Private Two Day Tour To Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman

Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea make a powerful Jordan shortcut: one ancient city, one vast desert, and one strange salt lake, all packed into two days. You get private transport from Amman, meals, a Bedouin jeep ride, and a night under desert skies without having to arrange the pieces yourself. Petra’s Siq and Treasury are the headline act, but sleeping in Wadi Rum gives the trip its character.

I like the door-to-door pickup and the fact that you travel in a private, air-conditioned car rather than a large coach. I also like the mix of activities: serious walking at Petra, a bumpy off-road ride in Wadi Rum, and a slow float at the Dead Sea. The drawback is pace. Petra gets about five hours, and the long drives mean this is an efficient first look at Jordan, not a relaxed exploration of each place.

Key points to know before booking

• Three major sights in two days: Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea are covered without changing hotels in several towns.
• Private transport from Amman: Your English-speaking driver handles the road journey in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle.
• Petra admission costs extra: The listed price does not include the $70 Petra entrance fee or the $7 Wadi Rum fee.
• A real desert overnight: The basic camp has private tents and shared toilets, while the upgraded option adds private bathrooms and air-conditioning.
• The Wadi Rum jeep ride is local: Bedouin drivers operate the two to three-hour off-road tour, and they usually do not speak English.
• The tour is popular in advance: It is booked about 35 days ahead on average, so leaving it until the last minute may not be wise.

Why this two-day Jordan route works

Jordan has a knack for putting very different sights within reach of one another, but the distances still matter. From Amman, Petra is roughly a three-hour drive. Wadi Rum follows farther south, and the Dead Sea sits back to the west, near the end of the trip. Doing all three independently in two days would involve careful planning, several tickets, and decisions about where to sleep.

This private tour removes much of that work. You are picked up at your Amman hotel, driven south in an air-conditioned car, and returned to Amman after the Dead Sea stop. Bottled water, Wi-Fi, and a mobile phone in the vehicle are included. The private format also means your group is not tied to strangers or a fixed large-coach schedule.

The tradeoff is that the tour uses time on the road to cover a lot of ground. You should see it as a well-organized sampler of southern Jordan. If you want a slower Petra visit, a longer desert stay, or several hours at the Dead Sea, add nights and explore at your own pace.

Petra in five hours, from the Siq to the Royal Tombs

The first morning begins with the drive from Amman to Petra. After about three hours, you reach Jordan’s most famous archaeological site, once the capital of the Nabataean kingdom and now one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Your route into Petra begins through the Siq, a long sandstone canyon that narrows and bends before opening toward the Treasury. This approach is one of the great reveals in world sightseeing. The Treasury is the image most people know, but it is only the opening scene.

With roughly five hours, you can see the main route at a useful pace. Expect the Street of Facades, the Roman Theater, and the Royal Tombs, along with plenty of uneven ground and walking. Petra is not a quick roadside photo stop. Comfortable shoes matter, and you should bring water, a hat, and sunscreen.

The tour price does not include Petra admission. The supplied cost is $70, so add that amount when comparing the tour with other packages. A tour option with a guide may be available, but the base arrangement includes an English-speaking driver rather than a dedicated Petra guide. If understanding the Nabataean buildings and Roman additions is important to you, check the exact option you select before booking.

Five hours is enough for a strong first visit, but not enough to see every path and monument. Petra can easily fill a full day for a keen walker. You may also feel the time pressure because the site involves a long approach and substantial walking before you even reach the central ruins. Still, for a two-day route that also includes Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, this is a sensible allocation.

Wadi Rum after sunset, with a Bedouin camp overnight

After Petra, you continue south to Wadi Rum. The desert is known for its sandstone formations, open spaces, and connection with Lawrence of Arabia during the Arab Revolt of 1916. Its cultural importance reaches far beyond that one modern story, with human activity in the area going back to prehistoric times.

The first evening is centered on reaching the camp, eating dinner, and settling into the desert. The accommodation is a tourist camp with Bedouin-style tents. The basic option provides a private tent with shared toilets. If you prefer more comfort, the upgraded camp has an en-suite toilet and air-conditioning.

This choice matters more than the label might suggest. Desert nights can become very cold after sundown, even when the day is warm. Bring warm clothes regardless of the season. If your idea of camping includes a private bathroom and climate control, pay for the upgrade. If you mainly want the setting and a night beneath the stars, the basic tent may be enough.

One optional upgrade mentioned for this experience is a Martian dome. That option gives you a more unusual form of desert accommodation and has been specifically associated with a particularly memorable stay. You should confirm its availability and added cost before booking, since it is not part of the standard package.

Dinner and breakfast are included, which makes the overnight stop easier than arranging a separate camp stay. The important point is that this is not a private wilderness camp run entirely for your group. The vehicle from Amman is private, but the accommodation is a tourist camp, and the Wadi Rum driving is handled locally.

The morning jeep tour across Wadi Rum

After breakfast, you take a two to three-hour tour through Wadi Rum in local off-road vehicles operated by Bedouin drivers. This is the part of the trip where the road disappears and the desert becomes the main event.

The ride lets you cover more ground than walking would allow. You can expect rough tracks, broad desert views, sandstone formations, and stops at highlights within the protected area. The experience is active, dusty, and less polished than a standard sightseeing bus, which is exactly why it fits Wadi Rum.

One practical detail deserves attention: the Bedouin jeep drivers do not usually speak English. Your main English-speaking contact is the driver who brings you from Amman and continues with the road transport. Do not expect a detailed English explanation at every desert stop. If you want more interpretation, ask about a tour option that includes a guide.

