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

Petra’s sandstone Treasury is the headline, but the real appeal is the pairing: a major ancient site one day, open desert and Bedouin camp life the next. You walk through Petra’s narrow Siq, pass temples and caves, then trade carved stone for Wadi Rum’s red sand and towering rock walls.

I like the overnight camp, which gives you time for desert darkness, a Bedouin-style meal, and a sky far removed from Eilat’s hotel strip. I also like the practical package: transport, Petra admission, lunch, breakfast, a guide, and a Jeep ride are arranged for you. The main caution is the $140-per-person border fee, which is not included and is non-refundable once paid. Border delays can also cut into your sightseeing time.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra includes a three-hour guided visit, covering the Treasury, temples, tombs, caves, and other Nabataean remains.
• Wadi Rum includes an overnight Bedouin camp and a desert Jeep ride advertised at about two hours.
• The total cost is more than the $372 tour price, since Jordan border fees add $140 per person.
• A private bathroom requires an upgrade. Standard tents use shared shower and toilet facilities outside.
• This is a physically demanding trip, with substantial walking at Petra and no suitability for people with mobility impairments.
• Timing at the border matters. Delays or changes in local arrangements can reduce time at Petra or Wadi Rum.

Why this two-day Jordan trip works

This tour packs two very different sides of Jordan into a short escape from Eilat. Petra gives you ancient engineering and carved stone. Wadi Rum gives you silence, distance, and a taste of desert life.

The combination is smart because neither place feels like a quick roadside stop. Petra gets a proper three-hour guided visit, while Wadi Rum gets an overnight stay rather than a rushed afternoon drive. You still have only two days, but the schedule has enough shape to feel like a small Jordan journey.

The tradeoff is that you have little control over the pace. You travel with arranged transport, cross an international border, and depend on the local operating schedule. That keeps the trip simple, but it also means a late pickup, a long border crossing, or a slow road transfer can take time from the sights.

The listed price is $372 per person. Add the $140 Jordan border fee and your basic outlay reaches $512 per person before extra drinks, meals, or personal expenses. That is a serious cost, but it covers several expensive pieces: round-trip transport from Eilat, one-day Petra admission, a three-hour guide, lunch, the Wadi Rum transfer, camp accommodation, breakfast, and the Jeep excursion.

I see the value most clearly if you are staying in Eilat and do not want to arrange Jordanian transport, tickets, camp accommodation, and guides on your own. If you are comparing the tour with an independent trip, remember to count those items, along with border costs and the time needed to coordinate them.

Leaving Eilat and crossing the Arava border

Pickup is scheduled from your Eilat hotel at 8:30 AM. The supplied pickup point is Retamim Street 133, but you should confirm the exact hotel meeting place with the local partner before departure.

Bring your passport or ID card and confirm passport details for everyone in your party. Visa rules vary by nationality, and restricted nationalities may need to arrange visas through the relevant embassy. The tour price does not include Jordan border fees, listed as $140 per person.

This is the part of the trip that needs the most patience. A border crossing is not a normal transfer from one hotel to another. You may need to wait, show documents, and move between vehicles or groups. One reported experience included a 30-minute pickup delay and additional waiting before the Jordan portion began. That same account raised concerns about unclear payment handling at the border, so I would ask in advance how and where the fee is paid and request a receipt.

The operator warns that border fees remain non-refundable after payment, even if bad weather cancels the tour. That is important. Check the forecast and your own border eligibility before committing funds.

Petra begins with the Siq

After crossing into Jordan, the route continues toward Wadi Musa, the town beside Petra. Your three-hour Petra visit is guided in English.

Petra was the center of the Nabataean kingdom, and the site is much larger than the Treasury image suggests. The ancient city contains more than 800 recorded objects, including temples, tombs, mourning houses, caves, and other carved structures. The famous Treasury is the first major visual reward, but it is only one piece of the visit.

