REVIEW · AMMAN
Jordan Pass 2- Night Private Secret Escape Tour Petra, Wadi Rum, & the Dead Sea
Book on Viator →Operated by Zaid Tours and Travel · Bookable on Viator
Jordan compresses magic into three tight days. If you have the Jordan Pass, this private secret-escape route strings together the big three: Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea, with a driver and included meals to keep the pace sane.
I especially like the first-night setup in Wadi Rum, because you get the famous 4×4 desert experience plus a night based right in the desert area. I also like that Petra is handled with a local guide for a classic walk—so you spend your energy seeing the Siq, the Treasury area, and key rock-cut spaces, instead of trying to piece it together on the fly.
One consideration: the package says the Wadi Rum entrance and classic 2-hour jeep add-on are not included, and Petra entrance fees are also listed as not included. If you want a smooth budget, plan for those site costs even with the Jordan Pass.
In This Review
- Key things I’d watch for
- A Jordan Pass-friendly private circuit that saves you time
- Day 1 in Wadi Rum: the 4×4 ride you’ll remember, then a true desert night
- Petra with a real guide: Siq to Treasury in a focused 2-hour classic visit
- Tombs, optional climbs, and making room for choice
- The transfer into the Dead Sea: spa vibes without committing to spa pricing
- Day 3 floating from your hotel: how to enjoy the water safely
- Hotels, included meals, and where the value comes from
- Drivers, timing, and the real difference a good guide makes
- Practical details that can affect your comfort
- Who this private 2-night secret escape is best for
- Should you book this tour? My take
- FAQ
- Is the Jordan Pass included in the price?
- How long is the tour?
- Are airport transfers included?
- What’s included for sleeping arrangements?
- Are meals included?
- Do you get a guide at Petra?
- Are Petra entrance fees included?
- Is the Wadi Rum jeep tour included?
- What’s included at the Dead Sea?
- What happens if weather is bad?
- Can I cancel for a refund?
- Do you accommodate mobility issues?
Key things I’d watch for

- Jordan Pass fit: designed for people who already bought the Jordan Pass with visa and site entry
- Private driving, not a bus: an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver and free Wi‑Fi onboard
- Wadi Rum night: you sleep in the desert after a scheduled 4×4 adventure (jeep/entry add-on applies)
- Petra with a guide: a 2-hour guided classic visit with an English-speaking guide (Spanish/French possible)
- Dead Sea stay with hotel facilities: breakfast, beach time, floating chances, plus pool and spa access at your own expense
A Jordan Pass-friendly private circuit that saves you time

This is the kind of Jordan trip I like for first-timers: you don’t waste half your days coordinating, and you don’t lose hours switching between tickets, taxis, and directions. You’re dealing with one operator (Zaid Tours and Travel) and one private vehicle, with pickup offered and a driver who handles the road leg between each must-see stop.
If you already have the Jordan Pass, the payoff is obvious. The tour is structured around Jordan’s headline sights, and it keeps the main logistics tight: transport, two nights of accommodation (one in Wadi Rum and one at the Dead Sea), and four meals are included in the program. That combination is where the value shows up—especially if you’re trying to see a lot without turning the trip into a stress test.
The private format also matters. This is described as a private tour/activity, so it’s only your group. That usually means less waiting around, and a more flexible rhythm when your day runs a little faster or slower than expected.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Amman.
Day 1 in Wadi Rum: the 4×4 ride you’ll remember, then a true desert night

