From Sharm El Sheikh: Day Tour to Petra by Ferry

Petra is the reason to take this punishingly long day trip. You leave Sharm El Sheikh just before midnight, cross into Jordan by ferry, and reach the Nabataeans’ rose-colored city for a guided look at the Siq, the Treasury, royal tombs, and Roman remains. Petra is genuinely worth the effort, but this is not a relaxed sightseeing day.

I like the door-to-door pickup and the fact that the price covers transport, ferry tickets, Jordan’s entry visa, Petra admission, a guide, and lunch. I also like the ferry crossing, which breaks up the road travel and turns the journey into a proper border-to-border adventure. The catch is simple: 22 hours is a very long time, with border checks, waiting, changing vehicles, and plenty of walking.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra in one very full day: You get a three-hour guided visit to the ancient Nabataean city, including the Siq, Al-Khazneh, Roman theater, royal tombs, Roman colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent.
• A midnight start: Pickup begins just before midnight in Sharm El Sheikh, with a return to your hotel around midnight the following day.
• Ferry travel through Aqaba: The ferry ride takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes each way, though port and border procedures add waiting time.
• Guides matter: Karim, Kareem, Ahmed, and Wazy are names associated with particularly strong guiding and group care on this route.
• Walking and transport changes: Wear proper shoes, carry water, and expect a packed day with road transfers, immigration, ferry travel, and time on foot.
• Lunch has limits: A local restaurant meal is included, but drinks cost extra and vegetarian choices may be limited to salads.

Why Petra is worth such a hard day

Petra is not a quick monument you see from a coach window. The approach leads through the Siq, a natural crack in the rock that gradually hides and reveals the ancient city. At the end, Al-Khazneh, or the Treasury, appears between the cliffs. That first view is the emotional center of the trip.

The Treasury has been carved directly into the rock for more than 2,000 years. It is easy to understand why Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World once you are looking at that facade from the narrow canyon.

Your three-hour guided visit also covers the Roman theater, royal tombs, Roman colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent. These stops help you see Petra as more than one famous facade. The Nabataeans built a major city here, and later Roman influence can be seen in the theater and colonnaded street.

I value having a guide for this part. Petra is spread across a large area, and a guide gives shape to the ruins instead of leaving you to wander past carved walls without context. Karim and Kareem are repeatedly praised for clear explanations, energy, and looking after the group. Ahmed and Wazy are also mentioned as strong guides during the Jordan and Egypt sections.

The route is not a deep archaeological study. You get a focused introduction to the main sights, not a slow day with time for every tomb and side path. Still, for a first look at Petra, the guided format makes good use of limited time.

The midnight departure from Sharm El Sheikh

Pickup takes place at your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh just before midnight. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle toward Taba, with the first leg designed to get you to the border while most of the region is asleep.

This start time is practical because it gives you a chance to reach Petra during the daytime. It also means you should think carefully about sleep. The day combines an overnight departure, immigration, a ferry, road transport, walking, lunch, and the return journey. You may get some rest during transfers, but the schedule is too active to count on a proper night of sleep.

The vehicles are described as clean and comfortable, with air conditioning. That matters on a day this long. Bring a light layer, since air-conditioned coaches and ferry terminals can feel cool, even when the weather outside is warm.

The drive toward Taba is not presented as a sightseeing section. It is simply the first transfer, and the Taba stop is listed as a short pass-by of about 20 minutes. Border procedures can take much longer than the nominal stop time. Build patience into your expectations.

Taba, the border, and the ferry to Jordan

At the border, you are met and assisted before continuing toward Aqaba. You need your passport, and a copy of your passport must be sent to the local partner no later than two days before departure.

This is the part of the day where schedules can lose their neat shape. Border and port procedures are outside the guide’s full control, and waiting has been a clear weak point for some departures. The Egypt-side arrangements can feel less organized, especially on the return, when English-language instructions may not always be available.

Keep your documents, phone, water, and any essential medication close to you. Do not put everything in a bag that goes under the vehicle. It is also sensible to pay attention to where your group is gathering after each immigration step.

The ferry ride takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes each way. I like this feature because it gives the trip a change of pace. Instead of spending the entire route on roads, you get time on the water and a clear sense that you are crossing from Egypt into Jordan.

The ferry is still transport, not a cruise with a full program. Your main goal is to reach Aqaba, and port procedures can add waiting before or after the sailing. If the ferry is urgently canceled or the booking falls on a day outside the ferry schedule, the operator says you may be transferred into Jordan through the Arava border instead.

Aqaba and the final approach to Petra

After reaching Jordan, you continue from Aqaba toward Petra. Aqaba itself receives only a short visit of about 20 minutes in the stated plan, so you should not book this expecting a full city tour or beach stop.

The value of Aqaba here is practical. It is your arrival point in Jordan and the gateway to Petra. The trip keeps moving because the main goal is the ancient city farther inland.

This is also where the value of local Jordanian guiding becomes clear. A good guide can keep you informed while the group moves through unfamiliar transport points and toward the entrance. The strongest guide reports describe people who were friendly, attentive, and willing to help with small needs, such as finding water or coffee.

