From Jerusalem: Petra 2-Day Tour

Petra is the reason to take this tour: after a long road journey from Jerusalem, you walk through the narrow Siq and suddenly face the Treasury carved into rose-colored rock. The route also adds Mount Nebo, Madaba, a Bedouin camp, and traditional meals, so you see more of Jordan than Petra alone.

I like the Bedouin overnight stay, with Arab-style dinner, local tea, clear desert skies, and a comfortable bed. I also like having a licensed guide explain the Siq, Treasury, and Amphitheater before giving you time to choose your own path. The tradeoff is simple: two days means a rushed Petra visit, with only part of a day for the site.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the main event: Walk through the Siq with a licensed guide, see the Treasury and Amphitheater, then explore independently.
• The overnight camp adds character: Enjoy dinner, tea, stargazing, and Bedouin hospitality near Petra.
• The route includes Mount Nebo and Madaba: One offers a major viewpoint over the Jordan River’s west bank, while the other has the famous mosaic map of Jerusalem.
• Expect substantial driving: The tour crosses the Judean Desert, passes through the Allenby Bridge and King Hussein crossing, and travels south to Petra.
• Budget extra border charges: Israeli border taxes are 196 ILS, and Jordanian border taxes are 50 JOD in cash.
• Petra time is limited: You can visit the Royal Tombs, Roman Cardo, or Monastery, but fitting everything in will be difficult.

From Jerusalem to Jordan by way of the desert

Your meeting point is the bus stop outside the Abraham Jerusalem hostel at Ha-Nevi’im Street 67. The hostel itself is currently closed, so do not go looking for an open reception desk. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, which makes the meeting point especially important.

The first part of the trip runs through the Judean Desert toward the Allenby Bridge and King Hussein border crossing. This is not a quick city excursion. You will spend a good amount of time on the road, and the border crossing is a major part of the day.

Bring your passport and cash. The Israeli border tax is 196 ILS, while the Jordanian border tax is 50 JOD and must be paid in cash. Those costs sit outside the $495 tour price, so add them to your budget before deciding if the package offers good value.

The tour includes transportation, an English-speaking guide, entry fees, accommodation, lunch and dinner on the first day, plus breakfast and lunch on the second day. Drinks are not included. The practical lesson is easy: carry water money, border cash, sunscreen, and a little patience for a long transfer day.

Mount Nebo and the view toward the Jordan River

Once you are in Jordan, the first major stop is Mount Nebo. The appeal here is the viewpoint over the Jordan River’s west bank, along with the religious and historical importance of the site.

This stop gives you a chance to look across a broad stretch of country after the border procedures and road time. It is also a useful change of pace before lunch. You are not simply rushing straight to Petra, although the added stops do make the schedule fairly full.

Bring a sun hat and sunscreen. Comfortable shoes are also important, even at stops that sound easy on paper. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with pre-existing medical conditions, and the full schedule requires you to be comfortable moving around during a long day.

Madaba’s mosaic map of Jerusalem

After Mount Nebo, you stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Madaba. Inside is an ancient mosaic map of Jerusalem, one of the most distinctive sights on this route.

The map gives you a compact lesson in how sacred places were pictured and understood in the past. It is not a large archaeological site that takes hours to cover. Instead, it is a focused stop with a single major feature, making it a good match for a tour that must keep moving south.

I like this pairing of Mount Nebo and Madaba because they provide context before Petra. You see a major viewpoint, eat local food, and then look closely at a historic map before continuing toward the red-rock country around Wadi Musa.

Still, this is a packed trip. If you prefer to linger over every church, viewpoint, and archaeological detail, the schedule may feel tight. The tour is designed to give you a sample of several important places and then place the greatest emphasis on Petra.

A Bedouin night near Petra

The overnight accommodation is a Bedouin camp near Petra. This is more than a practical bed between two driving days. You get an Arab-style dinner, local tea, and time beneath clear desert skies.

The camp is one of the strongest parts of the experience because it changes the rhythm of the trip. After the road journey and sightseeing stops, you have an evening connected to the local setting rather than another ordinary hotel room. Bedouin hospitality and traditional food are central to the stay.

The accommodation includes a comfortable bed, but you should still pack sensibly. A headscarf is listed among the recommended items, along with comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, and cash. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and drones are prohibited.

The camp does not turn this into a slow desert holiday. You arrive after a full first day and leave after breakfast for Petra. Think of the overnight stay as a welcome cultural pause and a convenient base near the archaeological site, not as a full camp program.

Entering Petra through the Siq

On the second morning, breakfast at camp comes before the main event. A licensed guide leads you into Petra through the Siq, the narrow gorge that forms the dramatic approach to the ancient city.

The Siq is not just a path to the Treasury. Its enclosed walls build anticipation, and the first view of the carved facade is one of the great arrival moments in Jordan. The Treasury was carved into the red rock in the early first century as the tomb of a Nabataean king.

Petra was hidden under sand for centuries before becoming accessible again. That fact helps explain why the site feels so different from a conventional ruin. You are not looking at a city laid out in open fields. You are moving through cliffs, passageways, carved facades, and broad stone spaces that appear one after another.