Wadi Rum is the start line for the whole experience, and it’s a great choice for day one because the setting changes your mood immediately. You’re driven to the Wadi Rum Protected Area, known in stories as the Valley of the Moon, with mountains, dunes, and canyons that look like they belong on another planet.
The tour description ties Wadi Rum to famous pop culture and history in a way that makes it easier to picture while you’re looking out the window:
- T.E. Lawrence and the Lawrence of Arabia era connections
- movie scenes filmed in the area
- a Hollywood reference (The Martians was filmed here with Matt Damon)
Now the practical part. You’re scheduled for a 2-hour 4×4 jeep trip through the protected desert terrain. This is the part that can cost extra: the package specifically lists Wadi Rum entrance fees and the classic 2-hour jeep tour visit as not included. So even if the tour is overall Jordan Pass-friendly, budget for this day-one add-on.
After the ride, you check in for your first included overnight: 1 night in Wadi Rum. That’s the hidden value. A lot of Jordan “day trips” treat Wadi Rum like a quick photo stop. Here, you get the slower payoff—darker skies later, cooler temperatures at night, and the chance to feel like you’re actually staying in the desert, not just driving through it.
Petra with a real guide: Siq to Treasury in a focused 2-hour classic visit
Petra is the big draw, and your time there is built around a classic guided route. You start with a Bedouin-style breakfast, then you head toward Petra through rugged terrain. Once you arrive, you get a 2-hour guided tour with a local English-speaking guide at the classic visit level. (If availability shifts, the guide may be Spanish or French.)
Here’s what that guided part is meant to accomplish: you’ll walk the Siq, the narrow high-walled rock channel that leads into Petra proper, and then you’ll hit the first major reveal—the Treasury, locally called El-Khazneh. Seeing that moment with context is a big difference between passing through and actually understanding what you’re looking at.
You also get structure beyond the headline stop. The tour description includes Petra’s rock-cut spaces and key features:
- the ornate tomb areas, and
- the rock theatre element linked to the Tomb of the High Priest Aaron area, with references to seating for about 3,000 spectators.
Then there’s the guide’s role in pacing. In places like Petra, walking without a plan can turn into a lot of backtracking. A timed classic tour helps you see the core highlights while still leaving room for choices afterward.
One more small but meaningful detail: your guide handoff includes free time after the main walk. The plan also notes time to visit the Petra Museum and have lunch on your own at your own expense. That’s helpful because Petra days can be long, and not everyone wants to spend their whole time strictly inside the major sights.
Tombs, optional climbs, and making room for choice

Petra isn’t just one “main street.” It’s a set of rock-cut stops, and the tour’s Petra section reflects that with more than just the iconic face in the canyon. After the Treasury moment, you move into the Tomb of the High Priest Aaron area and surrounding rock-cut spaces.
This part includes:
- viewing ornate tombs carved into the rock face
- passing by a Byzantine church area
- learning how and why the Nabateans shaped the place this way
You’re also given a practical decision point. The plan notes you can use your time to climb toward options like the Monastery area or the High Place of Sacrifice if time permits. That matters because Petra rewards curiosity, but it also punishes fatigue. The guide gives you a path, and the free time gives you the option to go further if your energy is high and your legs agree.
If you’re weighing whether to do those climbs, here’s my simple rule: only add the uphill options if you’re comfortable with stairs and steep rock paths. Otherwise, you’ll still get plenty from the guided classic portion plus the free time around it.
The transfer into the Dead Sea: spa vibes without committing to spa pricing

After Petra, the tour shifts you to the Dead Sea Region for the second included overnight. This is where the pace changes from walking to relaxing, and that contrast is a big reason this itinerary works.
You finish Petra, have free time (including the option to visit the Petra Museum and lunch at your own expense), then you continue on to the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight are included at the hotel.
The Dead Sea itself is described with the kinds of details that help you set expectations correctly:
- it sits about 1,412 feet (430 meters) below sea level
- the water has extremely high salt and mineral levels
- the experience is about floating, not regular swimming
On day three, you get more time at the water. Breakfast is included, then you enjoy free time at the hotel facilities—pool, beach to swim, and the option of a spa if you want to pay extra for it. The plan highlights a short floating session from the beach, and that’s exactly the kind of payoff I like: you try it, you get the effect, and you don’t have to spend hours doing it.
Day 3 floating from your hotel: how to enjoy the water safely

Your final morning is purpose-built for the Dead Sea portion, and you don’t have to do a separate tour ticket run just to reach the shoreline. You’re set up with hotel facilities included, so you can move at your own speed.
To make the floating work smoothly, I’d treat this like a different kind of swim. The water is unusually salty and buoyant, so the body feels different than in a normal pool or ocean. Plan on rinsing off afterward if you can, and avoid rubbing your eyes while you’re in the water.
Also, keep your expectations realistic. You’ll float more easily than you swim, and you’ll probably want a few short tries rather than one long session. The goal is the sensation—then move on to relaxing by the beach or pool.
Hotels, included meals, and where the value comes from

Let’s talk money in a way that helps you decide. At $476.81 per person for a three-day, two-night private route, you’re paying for a package that includes:
- private air-conditioned transport with an English-speaking driver
- 2 nights’ accommodation as per your chosen hotel option: 1 night in Wadi Rum and 1 night at the Dead Sea
- 4 meals total: 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- a 2-hour guided Petra classic visit with a local English-speaking guide (Spanish/French subject to availability)
- free Wi‑Fi on board the vehicle
What’s not included is just as important:
- arrival and departure airport transfers are listed as not included
- Petra entrance fees are listed as not included
- Wadi Rum entrance fees and the classic 2-hour jeep tour are listed as not included
- lunch is not included (the plan gives time for lunch at your own expense)
- beverages and gratuities are not included
Here’s how I’d frame the value: the heavy lift—getting you from place to place, arranging two sleeping nights, feeding you twice a day with dinners and breakfasts, and giving you guided Petra time—is built in. That’s what justifies the price for most people, especially if you’re not into planning and re-planning.
Your biggest “extra” costs to anticipate are the site-related fees and the Wadi Rum jeep add-on. With the Jordan Pass already purchased, many entry costs may be covered on your end for the Jordan sites. But since the package explicitly lists Wadi Rum and Petra entrance fees as not included, I’d still budget for it.
Drivers, timing, and the real difference a good guide makes

