Petra & Wadi Rum 3 Days 2 Tour Nights from Eilat border

Jordan starts at the border. This three-day private trip makes a complicated Eilat to Jordan crossing much easier, pairing Petra’s carved monuments with a Bedouin-led Wadi Rum desert stay. I especially like the door-to-door transport and the mix of guided time with freedom to explore on your own. The main drawback is the pace: Petra gets only one full touring day, and the border crossing still requires you to handle the Israeli side yourself.

You will travel with your own group rather than joining a large shared coach. That gives the schedule a more personal feel, while the included hotels, camp, meals, entrance fees, visa assistance, and local guides remove many of the costs and decisions that can make a short Jordan trip tiring.

Key points to know before booking

• Border-focused planning: The trip begins and ends at the Wadi Araba border near Eilat, with assistance on the Jordanian side.
• Three hours with a Petra guide: You see the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Royal Tombs, Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint before continuing independently.
• One night under Wadi Rum’s desert sky: The camp includes dinner, breakfast, and a barbecue with vegetarian choices.
• A serious 4×4 desert outing: The four to five-hour jeep trip visits springs, canyons, sand dunes, bridges, and Nabatean sites.
• Private transportation throughout Jordan: A modern vehicle, English-speaking driver, assistant driver, and mineral water are included.
• Strong service record: Praise centers on punctuality, helpful border support, kind guides, comfortable vehicles, cold water, and well-chosen hotels.

Crossing from Eilat into Jordan

Your first task is to reach the Eilat border in the afternoon and complete the Israeli side of the crossing independently. Once you enter Jordan, a representative meets you, helps with the visa process if you qualify, and takes you to your driver.

That handoff is one of the most useful parts of the arrangement. International border crossings can be confusing, especially when you have hotel bookings, park tickets, and a desert camp waiting on the other side. Having someone meet you in Jordan gives you a clear next step instead of leaving you to find a taxi or negotiate a ride.

The free visa is described as available for non-restricted nationalities when you stay more than two nights in Jordan. Since the schedule includes one night at a Petra hotel and one night at a Wadi Rum camp, you should confirm the exact visa rule for your passport before paying. Eligibility matters here, and the operator’s wording deserves a quick check if you are unsure.

The meeting point is on Wadi Araba Border Road in Aqaba, and the trip ends back at that same meeting point. You handle your own onward arrangements on the Israeli side after the Jordanian return.

The two-hour ride to Petra

After meeting the driver, you ride roughly two hours to Petra. The transfer is not sightseeing time, but it gives you a chance to settle in after the border crossing. A modern vehicle, English-speaking driver, assistant driver, and mineral water are included.

This private setup is especially useful if you are carrying luggage or traveling with family. You do not need to search for a taxi at the border, and you are not waiting for a large bus to collect people at several hotels.

The first night is at a Petra hotel with breakfast. The exact hotel is not named, so you should ask for the property before departure if room standards or location matter to you. The service record is encouraging: the accommodation has been praised as well selected and suitable for the requested arrangements, and the vehicles have been described as clean, air-conditioned, and supplied with cold water.

Petra’s Siq and Treasury

After breakfast on Day 2, you meet your English-speaking guide at the Petra Visitor Centre. The guided portion lasts about three hours, followed by free time inside the site.

Petra works best when you understand what you are seeing. The route begins through the Siq, a narrow gorge with tall sandstone walls. The passage ends at the Treasury, the famous facade that appears suddenly at the end of the canyon. It is one of those moments where photographs do not quite explain the scale or setting.

From there, the route continues along the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs, Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint. The guide provides the basic context and helps you make sense of the major monuments before you continue by yourself.

I like this format more than a fully escorted walk for one simple reason: Petra is large, and you may want to linger. After the guided introduction, you can set your own pace, revisit a view, stop for a rest, or spend more time studying the carved stone. The tradeoff is that three hours is not enough for every corner of the archaeological site. You will need to choose your priorities.

The stated route takes you through the main central sights and then back to the entrance gate the same way. It is a full outing of about seven hours, so wear sturdy shoes and expect plenty of walking. The tour suits people with moderate physical fitness, not those looking for a short, seated visit.

A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included, but it is not mandatory. The handler expects a tip, and horse-drawn carriages are not included. You should not feel obliged to use the horse ride simply because it is listed. Walking is the straightforward option, and you can decide at the site.

Leaving Petra for Wadi Rum

After your time at Petra, you meet the driver and ride about 90 minutes to Wadi Rum. The change is dramatic. Petra is about carved stone and defined routes, while Wadi Rum opens into wide desert spaces, isolated rock formations, and rough tracks.

The timing allows you to reach the camp in time for sunset. This is a valuable part of the schedule because the desert is not only a collection of named stops. The changing light is part of the experience, and the open setting makes the evening feel very different from the busy hours at Petra.

At camp, you have a barbecue dinner with vegetarian options. Breakfast is included the following morning. The accommodation is a desert camp at the foot of the mountains, but the details of the tent style and facilities are not specified, so ask if you need to know the bathroom or sleeping arrangements in advance.

The evening is designed for quiet desert time: sunset, Bedouin hospitality, and star watching. Conditions can vary with weather and moonlight, so think of this as a chance to enjoy the setting rather than a guaranteed astronomy program.

The Wadi Rum jeep route

After breakfast, you begin a four to five-hour 4×4 jeep tour with an English-speaking Bedouin driver. This is the most active portion of the trip, and it offers a good balance to Petra’s long walking route.

The planned stops include:

• Nabatean Temple
• Lawrence Spring
• Sand Dunes
• Khazali Canyon
• Little Bridge
• Um Frouth Rock Bridge
• Lawrence House
• Burdah Rock Bridge or Burdah Arch

The appeal is the variety. You are not simply driven from one viewpoint to another. The route includes a canyon, sand, rock formations, historic remains, and natural bridges. The Bedouin driver brings local familiarity to the outing and handles the rough desert roads.

Some stops involve walking over sand or uneven ground. The tour is not described as a technical climbing trip, but you should be comfortable getting in and out of a 4×4 and walking around exposed desert sites. Bring sun protection and use the provided water.

A one-hour camel ride from Rum Village to Lawrence Spring is available for 10 Jordanian dinars, or about 15 US dollars, per camel. It is optional and costs extra. The jeep tour already provides the main Wadi Rum experience, so the camel ride is best treated as an add-on rather than a required part of the day.

After the jeep trip, you are driven for about one hour back to the Eilat border. That makes the final day active but efficient. You should avoid scheduling an important flight or fixed appointment too close to your expected border arrival, since crossing times can change.

What the $635.90 price really covers

At $635.90 per person, this is not a budget border crossing followed by independent sightseeing. You are paying for a private, organized package that combines transport, admissions, lodging, guides, meals, and border assistance.

The included items are substantial:

• One night at a Petra hotel with breakfast
• One night at a Wadi Rum camp
• Camp dinner and breakfast
• Petra entrance ticket
• Wadi Rum entrance fees
• Approximately three hours with a Petra guide
• Four to five hours in a Wadi Rum 4×4
• English-speaking driver and assistant driver
• Transfers between the border, Petra, and Wadi Rum
• Mineral water in the vehicle
• Free visa on arrival for eligible nationalities
• Breakfasts and lunches listed as included

There is a small point to clarify before booking: the package lists two lunches, but the daily schedule does not explain when or where they are served. Ask the operator to confirm exactly what the lunch allowance includes. Meals and drinks not specifically stated remain your responsibility.

The value is strongest if you want convenience. Hiring separate transport from the border, buying park tickets, arranging a Petra guide, booking a hotel, finding a Wadi Rum camp, and organizing a return ride can quickly become a costly puzzle. This tour puts those pieces together.

The value is less clear if you already have Jordanian transport or prefer to choose your own hotels. The schedule and included services are fixed enough that independent visitors may want more flexibility. Group discounts may improve the price for larger parties, so ask for the current rate if you are not traveling alone.

Service, guides, and the private format

The tour is private, so only your own group participates. That matters at Petra, where you can ask questions without trying to hear a guide over a large crowd. It also makes border transfers and meal stops easier to manage.

The most praised service features are punctuality, helpful assistance, friendly guides, air-conditioned vehicles, cold water, and hotel quality. One itinerary adjustment was accepted without trouble, which suggests some flexibility may be possible when requested ahead of time.

Aida is named as someone who handled bookings smoothly, while Aladdin is also praised in the service comments. The Wadi Rum driver is an English-speaking Bedouin, giving you a local connection during the desert portion rather than only a standard vehicle transfer.

Tips are not included for drivers and guides. The horse handler also expects a tip if you choose the included horse ride. Bring some Jordanian dinars for these extras and for the optional camel trip.

Who will like this three-day route

I would recommend this trip to you if you are staying in Eilat and want to see Jordan without arranging every moving part yourself. It is particularly practical for a first visit, a short holiday, or a small private group that values direct transport.

It also suits you if Petra and Wadi Rum are your two main priorities. The route does not try to cram in Amman, Jerash, the Dead Sea, or Aqaba. That is a strength for a short trip, although you should not book it expecting a broad tour of Jordan.

You should think twice if you want slow mornings, long independent hikes in Petra, or several nights in the desert. Petra receives one substantial day, and the return to the border follows soon after the Wadi Rum jeep trip. The schedule is workable, but it is not leisurely.

A moderate level of fitness is needed. Petra involves several hours of walking, and Wadi Rum includes uneven desert surfaces and repeated stops in an open environment. The tour is not presented as wheelchair accessible, and only service animals are specifically noted as allowed.

Cancellation and weather details

A full refund is available if you cancel at least six full days before the local start time. Cancel two to six days ahead and the stated refund is 50 percent. Cancellations less than two full days before departure are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

The trip requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Should you book Petra and Wadi Rum from Eilat?

Book this tour if your priority is efficient border-to-border planning with the two Jordan sights you most want to see. The strongest reasons are the private transfers, local Bedouin guide, included admissions, two different types of accommodation, and help on the Jordanian side of the crossing.

Before paying, confirm three details: your visa eligibility, the exact Petra hotel and camp facilities, and how the two listed lunches are handled. If those points suit you, the $635.90 price buys a practical package with very little transport guesswork.

Skip it if you prefer to travel slowly or want complete control over every hotel, meal, and route. For a first Jordan visit from Eilat, though, this is a well-organized way to fit Petra’s Treasury and Wadi Rum’s desert into three demanding but memorable days.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Wadi Araba Border Road in Aqaba, on the Jordanian side of the Eilat border. You complete the Israeli side of the crossing by yourself.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same border meeting point after the drive from Wadi Rum.

Is the visa included?

A free visa on arrival is included for non-restricted nationalities that meet the stated stay requirement. Confirm your eligibility before departure.

How long is the Petra guided tour?

The English-speaking guided tour lasts approximately three hours. You then have free time to continue exploring independently.

What is included in Wadi Rum?

The package includes one night at a camp with dinner and breakfast, entrance fees, and a four to five-hour 4×4 jeep tour with an English-speaking Bedouin driver.

Is the camel ride included?

No. A one-hour camel ride is optional and costs 10 Jordanian dinars, or about 15 US dollars, per camel.