Wadi Rum and Petra in one tight plan can feel wild. This private 2-day, 1-night tour works fast and well, with the Eilat border handoff handled and real Bedouin 4×4 jeep time in Wadi Rum, plus a guided walk into Petra’s Siq and Treasury area. I especially like the way the day is structured so you get big sights without guessing logistics yourself. My only real caution is the pacing: you need moderate fitness, and border timing matters since you must reach the Wadi Araba crossing by 12:00 pm.
You have a couple of overnight choices. You can stay either in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum or in Petra (3 hotel), and the rate stays the same for those options. Also, if you arrive to the border later on day one, the route flips so you visit Wadi Rum first.
Finally, the value here isn’t just that both destinations are included. Entrance fees for both sites, a 4–5 hour jeep tour, and an overnight stay are built into the package, which saves time and money compared to cobbling together separate transfers and tickets. At $682.06 per person, you’ll want to like this kind of structured itinerary—and you’ll want to be ready for an early start and long travel days.
In This Review
- Key highlights (what makes this tour click)
- Crossing the Eilat border: you do the Israeli side, they do the Jordan side
- Wadi Rum by 4×4: the classic scenes, not just a quick photo stop
- Wadi Rum hospitality and the included desert rhythm
- Petra Day Two: guided Siq-to-Treasury time plus freedom to wander
- Horse ride reality check: optional, but budgeting for a tip
- Food and drinks: included basics that prevent day-two chaos
- Price and value: is $682.06 per person fair?
- Logistics at the end: where you finish matters
- Fitness, footwear, and the part you can’t fake
- Who should book this private Wadi Rum and Petra combo
- Should you book this tour?
- FAQ
- Where do we meet for this tour?
- How do we handle the border crossing?
- What is the latest time to arrive at the border?
- Is the Jordan visa included?
- How long is the Wadi Rum jeep tour?
- Is Petra guided or self-guided?
- Are entrance tickets included?
- Is the horse ride in Petra included?
- Where is the tour’s overnight stay?
- What happens if weather is bad or the minimum number of travelers isn’t met?
- Can I cancel for a full refund?
Key highlights (what makes this tour click)
- Border-side meet and assist: you cross the Israeli side on your own, then meet a rep on the Jordanian side with a name sign.
- 4–5 hour Wadi Rum jeep tour with an English-speaking Bedouin driver, including classic stops like Nabatean Temple, Lawrence Spring, sand dunes, and Khazali Canyon.
- Real Bedouin hospitality in the desert: Bedouin tea/coffee and mineral water.
- Meaningful Petra time: a guided tour through the Siq to the Treasury, plus free time to wander back out the same way.
- Overnight options: Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum (included here) or a 3 hotel in Petra, same rate concept.
- A practical add-on: a 700-meter horse ride in Petra is available but not mandatory, and a tip is expected.
Crossing the Eilat border: you do the Israeli side, they do the Jordan side
This tour is designed for people arriving from Eilat, using the Wadi Araba crossing near Aqaba. The schedule is strict in a helpful way. You need to be at the border area no later than 12:00 pm on day one so the rest of the day can run on time.
Here’s the simplest version of how it works:
- You complete the Israeli side crossing yourself.
- After you cross into Jordan, you meet the tour representative on the Jordanian side.
- The rep waits with a sign showing your name, then transfers you onward.
The practical win is that you’re not trying to figure out where to go once you’re already across the border. You get transferred about 1 hour to Wadi Rum, then you meet a Bedouin representative in Wadi Rum Village for tea and coffee.
One note that keeps expectations realistic: the tour includes a Jordan visa on arrival for eligible nationalities (listed as 40 JD per person). If your passport requires special handling, you’ll need to check before you go, since the data only guarantees this for non-restricted nationalities.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Aqaba.
Wadi Rum by 4×4: the classic scenes, not just a quick photo stop
Wadi Rum is where this tour earns its keep. Instead of squeezing in a short drive and calling it a day, you get a real desert outing: a 4–5 hour jeep tour with an English-speaking Bedouin who drives you.
You’ll start with wilderness-style touring in a 4×4, following the kinds of routes that made Wadi Rum famous long before social media. Expect to move over sand and rock features, with the fun focus on big viewpoints and rock formations.
The listed stops give you an idea of the range:
- Nabatean Temple
- Lawrence Spring
- Sand dunes
- Khazali Canyon
And yes, this is the kind of place where the best memories come from being in motion and seeing the colors change. You also get included refreshment—Bedouin tea and other hospitality—so you’re not boiling your budget on bottled drinks.
Possible drawback: jeeps and desert roads mean you’ll feel the day in your body. It’s not extreme hiking, but the ride can be bumpy, and you’ll want comfortable footwear and a willingness to go with the flow.
Wadi Rum hospitality and the included desert rhythm
The Wadi Rum portion isn’t just transportation and sights. The tour builds in desert downtime the right way.
After you arrive and meet the Bedouin representative in Wadi Rum Village, the plan includes Bedouin tea/coffee. During the jeep tour, you also get a box lunch plus mineral water.
Then there’s the night. The included version of this experience provides one night at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, including dinner and breakfast. That matters for two reasons:
- You don’t waste time hunting for food once you’re in the desert.
- Sleeping in the desert keeps the experience tied to the environment, not just to the ticket.
If you prefer comfort and less “camp mode,” you can also choose an overnight in Petra at a 3 hotel instead (same rate concept mentioned). The overall departure direction is still handled by the provider at the end of the trip.
Petra Day Two: guided Siq-to-Treasury time plus freedom to wander
Day two focuses on Petra. You’ll start with breakfast at the hotel or camp (depending on your overnight choice). Then you head to Petra in Wadi Musa.
Petra is the kind of place where a little structure helps a lot. The tour includes a guided visit of about 2.5 hours (approximately), and the itinerary also describes a 3-hour guided tour, so you can think of it as roughly half a morning or early afternoon depending on pacing.
The guided route hits the core moments:
- The Siq, the narrow gorge that brings you into Petra step-by-step
- Close views of the sandstone as you approach the main sights
- The Treasury
- Walk along the Street of Facades
- Stops that can include the Royal Tombs, the Theatre, and Qasr Al Bint
- Then free time on your own
- You walk back to the entrance gate along the same general way
That “go in, see the key sights, then return the same path” approach is practical. Petra is big. Wandering without a plan can turn into dead-end fatigue fast. With this tour, you get a guided foundation and then control over how long you linger.
One more detail that’s worth knowing: the tour offers a lunch in a local restaurant (Al Qantara or similar) or a box lunch (depending on the setup). Either way, you’ll have a planned meal so you don’t spend the one day you came for stuck deciding where to eat.
Horse ride reality check: optional, but budgeting for a tip
Petra includes an optional extra: a 700-meter horse ride from the main gate. It’s not mandatory, but the listing notes that the horse handler expects a tip.
So treat this as a small “choose your own comfort” moment, not a guaranteed free ride. If you’d rather keep the full walking experience, you can skip it. If you choose it, go in knowing you’ll likely add a gratuity on top of the tour price.
Food and drinks: included basics that prevent day-two chaos
This isn’t a food tour, but it is a tour where hunger can ruin the day—so the built-in meals are a real benefit.
Included eating points you can plan around:
- Box lunch during the Wadi Rum jeep tour
- Dinner and breakfast at the Bedouin camp (for the Bedouin overnight option)
- Lunch in Petra area (Al Qantara or similar) or box lunch
- Mineral water on board the vehicle
- Bedouin tea/coffee during the Wadi Rum hospitality portion
What isn’t included: any meals or beverages not stated. Tips for guides/drivers aren’t included either.
The balanced takeaway: you’ll be covered for the big meals, but you might still spend a little on snacks or personal drink preferences unless you bring your own habits.
Price and value: is $682.06 per person fair?
Let’s talk straight value. At $682.06 per person, you’re paying for a package that reduces the three biggest costs/time-sinks of this route:
- Cross-border assistance (meeting you on the Jordan side with a name sign)
- Long-distance transfers (Eilat border region to Wadi Rum, then to Petra, then onward at the end)
- Big-ticket activities (entrance fees for Petra and Wadi Rum plus the 4–5 hour jeep tour)
Entrance fees are listed as included for Petra and Wadi Rum. Visa on arrival is included too, though it’s priced separately as 40 JD per person. The overnight stay in a Bedouin camp is also included (in the default setup described).