The tour experience you want is mostly about the people doing the timing and the navigating. In the feedback linked to this tour, the driver quality shows up again and again.
I love this kind of private setup when I’m dealing with someone like Ahmad or Basel, because both are described as helpful, patient, friendly, and on time. The word on the ground is that they can also point you toward places with more character than a standard checklist.
There’s also a specific guide name that pops up in the return experience: Bethany. Having someone named and pointed to is a sign that the operator isn’t just rotating generic roles. It hints at better communication if you have questions mid-trip.
As for timing, the descriptions are consistent: the itinerary is planned to give you enough structure for Petra and the Dead Sea without turning Wadi Rum into a rushed photo stop. The result, if everything lines up, feels like a smooth sequence rather than a series of separate excursions stacked together.
Practical details that can affect your comfort
A few nuts-and-bolts points matter more than people expect on this kind of route:
- Pickup and transfers: pickup is offered, and you coordinate pick-up arrangements using the voucher details. At the same time, arrival and departure airport transfers are listed as not included. So confirm what your voucher covers for airport timing.
- Order can change: the plan notes the order of visits may change. That’s normal in Jordan, especially when driving times or weather shift.
- Weather matters: the experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels it, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- Guide language: Petra’s guide is English-speaking, with Spanish or French possible depending on availability.
- Hotel alcohol: the information notes that most local hotels in Jordan don’t offer alcohol except 5-star franchise hotels. If that matters to you, contact the operator so you can avoid staying at a dry hotel.
- Mobility: if mobility issues are part of your plan, contact the operator. Petra has areas with stairs and steep rock paths, so this one is best assessed early.
Who this private 2-night secret escape is best for
I’d recommend this tour if you want a focused Jordan highlights trip with less friction:
- You have limited time and want Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea without juggling multiple bookings.
- You like private driving and a single team handling the logistics.
- You already own the Jordan Pass, so you’re set up for the visa and many site entries.
- You want guided help at Petra but still want time to breathe and explore after.
I might steer you toward a different plan if you hate paying add-ons. Since Wadi Rum jeep/entrance and Petra entrance fees are listed as not included, the final cost depends on those site charges.
Should you book this tour? My take
Yes, I’d book it if you’re the kind of traveler who values order, comfort, and a guided Petra day. The included private transport, two nights of lodging (Wadi Rum plus the Dead Sea), and meals remove the guesswork that usually ruins highlight trips.
I’d pause only to check your budget for the items explicitly not included—especially the Wadi Rum jeep/entrance add-on and Petra entrance fees—and to confirm what your voucher covers for airport pickup versus airport transfers.
If you want a Jordan trip that feels like a story moving forward—desert first, canyon city second, floating payoff third—this private circuit is built for that.
FAQ
Is the Jordan Pass included in the price?
No. The Jordan Pass with visa entry is listed as not included, and it is expected you purchase it directly.
How long is the tour?
It’s listed as approximately 3 days.
Are airport transfers included?
Arrival and departure airport transfers are listed as not included, though pickup is offered. Your voucher details are where you confirm your exact pick-up arrangements.
What’s included for sleeping arrangements?
You get 2 nights of accommodation: 1 night in Wadi Rum and 1 night in the Dead Sea region, based on the hotel option booked.
Are meals included?
Yes. The package includes 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Lunch is not specified as included.
Do you get a guide at Petra?
Yes. A local English-speaking guide is included for the Petra classic visit. If English isn’t available, Spanish or French guides may be provided subject to availability.
Are Petra entrance fees included?
No. Entrance fees for Petra are listed as not included.
Is the Wadi Rum jeep tour included?
The classic 2-hour jeep tour at Wadi Rum is listed as not included, and there may be an additional charge.
What’s included at the Dead Sea?
You’ll have free time at your hotel facilities, including beach time. The plan also mentions a chance to float rather than swim, plus pool access and spa options at your own expense.
What happens if weather is bad?
The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Can I cancel for a refund?
Yes. You can cancel up to 3 days in advance for a full refund.
Do you accommodate mobility issues?
The information says clients with mobility issues should contact the provider, which is the safest way to confirm your plan before booking.






















