Petra and Wadi Rum in two days is a smart squeeze. This tour gives you overnight desert time plus a guided Petra visit, with the hard parts handled. I like the meet-and-assist at the Eilat border (less chaos), and I also like that transport, meals, and the main desert activity are bundled. One consideration: sleeping in a camp is not the same vibe as a city hotel, so if you want soft beds, plan accordingly.

You’re moving between two countries, two very different landscapes, and a UNESCO site—so logistics matter. Here, you get a private setup for your group, English-speaking help, a full day at Petra, and a Wadi Rum jeep experience that’s built around Bedouin hospitality, tea, and real desert time rather than just quick photo stops. If you hate timelines, this isn’t the style for you. If you like efficient travel, you’ll probably enjoy it.

Key things to know before you go

• Assisted Eilat border crossing: meet-and-assist helps you cross with less stress.
• One night camping in Wadi Rum: you get sunset timing and a genuine desert overnight.
• Guided Petra visit with a dedicated English speaker: about 3 hours with a guide.
• Jeep time in Wadi Rum with an English-speaking guide/driver: typically 4–5 hours.
• Optional add-ons are easy to consider: horse ride, camel ride, carriage, and a balloon option (extra cost).

Why Petra and Wadi Rum From Eilat Works So Well

Petra and Wadi Rum are both famous for a reason, but they also demand time. Petra needs a serious chunk of hours, and Wadi Rum isn’t something you rush through if you want to feel the place. Doing both from Eilat makes sense because you’re already close to the Jordan border, and the route is set up to keep your sightseeing time high.

The biggest value here is that the plan is “done for you.” You get transfers by car, desert transport by jeep, and scheduled guided time at Petra. That matters because the biggest risk with self-planning is wasting hours on paperwork, waiting, or figuring out who goes where and when. This tour is designed to cut that noise and keep the day moving.

I also like the pacing concept: you’re not trying to cram Petra and Wadi Rum into one nonstop whirlwind. The overnight in Wadi Rum is the pivot point. It gives you a real night in the desert and helps you avoid the feeling of only seeing the highlights from a bus window.

Crossing at the Eilat Border With Meet-and-Assist

Border crossings can be the part of the trip you remember for the wrong reasons. This tour includes a meet-and-assist service when you arrive at the Eilat Border, plus transfers handled by a car with an English-speaking driver/assistant driver.

What that means for you: you’re less likely to feel stranded while you sort out documents, find the right vehicle, or deal with handoffs. You’ll still want your documents organized, but you won’t be doing the whole process alone.

It also helps that the tour is described as private for your group only. That doesn’t guarantee the border is fast (borders have their own opinions), but it does reduce the “everyone gather in a different direction” problem that often makes days feel longer than they are.

Petra in 3 Hours With an English-Speaking Guide

Petra is often described as rose-red, and that color comes from the rock many buildings were carved from. The Nabataeans turned this area into an organized city, including tombs carved into mountain sides, plus temples, a theater, and later Roman and Byzantine influences like a colonnaded street and churches.

You’ll start at the Petra Visitors Center area with admission included, then move into the site with an English-speaking guide for about 3 hours. That guided time is a real advantage. Petra can feel like a maze of carvings unless someone helps you connect what you’re seeing—who lived here, what the space was used for, and why certain buildings look the way they do.

A few more “why this matters” points: Petra has human settlement and land use that can be traced for over 10,000 years, and it was designated a World Heritage Site on December 6, 1985. The tour info also notes Petra was named by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 28 places you should visit before you die. Even if you don’t chase lists, that kind of recognition is a clue that you’re going to one of the big cultural landmarks of the region.

The practical takeaway: you’re getting an expert lens without having to spend your day reading plaques like it’s homework.

The Main Petra Options: Lunch and Optional Horse Ride

Within Petra, you’ll also have time built around comfort and choices. Lunch in Petra is included at Al Qantara Restaurants or similar. That’s not just a nice-to-have. Petra is physically demanding—heat, stairs, and walking add up fast. A planned lunch slot keeps you from burning time searching for food.