The approach through the Siq gives Petra much of its drama. You walk between high sandstone walls before the passage opens toward the Treasury. This is not a place where you simply step off a bus, take one picture, and leave. You need comfortable shoes, sun protection, and enough energy for uneven ground and sustained walking.

A guide adds useful order to what can otherwise feel like a huge jumble of stone. You learn about the Nabataeans, their trade, religious beliefs, art, and building methods. The guide also helps connect the tombs, temples, and caves into a city rather than a series of isolated photo stops.

Three hours is a useful introduction, not a full exploration of every corner. You should expect to see the main route and key monuments, but do not plan on covering all of Petra at a leisurely pace. Mobility is a real concern here. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and even fit visitors should wear closed, comfortable shoes. Open-toed shoes are specifically not allowed.

Lunch and the move toward Wadi Rum

Lunch in Petra is included, which makes the middle of the first day easier. Additional meals and drinks are not included, so bring your own drinking water for the road and budget for anything beyond the stated meals.

After Petra, you transfer toward Wadi Rum. This road segment is part of the price but not a sightseeing stop in its own right. The appeal is what waits at the end: an evening and overnight stay in the desert.

You should keep expectations practical. This is a long day, and the schedule depends on the border, Petra timing, lunch, and the drive. In one difficult account, an unexplained two-hour stop and a late departure reduced the time available at Petra. That does not prove every departure will run that way, but it shows why you should confirm the next morning’s schedule with your guide and avoid assuming every minute will run to plan.

Sleeping in a Bedouin camp

The overnight camp is the most distinctive part of the tour. You are not simply visiting Wadi Rum for a quick Jeep loop, then returning to a city hotel. You spend the night in a desert camp and have breakfast there the next morning.

The standard Bedouin tent has shower and toilet facilities outside the tent. If you prefer more privacy, upgrade to a four-star tent with its own shower and toilet. The upgrade is especially worth considering in winter, when walking outside at night is less pleasant, or if private facilities are important to you.

Accommodation is assigned according to the number of people booked. A single booking receives single accommodation, while a three-person booking receives three-person accommodation. That is useful to know if you are trying to predict the sleeping arrangement.

Wadi Rum can be severe. Summer heat is intense, while winter nights can be freezing. Pack a change of clothes and bring warm layers for winter trips. Sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and water are not optional luxuries here. The desert may look calm, but sun, wind, and temperature shifts can wear you down quickly.

The camp setting can be rewarding without needing a long list of planned activities. The desert becomes quiet after dark, and the lack of city light can make the night sky a major part of the experience. One highly positive account specifically praised the camp’s swimming pool, food, and star-filled night. A pool is not guaranteed as a feature in every accommodation description, so treat it as a possible camp amenity rather than the main reason to book.

The Wadi Rum Jeep ride

The tour includes a guided Jeep trip through Wadi Rum, advertised at two hours. You ride among red sand, carved canyons, and huge sandstone formations while learning about the desert and the Bedouin way of life.

This is the kind of activity that gives you scale. Petra is built around human-made monuments. Wadi Rum is about distance, rock, wind, and changing light. At dawn, the sun cuts across canyon walls. At dusk, rock and sand can seem to merge. The Jeep makes it possible to cover more ground than you could on foot in the heat.

The exact ride length and number of stops deserve confirmation. One account described a Jeep ride of about an hour and a half with two stops. The included description calls it a two-hour tour, so local conditions, group timing, or operator decisions may affect the final duration.

The Jeep ride should suit you if you want an active desert outing without a technical adventure. It is not presented as a private Jeep or a long hiking expedition. You follow a guide, ride over rough ground, and make sightseeing stops in the desert. Wear closed shoes and comfortable clothing, and keep water close.

What the guide adds

The English-speaking guide is meant to connect the two sites rather than simply lead you from vehicle to vehicle. At Petra, the focus is on Nabataean history, art, temples, tombs, gods, and the way the city functioned. In Wadi Rum, the emphasis shifts toward desert conditions and Bedouin life.