If you tried to DIY this, the pain points would likely be:
- coordinating the border handoff,
- organizing a legit jeep tour for the desert duration you want,
- making sure Petra timing lines up with your overnight choice.
So yes, the price can make sense—especially if you value having someone manage the handoffs and ticket logic. If you’re the type who loves logistics puzzles and wants total flexibility, you might be able to build a cheaper trip. But you’ll trade that for time, uncertainty, and more moving pieces.
Logistics at the end: where you finish matters
One detail that can catch people off guard: this tour ends in a different location than where it starts. Departures are through Queen Alia Airport / Amman / King Hussein Bridge.
So before you commit, make sure your flight or onward plan lines up with Amman-area travel. The data doesn’t list exact departure times or the specific ending point you’ll use for your option, so it’s worth confirming that detail during booking.
Fitness, footwear, and the part you can’t fake
This tour is described as suitable for travelers with moderate physical fitness. That doesn’t mean you’ll be doing a marathon. It does mean you should expect walking in Petra, some uneven surfaces around entrances and viewpoints, and desert conditions in Wadi Rum.
What I’d pack with this itinerary in mind:
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip
- Sun protection (Wadi Rum and Petra don’t play nice on exposure)
- A layer for temperature swings at night in the desert
- A small day bag for water and essentials
Also, remember the day length: the tour is listed as about 1 day 12 hours. Even though it says 2 days, the experience is long. The reward is you see both places without having to craft a complicated multi-day plan.
Who should book this private Wadi Rum and Petra combo
This is a strong match if you:
- want a private tour (only your group participates)
- are crossing from the Eilat border and want the Jordan-side handoff handled
- care about doing Wadi Rum in a real way, not just a quick drive
- like Petra with a guide for the key sections, then freedom to roam afterward
- want an overnight that adds atmosphere (Bedouin camp option), or prefer a 3 hotel in Petra
It may be less ideal if you:
- hate structured itineraries and want full independence
- are very sensitive to long day travel and border procedures
- expect everything to run at a city schedule pace
Should you book this tour?
I’d book it if you want one clean solution for two of Jordan’s headline sights—Wadi Rum and Petra—without turning your trip into a logistics project. The combination of border assistance, entrance tickets, a long jeep tour, and an overnight gives you an efficient arc: desert first, ancient city second.
Skip it only if you strongly prefer total flexibility, you’re uncomfortable with a half-day walking plan in Petra, or your travel timing doesn’t leave room for that 12:00 pm border cutoff.
If you do book, ask about two things early: which overnight option you’re selecting (Bedouin camp vs Petra hotel) and which ending location you’ll use on the back end (Queen Alia, Amman, or King Hussein Bridge). Clear answers here make the whole trip feel smoother.
FAQ
Where do we meet for this tour?
You start at Wadi Araba Border Road in Aqaba, Jordan.
How do we handle the border crossing?
You complete the Israeli side of the border crossing by yourself. After crossing into Jordan, a representative meets you on the Jordanian side with a sign showing your name.
What is the latest time to arrive at the border?
You should arrive to the Eilat border area by 12:00 pm maximum on the first day.
Is the Jordan visa included?
Yes, the tour includes a Jordan visa on arrival for non-restricted nationalities, listed as 40 JD per person.
How long is the Wadi Rum jeep tour?
The jeep tour in Wadi Rum runs about 4–5 hours.
Is Petra guided or self-guided?
Petra includes a guided tour of about 2.5 hours (approximately), plus time for you to explore on your own.
Are entrance tickets included?
Yes. Entrance fees and tickets to Petra and Wadi Rum are included.
Is the horse ride in Petra included?
A 700-meter horse ride from the main gate is included as an option. It is not mandatory, and the horse handler expects a tip.
Where is the tour’s overnight stay?
You can choose to stay overnight in Petra or Wadi Rum (same rate concept). The included details also show 1 night at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum with dinner and breakfast.
What happens if weather is bad or the minimum number of travelers isn’t met?
If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If it’s canceled because the minimum number of travelers isn’t met, you’ll also be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid is not refunded.