You’ll also have an included 700-meter horse ride from the main gate. Important details:

• It’s not mandatory.
• A horse handler is involved and expects a tip.

If you’re comfortable with animals and you like the idea of taking the edge off the walk, it can be a useful option. If you’d rather skip it, you still have the walking experience of Petra—so you’re not locked into the ride.

Also note: a horse-drawn carriage is described as an optional add-on you can book upon arrival at Petra Gate (up to two guests, $40). The key for your decision is whether you want extra transport costs or you’re fine with walking.

Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: Bedouin Tea and the Big Feel of the Desert

Wadi Rum, also called the Valley of the Moon, is a valley cut into sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, about 60 km east of Aqaba, and it’s described as Jordan’s largest wadi. In other words, it’s not just “pretty rocks.” It’s a huge natural area that changes how you feel the moment you arrive.

The tour includes 4–5 hours of jeep touring in Wadi Rum with an English-speaking guide who is also your driver. That combo matters because it’s easier to ask questions and understand what you’re seeing while you’re driving. You’re not just bouncing around in a vehicle—you’re getting an interpretation of the terrain.

This part of the day is also built around hospitality. You’ll have mineral water on board plus Bedouin tea and what’s described as real Bedouin hospitality in Wadi Rum. Then there’s a box lunch included during the tour.

The real value of a guided jeep day is time and context. You can cover more ground than you would on foot, and you avoid the “we stopped here because the map said so” problem. If you’ve ever been on a desert tour that felt like a checklist, this is meant to feel more like a slow reveal—tea stops, viewpoint moments, and a driver who can explain the place while you’re moving.

Our Bedouin Camp Overnight: Sunset Time and Real Desert Living

The highlight for many people is the overnight experience. You’ll do one night camping at Our Bedouin Camp, with a BBQ dinner and breakfast included. Dinner is included, breakfast is included—so you’re not spending extra time budgeting meals out in the desert.

What you should expect: you’re camping, not sleeping in a hotel. The tour doesn’t promise luxury comforts, so if your definition of “roughing it” is different from everyone else’s, this is where you need to calibrate. Still, camping here is the point. Wadi Rum at night is the reason people choose an overnight rather than a day trip.

And then there’s the practical benefit: doing the overnight means you can catch the desert mood that day tours often miss. Even if you’re not a sunrise person, sunset in Wadi Rum tends to change the whole tone of the place. You also get a fuller sense of distance and silence that’s hard to replicate when you’re only there for a few hours.

Meals and Small Extras That Matter More Than You Think

It’s easy to ignore meal details when you’re planning an itinerary, then realize later that you were hungry, dehydrated, and cranky. This tour includes multiple meals across both locations:

• Box-lunch in Wadi Rum during the jeep tour
• Lunch in Petra at Al Qantara Restaurants or similar
• Dinner (BBQ) at Our Bedouin Camp
• Breakfast at the camp
• Mineral water on board the vehicle

Add Bedouin tea in Wadi Rum and it feels like the tour is paying attention to how the day actually feels in real life—especially given how much walking Petra involves and how sun and heat work in the desert.

Also, the tour is listed as having a mobile ticket, which is a small logistics win. In regions where paper tickets can get messy, it’s nice to have something straightforward.

Price and Value: Is $587 Per Person Worth It?

At $587 per person, this is not a budget-only option. But for a cross-border Petra + Wadi Rum experience, the value comes from what’s bundled rather than the sticker price.

Here’s what you’re typically paying for, based on what’s included:

• Meet-and-assist at the border
• Transfers by car (with an English-speaking driver/assistant driver)
• Petra admission ticket and a 3-hour English-speaking guide
• Wadi Rum jeep tour for 4–5 hours with an English-speaking guide/driver
• Bedouin hospitality elements (tea, water)
• One-night camping at Our Bedouin Camp with BBQ dinner and breakfast
• Box lunch in Wadi Rum and lunch in Petra

What you’re avoiding: the common DIY costs that can quietly balloon—paying for separate transport, losing time on figuring out logistics, and then compensating with expensive convenience meals. When a tour bundles transportation plus meals plus entry plus guided time, the math often changes fast.

That said, there are extra costs you should mentally budget:

• Tips for guides/drivers
• Optional rides like horse, camel, and carriage (horse ride is included, camel/carriage are optional)
• Jordan departure tax if applied
• Optional upgrades like the balloon ride (extra cost and advance booking required)

If you want an organized experience where you don’t manage the “how do we get from here to there” part, this price can feel reasonable. If you’re the type who enjoys DIY route planning and you already have a tight budget, you might compare it against doing Petra and Wadi Rum separately.

Optional Add-Ons: Balloon, Camel Rides, and Carriage

This tour keeps upgrades available, but they’re not forced on you. That’s a good setup because you can choose based on your energy level and budget.

Hot-air balloon option in Wadi Rum

A balloon ride is listed as optional and available in Wadi Rum for one hour in the early morning window 06:00 to 07:00. The cost is 130 JD / about $185 per person, and it says booking in advance is required. If you like balloon-style views and you’re okay with a very early start, this can add a big wow factor.

Camel rides

Camel rides in Wadi Rum and Petra are optional and cost 10 JD / about $15 per camel per hour. The info says you don’t need to book in advance and can ask your guide in Petra/Wadi Rum.

This is the kind of activity where you’ll want to think about what kind of photo moment you actually want. If you care more about walking and seeing details, skip it. If you want a classic desert experience without long negotiating, it’s there.

Petra carriage

A Petra carriage is also optional: $40 USD for carriage service with a maximum capacity of two guests. You can book it on arrival at Petra Gate and ask your guide.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a private group setup rather than joining a larger mixed tour
• Like the idea of guided context at Petra (instead of wandering and guessing)
• Want to experience Wadi Rum with jeep time and an overnight camp
• Prefer that transportation and major meals are already handled

It may not fit you as well if you:

• Want a hotel-style stay in Wadi Rum (this includes camping)
• Hate the idea that some add-ons require extra money or early timing (balloon ride in particular)

A small note from the written feedback: Jordan Horizons Tours gets strong praise for responsiveness, including named contacts Andrea and Mohammed. That’s not a guarantee of everything going perfectly, but it’s a good sign that the company communicates well—especially important for a cross-border plan.

Should You Book This Petra and Wadi Rum Tour From Eilat?

If your priority is seeing both Petra and Wadi Rum without turning your trip into a logistics project, I’d say it’s a strong booking candidate. The best reason to choose it is that you get the core components you’d otherwise have to manage: border help, a guided Petra visit with time to breathe, a proper Wadi Rum jeep day with Bedouin hospitality, and an overnight that lets the desert feel like more than a photo stop.

Book it if:

• You want an efficient plan that protects your sightseeing time
• You’re okay with camping for the experience
• You don’t want to piece together multiple vendors

Consider an alternative if:

• You want hotel comforts in Wadi Rum
• You’re extremely price-sensitive and don’t value included guidance and meals
• You dislike early mornings even when the main day is well-paced

FAQ

How many days is this Petra and Wadi Rum tour from Eilat?

The tour is listed as 2 to 3 days with 01 overnight in Wadi Rum.

What does the tour include for Petra and Wadi Rum?

It includes meet-and-assist at the Eilat Border, transfers by car with an English-speaking driver/assistant driver, a 4–5 hour jeep tour in Wadi Rum with an English-speaking guide, overnight camping at Our Bedouin Camp with BBQ dinner and breakfast, and an English-speaking Petra guide for 3 hours, plus Petra lunch and Wadi Rum box lunch.

Is the horse ride in Petra mandatory?

No. The tour lists a 700 meters horse ride in Petra as included, but it is not mandatory. A horse handler expects a tip.

Are camel rides or carriage rides included?

Camel rides and carriage rides are optional add-ons. Camel rides cost 10 JD per camel per hour, and carriage service is listed as $40 USD (up to two guests).

Is a hot-air balloon ride included?

No. A balloon ride is optional, costs 130 JD / about $185 per person, is available in the early morning 06:00 to 07:00 window, and requires advance booking.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.