No guide names are provided, so you cannot choose a particular leader in advance. Service may also involve more than one local team as you cross the border and move between Petra and Wadi Rum. That is normal for a cross-border trip, but it can make communication and timing less direct.

I would ask three simple questions before departure: What time will the Petra tour begin? How long is the Jeep ride expected to last? Where exactly will the border fee be paid? Clear answers will not remove every delay, but they will help you understand the plan.

The main risks: timing, cost, and comfort

The $140 border fee is the biggest surprise for many people comparing prices. It is not included in the advertised $372, cannot be refunded after payment, and may still be lost if weather cancels the tour.

Weather can also affect the whole experience. The operator may cancel in adverse conditions. Petra requires walking in sun and over uneven surfaces, while Wadi Rum can be brutally hot in summer and very cold in winter.

Transport is another variable. The package includes round-trip transportation, but not every minute of the route is sightseeing time. You should be ready for road transfers, border waits, and possible schedule changes. One poor experience included a late start, a long unexplained stop, a restaurant that felt overpriced, and too little time at Petra. That is a warning to monitor the schedule rather than simply accept every delay without asking what is happening.

The tour has a rating of 4.2 from 45 reviews, which fits the overall picture: many people value the safety, the camp, the food, and the convenience, while some have serious concerns about organization and time management. I would not book this expecting a perfectly controlled private itinerary.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to you if you are based in Eilat, want to see Petra and Wadi Rum in one trip, and prefer an arranged package to independent border planning. It is especially suitable for solo visitors who want transport, guides, and accommodation handled together. One strong account described the trip as a safe option for a solo visit and praised the camp, food, and night sky.

It also suits people who want contrast: ancient stone in the morning, desert camp life at night, and a Jeep ride the next day. The two-day format gives Wadi Rum more attention than a same-day Petra dash.

I would hesitate if you dislike long transfers, need a tightly controlled timetable, or want several hours to explore Petra independently. People with mobility impairments should not book it, and anyone sensitive to shared facilities should pay for the private-bathroom tent upgrade.

Pack your passport, water, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, closed walking shoes, comfortable clothes, and a warm change for winter. Confirm the pickup place, passport details, visa requirements, border payment process, and next-day departure time before leaving Eilat.

Should you book this Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

Book it if convenience and variety matter more to you than complete control. Petra’s Treasury and Nabataean monuments are unforgettable sights, and the Wadi Rum camp adds the human and natural side of Jordan. The package also saves you from arranging several separate transfers and reservations.

Skip it if the full cost feels too high after the border fee, or if a delayed schedule would ruin your trip. At $512 before extras, this is not a cheap overnight excursion. It can be good value for a carefully organized cross-border experience, but ask direct timing and payment questions first, and choose the private-bathroom tent if basic comfort matters.

FAQ

What is included in the Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

The tour includes round-trip transportation from Eilat, one-day Petra admission, a three-hour English-speaking Petra guide, lunch in Petra, transport to Wadi Rum, one night in a Bedouin tent, breakfast, and a Jeep tour.

How much are the Jordan border fees?

Border fees are listed as $140 per person and are not included in the $372 tour price. The fees are non-refundable after payment, including if the tour is later cancelled because of weather or another circumstance.

What time does pickup take place?

Pickup is scheduled for 8:30 AM from hotels in Eilat. Confirm the exact pickup location with the local partner before departure.

Does the standard tent have a private bathroom?

No. The standard Bedouin tent has the shower and toilet outside the tent. You can upgrade to a four-star tent with a private shower and toilet.

How long is the Petra visit?

The guided Petra visit is scheduled for three hours. The time available can be affected by border crossings, transport delays, and changes to the local schedule.

Is the Wadi Rum Jeep ride included?

Yes. A guided Jeep tour is included and is advertised at about two hours. The actual duration may vary, and one reported experience described a ride of about an hour and a half.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable closed shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, a change of clothes, and your own drinking water. For winter tours, bring warm clothes.