A hot-air balloon ride is also available for an extra charge, but it requires advance booking and is paid separately. It is not a replacement for the jeep tour unless your selected arrangement says so. Confirm the timing carefully, since the tour must still leave Wadi Rum for the long journey to the Dead Sea.

The listed day-two schedule allows about three hours in Wadi Rum, including the morning desert activity. That gives you a good taste, but it is not enough for a long camel trek, extensive hiking, and a balloon ride all at once. Choose one main desert priority before you go.

The long transfer to the Dead Sea

After Wadi Rum, the trip heads north and west toward the Dead Sea. The drive takes about four hours, so this is the quietest and least active part of the itinerary. Your air-conditioned car, bottled water, and private arrangement become especially useful here.

The Dead Sea lies 408 metres below sea level and is famous for its high salt content. The water feels oily, and you float rather than swim in the usual way. Mineral-rich mud along the shore is also associated with the area’s spa appeal.

Your stop is at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG, described as a five-star resort. Entrance and lunch are included, giving you access to the resort beach without having to book a separate hotel day pass. This is a strong practical feature. After a morning of desert driving and two days of walking, a shower, a meal, and time near the water are welcome.

Do not treat the Dead Sea like an ordinary swimming beach. The high salinity is the attraction, but the water can irritate your eyes and any cuts on your skin. The supplied information confirms that you can float and enjoy the resort beach, but it does not promise a spa treatment or a long private resort stay. Your time here is about three hours, including lunch.

The Dead Sea stop also helps balance the trip. Petra demands concentration and walking. Wadi Rum brings dust and jolts. The resort gives you a chance to slow down before the return to Amman.

What the $293.50 price really covers

At $293.50 per person, the tour includes a good number of moving parts: private Amman pickup and drop-off, the long-distance vehicle, an English-speaking driver, one night at a Wadi Rum camp, dinner, breakfast, lunch, the local jeep tour, bottled water, vehicle Wi-Fi, and entrance to the Dead Sea resort.

The price does not include Petra admission, listed at $70, or Wadi Rum admission, listed at $7. Travel insurance is also excluded. A tour guide is not included unless you select an option that specifies one. Once those extra costs are added, the true price is higher than the headline figure.

Even so, the package can offer solid value if you want convenience. You are paying not only for sightseeing but also for private road transport across a large section of Jordan, overnight desert accommodation, and coordination between several providers. A self-arranged version may cost less for some budgets, but you would need to compare car hire, fuel, camp accommodation, local desert transport, meals, entrance fees, and the effort of managing the route.

The private format is most useful for couples, families, or small groups who value control and direct pickup. Group discounts may also be available. There is space for one small piece of luggage per person, so pack lightly. A large suitcase could become a nuisance in the vehicle and at the camp.

The pace, physical effort, and practical packing

This tour requires a moderate fitness level. Petra includes a long walk through the Siq and extensive movement over uneven ground. Wadi Rum adds a rough vehicle ride, and the resort stop comes only after another long transfer.

Wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and warm clothing for the desert night. Pack a small overnight bag rather than trying to bring your full luggage. The one-small-bag limit is particularly important if you are traveling with bulky clothing or hard-sided cases.

The tour operates in all kinds of conditions, but poor weather can affect the schedule. If weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For a normal cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The company has received a perfect five-star rating from 104 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. The strongest praise centers on how well the trip is handled from start to finish. Firas is named as an excellent driver and guide, while Shireen is associated with answering booking questions and helping with recommendations. Those details matter because a two-day route like this depends heavily on clear communication and reliable timing.

Who should book this Jordan tour?

I would choose this trip if you have only two days and want Jordan’s major southern sights without arranging every transfer yourself. It suits first-time visitors who want a private car, a desert overnight, and a clear route from Amman.

It also works well for people who enjoy variety. You will not spend two days doing the same thing. The schedule moves from archaeological ruins to a rough desert ride to a resort beach, with meals and accommodation folded into the plan.

I would hesitate if Petra is your main reason for coming to Jordan. Five hours can show you the essential route, but an extra night near Petra would let you walk more slowly and add time for additional monuments. I would also hesitate if you dislike long drives, shared camp facilities, or tight schedules.

Choose the upgraded camp if a private bathroom and air-conditioning matter to you. Ask about adding a Petra guide if you want detailed interpretation. If the balloon ride interests you, arrange it in advance and confirm that it fits the morning schedule.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an efficient, private introduction to southern Jordan and value having transport, meals, a desert camp, and the Dead Sea stop organized together. The route is packed, but the rewards are unusually varied.

Skip it in favor of a longer custom itinerary if you want a leisurely Petra visit, a more comfortable desert stay, or several quiet hours at the Dead Sea. For everyone else, this is a practical way to see three major Jordan sights in two demanding but memorable days.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup from Amman included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your Amman hotel are included in a modern, air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately two days and includes one overnight stay in Wadi Rum.

Is the Petra entrance fee included?

No. Petra admission is listed separately at $70 per person.

Is the Wadi Rum entrance fee included?

No. The Wadi Rum entrance fee is listed separately at $7 per person.

What accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

The standard arrangement is one night in a tourist camp in a private tent with shared toilets. An upgraded camp with en-suite toilets and air-conditioning is available.

Is the Wadi Rum jeep tour included?

Yes. A private Bedouin jeep tour lasting two to three hours is included. The local jeep drivers do not usually speak English.

Can I take a hot-air balloon ride in Wadi Rum?

Yes, a hot-air balloon ride may be available at an extra cost. It requires advance booking and is paid separately.

Is lunch at the Dead Sea included?

Yes. Entrance and lunch at the Dead Sea resort are included. The stop is at Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and warm clothes for the desert night. The vehicle has space for one small piece of luggage per person.