable source of uncertainty. Keep your morning free, avoid planning anything tightly around your return, and bring water and small essentials for the wait.

The tour ends on the Israeli side of the border. From there, transportation back to Eilat is provided. That arrangement is convenient, but remember that the final return is late, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on the second day.

Aqaba: a short taste of Jordanian city life

After crossing, the first stop is Aqaba, with arrival listed at about 9:15 a.m. The plan includes a city tour, free time to visit the market, and time for lunch. Aqaba gives you a quick introduction to Jordan beyond the famous monuments.

This stop can be useful because it breaks up the road journey and lets you see an ordinary working city before heading into the desert. The market visit also gives you a chance to browse local goods and get your first feel for Jordanian daily life.

Do not expect a full Aqaba sightseeing program. The schedule moves on at about 12:15 p.m., so this is a brief stop rather than a detailed city visit. Lunch is mentioned in the schedule, but it is not listed among the included meals. I would plan to pay for lunch yourself unless the operator confirms otherwise.

That distinction matters when you judge the $339 price. Dinner and breakfast are included, but lunch in Aqaba appears to be at your own expense. The stop is still useful, but you should treat it as a short introduction rather than one of the main reasons to book.

Wadi Rum at sunset and after dark

From Aqaba, you continue to Wadi Rum, where the itinerary allows time to check in at the Bedouin camp before the jeep ride. The sunset tour is the main attraction here. Wadi Rum is known for its broad desert setting, rock formations, and warm evening light, and sunset is a sensible time to see it.

The jeep ride gives you a better view of the protected area than you would get from a highway or camp alone. It also adds a practical element of adventure without requiring a difficult hike. If you want a desert experience but do not want to organize a separate four-wheel-drive excursion, having it built into the tour is a real advantage.

After the ride, a buffet dinner is included at the camp. Breakfast is provided the next morning. These meals make the overnight stop easier, especially after a long day that began with a border crossing.

The standard accommodation is a double tent with shared bathroom facilities. That is a key detail, not a footnote. If you prefer a private bathroom, an upgrade to a chalet with an ensuite bathroom is available, but you need to contact the provider for details.

A night in a desert camp is part of the appeal, but comfort expectations should stay realistic. The information provided does not describe the tent facilities beyond the shared bathroom arrangement, so you should ask about bedding and other room details before booking if those points matter to you.

The road to Petra on day two

After breakfast, the group travels to Petra by the desert way, described as a broad and comfortable highway. The route also follows scenic mountain roads before arriving at the archaeological site.

This transfer is not a minor detail. Petra is a long way from Eilat, and the tour uses a large part of the second day for driving and sightseeing. The road time lets the operator combine both major Jordanian attractions, but it also means you will spend much of the trip seated in the vehicle.

You should think of this as a high-value sightseeing circuit, not a relaxed two-day break. The transport is air-conditioned, which matters in Jordan’s heat and makes the long transfers easier. A maximum group size of 25 keeps the operation manageable, though it is larger than a small private tour.

Petra from 9:30 a.m. to noon

The Petra visit begins at approximately 9:30 a.m. with a guided tour of the main highlights. Petra is the historic Nabatean city carved into sandstone, and its scale is difficult to appreciate from a quick description. A guide can help you understand how the site fits together rather than leaving you to see only the most famous facade.

The guided portion is useful for first-time visitors who want basic orientation. You can learn where the main features are and how to use the limited time. Admission to Petra is included, so you do not need to buy a separate entry ticket.

At noon, you receive free time inside Petra until the group leaves for the border. This is one of the better features of the itinerary. You are not required to remain with the guide for the entire visit, and you can use the free period to revisit a favorite area or explore at your own pace.

The problem is the short duration. The schedule lists seven hours for the Petra portion, but the guided visit itself begins at 9:30 a.m. and free time starts at noon. The timetable does not clearly explain every minute of the later departure and return journey. Ask the provider how much time you will actually have inside the site.

You should also keep your expectations in check regarding the guide. One published one-star review criticized the Jordanian guide for focusing too heavily on political and religious ideas and not giving enough historical information. It also described the planning in Jordan as poor. That is a serious concern for anyone choosing this tour mainly for expert interpretation.