The guided portion covers the Siq, Treasury, and Amphitheater. This is where the guide matters most. The structures can impress you at once, but the guide can also give shape to what you are seeing, point out the key features, and help you avoid spending your limited time without a plan.

One Jordan guide, Abdallah As’ad, is specifically praised for careful attention to each person in the group. You cannot assume he will lead every departure, but the comment gives you a useful standard to expect from the local guiding portion: good organization and close attention matter on a demanding two-day route.

Choosing your own Petra route

After the guided walk, you get time to explore independently. This is a valuable part of the plan because Petra offers more than the Treasury.

You might climb toward the Royal Tombs, walk along the Roman Cardo, or hike up to the Monastery. These choices are not equal in effort, and you should not expect to complete every route in the available time. The Monastery in particular requires a demanding uphill walk, while the Royal Tombs and Roman Cardo offer different kinds of sightseeing closer to the central route.

Your best choice depends on what you value most. If this is your first look at Petra and you want more carved facades, the Royal Tombs may suit you. If you want to understand the city as an urban center, the Roman Cardo is important. If you want a major hiking goal and have the stamina, the Monastery is the tempting option.

The catch is the clock. A two-day trip gives you only a half-day feel for Petra according to the practical experience of the itinerary. You will see the great highlights, but you may have to leave before the site feels finished. A three-day tour would suit you better if long walks, side trails, and unhurried exploration are your priority.

Lunch in Wadi Musa and the return crossing

After Petra, the group meets for lunch in Wadi Musa. Meals are included on both days, which makes the package easier to manage and helps keep the schedule moving. You receive lunch and dinner on day one, then breakfast and lunch on day two.

The return journey goes back through the King Hussein and Allenby border crossing to Jerusalem. This is another reason to avoid booking the tour when you have an important evening commitment in Jerusalem. The route includes several border procedures and a long transfer, so leave room in your plans.

Transportation quality deserves attention. The guide and driver can make a major difference on a trip with this much road time, but one reported departure had a full bus with broken seats and seat backs that collapsed into the row behind. That is not a minor comfort issue on a two-day journey. When you book, it is reasonable to confirm the current vehicle arrangements if seating comfort matters to you.

What the $495 price really covers

At $495 per person, this is not a budget border hop. It becomes easier to justify when you count what is bundled: transportation, an English-speaking guide, Petra entry fees, accommodation, four included meals, and the stops at Mount Nebo and Madaba.

You are also paying for coordination across an international border. That can be useful if you do not want to arrange transport, accommodation, entry tickets, and a local guide separately. The Bedouin camp and included meals add value, especially for a short trip where planning time is limited.

The extra border taxes change the final cost. Add 196 ILS for the Israeli side and 50 JOD for the Jordanian side, with the Jordanian amount payable only in cash. You also need to pay for drinks and arrange your own way to the Jerusalem meeting point.

I would judge the value by your priority. If Petra is a must-see and you want the simplest organized route from Jerusalem, the price can make sense. If you want a relaxed visit, private transport, or a full day inside Petra, the short schedule may feel expensive for the amount of time at the main site.

Who will enjoy this two-day route

This tour suits you if you want to see Petra without arranging a Jordan trip from scratch. It is also a good fit if you like a full itinerary with several cultural stops, organized meals, and a night near the site.

You should be comfortable with long drives, border procedures, sun, walking, and a quick pace. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the possible walk to the Monastery makes fitness relevant. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with pre-existing medical conditions.

I would not choose this route if your main dream is to photograph Petra slowly, hike several trails, or study each monument at length. The three-day alternative is the better shape for that kind of visit.

The tour has a strong overall rating of 4.8 from 55 reviews, with especially warm praise for careful guides, well-planned meals, the camp, and the beauty of the route. At the same time, the practical warnings are clear: Petra time is short, border information could be clearer, and vehicle comfort can vary.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Petra plus a taste of Jordan in only two days and you accept a fast pace. The mix of Mount Nebo, Madaba, a Bedouin dinner, desert stargazing, and guided Petra highlights gives you a lot in a short window.

Skip it in favor of a longer trip if Petra is your central goal and you want the Monastery, Royal Tombs, Roman Cardo, and side routes without watching the clock. Before booking, budget the border taxes, pack cash and sun protection, and confirm the meeting point at Ha-Nevi’im Street 67.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Jerusalem?

Meet at the bus stop outside the Abraham Jerusalem hostel at Ha-Nevi’im Street 67. The hostel is currently closed, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What is included in the $495 price?

The price includes transportation, a tour guide, entry fees, accommodation, lunch and dinner on day one, and breakfast and lunch on day two.

Which border crossing does the tour use?

The tour crosses between Israel and Jordan at the Allenby Bridge, also called the King Hussein crossing.

How much are the border taxes?

Israeli border taxes are 196 ILS. Jordanian border taxes are 50 JOD and must be paid in cash.

What will I see in Petra?

A licensed guide leads you through the Siq, to the Treasury, and to the Amphitheater. You then have independent time for places such as the Royal Tombs, Roman Cardo, or Monastery.

Where do I sleep?

You stay at a Bedouin camp near Petra. The stay includes a comfortable bed, Arab-style dinner, local tea, and breakfast the next morning.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport, comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, cash, and a headscarf. Drones, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed.