From Eilat: 2-Day Petra & Wadi Rum Tour with Camp Stay

Petra gives you one of travel’s great reveals: you walk through a narrow stone passage, then the Treasury appears at the far end. This two-day trip adds a Jeep ride across Wadi Rum and a night under desert skies, so you get Jordan’s headline sights in one short journey.

I like the three-hour Petra tour, which gives you more than a quick photo stop, and I like having a Bedouin camp night instead of racing back to the border. The camp, food, clear stars, and sense of safety are especially appealing for a solo visitor.

The main catch is the border and road time. You pay $140 in border fees per person, and a badly delayed departure can leave you with less time at Petra than promised. Confirm every pickup and timing detail before you go.

Key points at a glance

• Petra’s Treasury and more than 800 recorded features: Expect temples, caves, mourning houses, and Nabataean structures beyond the famous first view.
• A three-hour guided Petra visit: Your English-speaking guide provides context on Nabataean art, gods, buildings, and daily life.
• A night in Wadi Rum: The standard tent has shared bathroom facilities outside, while the upgraded four-star tent has a private shower and toilet.
• A desert Jeep ride: The advertised ride lasts about two hours, though timing can vary in practice.
• A sizable extra border cost: Jordanian border fees are $140 per person and are not refundable after payment.
• A demanding trip for walkers: Comfortable shoes are essential, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Petra first, then a night in the red desert

This tour packs two very different Jordanian sights into 48 hours. Petra is a monumental archaeological site carved and built by the Nabataeans. Wadi Rum is open desert, weathered rock, sand, and Bedouin life.

That contrast is the real appeal. In Petra, you spend your energy looking closely at carved stone and ancient engineering. In Wadi Rum, you sit back in a Jeep and let the scale of the desert take over.

You leave your Eilat hotel at 8:30 AM. Pickup is listed for all Eilat hotels, with the stated meeting address on Retamim Street. I would confirm the exact hotel pickup and passport details with the local partner before departure. A cross-border tour has little room for a vague meeting point.

The border crossing is an important part of the day, not a minor formality. You need your passport or ID card, and restricted nationalities may need to arrange a visa through the relevant embassy. The border fee is $140 per person, separate from the tour price, and it remains non-refundable once paid, even if weather later cancels the trip.

At $372 per person, the advertised tour price looks reasonable for transportation, Petra admission, a three-hour guide, lunch, camp accommodation, breakfast, and the Jeep ride. Once you add the $140 border fee, however, your basic cost reaches $512 per person before extra meals, drinks, or an accommodation upgrade. That is the figure I would use when comparing this with other Jordan trips.

Walking into Petra through the Siq

The approach to Petra is part of the experience. You enter through the Siq, a narrow passage between tall sandstone walls. The famous reveal of the Treasury comes only after you have walked through this confined corridor, which makes the first view feel earned rather than simply delivered from a bus.

The Treasury is Petra’s best-known face, but it is not the whole site. The former Nabataean center includes more than 800 recorded objects and features, including temples, caves, mourning houses, and other carved buildings.

That is why the three-hour guided visit matters. A quick stop at the Treasury gives you a photograph. A guide can explain how the Nabataeans shaped the site, the role of their gods, the meaning of the carvings, and how the buildings fit into their society.

The tour description promises an English-speaking guide, but no guide’s name is supplied in the details available here. You should expect the guide to lead the main Petra sightseeing portion, while your own pace may still depend on the group and the day’s border schedule.

Petra is a walking site. You need comfortable shoes, sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, and comfortable clothing. Open-toed shoes are not allowed. Bring water for the journey, since drinking water is not included.

I would not treat the Petra portion as a gentle stroll. The ground can be uneven, the sun can be strong, and the site is large. The tour is specifically marked as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, so consider that a firm warning rather than a minor footnote.

Lunch in Petra and the cost of a packed schedule

Lunch is included after the Petra visit. That is useful because you do not need to arrange a separate meal during a busy cross-border day.

Additional meals and drinks are not included, so carry some money and your own drinking water. The supplied details do not specify the restaurant, menu, or drink policy, so I would not assume a long relaxed meal. The day still has a transfer to Wadi Rum ahead.

Road time can shape this tour more than the brochure-style schedule suggests. One reported trip had a delayed start, an unexpected stop, and only about two and a half hours at Petra. That is a serious reduction from the planned three-hour guided visit.

There was also a report of a stop in Aqaba that involved waiting at a shop, followed by an expensive international-style restaurant. This may not happen on every departure, but it gives you a practical question to ask: will the route go directly to Petra and Wadi Rum, or are extra stops built into the day?

I would confirm the day’s route, the expected Petra arrival time, and who handles the tickets. Your Petra entry ticket is included, but one delayed departure reportedly reached the site before the tickets and guide arrangements were fully settled. Clear answers before crossing the border can prevent a rushed afternoon.

Wadi Rum by Jeep, with time to look up

After Petra and lunch, you transfer to Wadi Rum. The desert is known for its broad sandy spaces and sharply cut sandstone formations. The supplied description presents it honestly as a place of extremes: very hot in summer, cold in winter, and demanding in any season if you arrive unprepared.

The Jeep ride is one of the trip’s strongest features. The advertised experience lasts two hours and includes desert sightseeing with a local guide. You should expect movement between rock formations and open sand, with stops to take in the views and learn about the area.

The exact ride may be shorter on some departures. One reported trip had about an hour and a half in the Jeep with two stops. That does not erase the value of the ride, but it means I would not book this tour if a full, carefully paced desert excursion is your main reason for going to Jordan.

Wadi Rum is also where the tour becomes less like a standard sightseeing circuit. You are not only looking at scenery. You are staying in a Bedouin camp and learning about the Bedouin way of life from the guide and camp setting.

The camp night is especially useful because a daytime Jeep ride gives you only one slice of the desert. Staying overnight lets you see the desert after the heat of the day, when the sky becomes a major part of the experience. One highly positive account described a camp hotel with a swimming pool, good food, and an exceptional night sky. Camp facilities can vary, so treat a pool as a possible feature rather than a guaranteed inclusion.

Choosing between the standard tent and private bathroom

The standard Bedouin tent gives you the basic camp experience, but its shower and toilet are located outside the tent. That arrangement may suit you if the desert setting and lower cost matter more than privacy.

The upgrade is a four-star tent with a private bathroom, including a shower and toilet inside the tent. If you dislike walking to shared facilities at night, or if you are traveling during a colder season, I would seriously consider the upgrade.

The information provided does not state the upgrade price, so you need to check the difference before booking. I would compare that fee with the total trip cost, not with the $372 tour price alone. Once you add the border charge, a private bathroom may be worthwhile for a short trip where comfort matters.

Accommodation is arranged according to the number of people in the booking. A solo booking receives single accommodation, while a booking for three receives three-person accommodation. If you are traveling with friends but want separate beds or tents, ask how that arrangement works before paying.

The camp includes breakfast. The tour also includes lunch in Petra, but other meals and drinks are not included. Dinner details are not clearly stated in the supplied information, so confirm whether it is part of your camp package and budget accordingly.

Bring a change of clothes. Desert temperatures can shift sharply, and winter tours require warm clothing. Do not assume that a hot afternoon means a warm night.

Border fees, timing, and the parts you control

The tour includes round-trip transportation from Eilat, but the border crossing still adds uncertainty. You can make the day easier by keeping your passport accessible, confirming every traveler’s passport details in advance, and arriving ready for the 8:30 AM pickup.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve without paying immediately. That helps if your plans are still moving, but it does not protect border fees already paid. Weather-related cancellation is possible, and those fees remain non-refundable after payment.

Bad weather can affect both Petra and Wadi Rum. The desert may be hot and exposed, while winter conditions can be cold. The trip provider can cancel in adverse weather, but you should still pack for the season rather than for the temperature you expect in Eilat.

I would bring:

• Passport or ID card
• Comfortable closed shoes
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable clothes
• Warm layers in winter
• A change of clothes
• Drinking water

Pets are not allowed, and open-toed shoes are not permitted. These rules are simple, but they matter on a walking and desert trip.

Who gets the best value from this two-day trip

I think this tour suits you if you are based in Eilat and want to see Petra without arranging Jordanian transport, accommodation, admission, and a desert excursion separately.

It is also a good match for a solo visitor who values an organized route. The strongest positive account described the experience as safe for a solo traveler and praised the camp, food, pool, and night sky. That combination gives you a practical base in a remote setting.

You should be comfortable with early starts, border procedures, long road transfers, and walking. You also need patience when the schedule slips. This is not a slow Petra stay with generous time for every corner of the site.

I would hesitate if your priority is complete control over timing. A delayed pickup, border wait, unplanned stop, or late ticket arrangement can shrink the Petra visit. I would also hesitate if you have mobility limitations, since the experience includes substantial walking and is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

The English guide is another important part of the value. You get guided Petra sightseeing and information about the Nabataeans, their art, gods, and way of life, along with an introduction to Bedouin culture. Still, the supplied details do not name the guides or state the group size, so ask those questions if personal attention matters to you.

Should you book this Petra and Wadi Rum trip?

I would book it if you want Petra plus an overnight desert stay and accept that border travel can be unpredictable. The camp night, breakfast, Petra admission, guided visit, transport, and Jeep ride give you a lot in two days.

I would not book it based only on the $372 headline price. Plan for $140 in border fees, extra drinks and meals, and possibly the private-bathroom upgrade. Ask for the exact pickup, route, Petra arrival time, Jeep duration, dinner arrangements, and tent type before you commit.

For a first visit from Eilat, this is an efficient and memorable route. Just protect your expectations: Petra deserves time, Wadi Rum deserves stillness, and a cross-border schedule does not always deliver either in perfect measure.

FAQ

Where does the tour pick me up?

Pickup is included from hotels in Eilat. The listed pickup address is Retamim Street 133, and you should confirm the exact location with the local partner before departure.

What time does pickup begin?

The stated pickup time is 8:30 AM. Confirm the final pickup time and location with the local partner before the tour.

Are Jordan border fees included in the price?

No. Border fees are $140 per person. They are separate from the tour price and are non-refundable after payment, including if the tour is later cancelled because of weather or another circumstance.

How long is the Petra visit?

The planned Petra visit includes a three-hour guided tour with an English-speaking guide. Road delays and border procedures can affect the amount of time you actually have at the site.

Does the Bedouin tent have a private bathroom?

The standard tent has its shower and toilet outside the tent. You can choose an upgraded four-star tent with a private shower and toilet.

Is the tour suitable for someone with limited mobility?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. You should also bring comfortable closed shoes because the tour includes walking at Petra and open desert sightseeing.