Because the overall rating is 3.1 from 21 reviews, I would not book this expecting a polished private guide experience. The itinerary itself is attractive, but the quality of the guiding and day-to-day coordination appears less certain than the sightseeing plan.

The long return to Israel

After Petra, the group returns toward the border, arriving at approximately 7:00 p.m. The guide assists with the crossing back into Israel, and transport continues to Eilat.

This is a full second day. You will have an early start after sleeping at the camp, a major archaeological visit, a long road journey, and another border procedure. It is efficient, but tiring.

I recommend keeping the evening after the tour open. Even if the schedule runs close to plan, border formalities can change the timing. The return to Eilat is included, but the tour does not promise a quick arrival at your hotel door at a precise minute.

Is $339 a fair price?

At $339 per person, the tour earns its value through convenience rather than luxury. You are paying for a complicated cross-border trip with transport, overnight accommodation, two breakfasts or meals as specified, entry fees, and organized activities.

The included Petra and Wadi Rum admissions are helpful because these are major costs you would otherwise need to arrange separately. The included Wadi Rum jeep tour is also important. Without it, the overnight camp would be less complete.

The package is less attractive if you are comfortable arranging Jordanian transport yourself or if you want more control over your time. A private or smaller group option may provide better guiding and a calmer visit, although the supplied information does not give prices for alternatives.

Budget for lunch in Aqaba and any personal spending. Also consider the accommodation upgrade if a private bathroom is important to you. Those extra costs can change how you view the headline price.

Who should book this two-day tour?

I would recommend it to you if you are based in Eilat, want to see Petra and Wadi Rum, and prefer having the major arrangements handled for you. It suits first-time visitors who do not want to plan a cross-border route, book a desert camp, arrange a jeep ride, and organize admissions separately.

It also suits people who enjoy full sightseeing days and can tolerate early starts, road time, and border delays. The air-conditioned vehicle, included meals, and guided Petra visit remove much of the practical work.

I would be more cautious if you care deeply about guide quality, want a small group, or prefer slow exploration. A group of up to 25 can feel impersonal, and the limited free time at Petra may frustrate anyone who wants to walk farther into the site.

You should also consider the overnight conditions. Shared bathrooms are part of the standard camp arrangement. Contact the provider about the ensuite chalet before booking if that is a deciding factor.

Should you book Petra and Wadi Rum from Eilat?

I would book this tour for coverage and convenience, not for a leisurely pace. Petra, Wadi Rum, the jeep ride, meals, camp stay, border assistance, and Eilat transfers form a strong two-day package.

The main warning is the uneven feedback about organization and guiding. The published 3.1 rating and the detailed complaint about political and religious commentary mean you should keep your expectations realistic. Ask for the confirmed pickup time, clarify the actual hours at Petra, confirm what lunch costs, and request details about the camp upgrade.

If those conditions suit you, this is a practical way to see two of Jordan’s biggest sights in a short window. If you want thoughtful historical commentary and plenty of time at Petra, search for a smaller or more specialized option instead.

FAQ

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

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

What time does the tour start?

The meeting information lists an 8:15 a.m. start time, while the itinerary says hotel pickup begins at 7:00 a.m. Confirm your exact pickup time with Tourist Israel before departure.

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from hotels in Eilat, followed by a transfer to the Arava Border in Eilat.

Does the tour include Petra admission?

Yes. Entry fees to Petra are included in the tour price.

Does the tour include Wadi Rum admission and a jeep ride?

Yes. Wadi Rum admission and a sunset jeep tour are included.

Are meals included?

Dinner on the first evening and breakfast on the second morning are included. Lunch in Aqaba is part of the schedule, but it is not listed as an included meal.

What accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

The standard accommodation is a double tent at a Bedouin camp with shared bathroom facilities. An upgrade to a chalet with an ensuite bathroom is available by contacting the provider.

Can Israeli passport holders join the tour?

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

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 25 people. The tour ends at the Israeli side of the border, where transportation back to Eilat is provided.