The Jordan section is not only about getting to Petra. The journey gives you a brief look at the country beyond the ruins, though the timetable leaves little room for unscheduled stops. Shopping and short breaks may appear along the route, but the overall day remains tightly packed.

Walking through the Siq to Al-Khazneh

At Petra, you can choose to walk or ride a camel toward the Siq. The canyon itself is a natural split in the rock, and the route through it is one of the most memorable parts of the visit.

I would choose based on comfort rather than novelty. Walking lets you move at your own pace and take in the changing rock walls. The animal option may appeal if you want to reduce some walking, but any arrangement involving local horses or camels should be treated carefully. Ask the guide what is included, confirm the price before agreeing, and do not assume a short ride is covered by your tour fee.

You need sturdy shoes. The route involves a lot of walking, and Petra is not a place for thin sandals or shoes with poor grip. Bring water, too. The tour includes lunch, but personal drinks and snacks are not listed as included.

The approach through the Siq builds suspense naturally. The cliffs narrow your view, then the Treasury comes into sight at the far end. You have about 30 minutes specifically allocated to Al-Khazneh, but your wider three-hour Petra tour covers additional monuments.

The Treasury is a facade, not a building you enter on this visit. Its purpose has been debated over time, but the key point for you is the craftsmanship: the front was cut into the cliff face, high above the path, and remains remarkably detailed after centuries of exposure.

Roman remains, royal tombs, and Qasr al-Bent

After Al-Khazneh, the tour continues to other major parts of Petra. The Roman theater is a reminder that this was a functioning city with public spaces, not only a ceremonial entrance.

The royal tombs provide another strong view of Petra’s carved architecture. Their scale helps you understand how much work went into shaping the cliffs. You will see a range of surfaces and colors in the stone, with some facades more weathered than others.

The Roman colonnaded street gives the site a different character. Here, you can read the remains as part of an urban center, with a formal route through the city. Qasr al-Bent adds another major structure to the guided circuit.

Three hours is enough to see the main sights with a guide, but it is not enough for every corner of Petra. You should not expect a long independent climb or a leisurely search for quieter ruins. If your priority is extensive hiking inside the site, a longer Petra stay would suit you better.

For this particular trip, I see the short guided visit as a fair compromise. The tour is built for people staying in Sharm El Sheikh who want to experience Petra without arranging several nights in Jordan. You get the essential monuments and a guide who can explain what you are seeing, then return to the transport network.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Lunch is included at a local restaurant in Petra after the main sightseeing. This is useful because the schedule gives you little time to find food independently.

The meal has been described as tasty and suitable for a range of preferences, but you should keep expectations practical. Drinks are not included, so bring money for water or another beverage. Vegetarian diners should tell the operator in advance if possible and be prepared for limited choices. One reported meal offered no substantial vegetarian option beyond salads.

The lunch stop can also feel unstructured. You may need to follow the group and confirm where your table or serving area is rather than expecting a formal explanation at every step. That is a small issue, but after a long morning it can feel bigger than it would on a short tour.

I would carry a small snack from Sharm El Sheikh. This is not because lunch is necessarily poor, but because a snack gives you control during the ferry and border sections, where timing may shift.

The return ferry and the long trip home

After Petra and lunch, you travel back toward Aqaba for the ferry to Taba. The crossing takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes, followed by border procedures and the return drive to Sharm El Sheikh.

This is when the tour’s main drawback becomes impossible to ignore. You may be tired from walking, and the return journey can include more waiting than expected. On the Egypt side, directions about toilet stops, drinks, and when to leave the vehicle may not always be clear.

Stay close to your group and confirm the next meeting point before leaving any stop. At the final garage or rest stop, make sure you know which vehicle is taking you to your hotel. The return transfer ends with drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh around midnight.

The schedule can run like clockwork, but it can also slow down at immigration or the ferry. Some departures have involved substantial waiting at the border. If you have young children, mobility concerns, or a strict next-day plan, this uncertainty deserves serious thought.

The experience is described as wheelchair accessible, but the day still includes ferry terminals, border points, vehicle changes, uneven walking areas, and a large archaeological site. I would contact the operator before booking to discuss the exact support you need.

Is $381 a fair price?

At $381 per person, this is an expensive day trip. The price makes more sense when you count what it bundles: hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, ferry tickets, Petra entrance, a Jordan entry visa, a guide, a three-hour guided visit, and lunch.

Arranging the same route alone would mean coordinating transport from Sharm El Sheikh, the Taba crossing, the ferry, Jordanian transfers, Petra admission, guiding, and the return journey. The package reduces that planning burden, which is valuable on a complicated international day trip.

You are paying for access and convenience, not comfort at every stage. The price does not turn the journey into a restful excursion. Border delays remain possible, lunch has limits, and personal expenses are extra.

I think the value is strongest if Petra is a personal priority and you have only one available day from Sharm El Sheikh. If you are mainly curious about Jordan but dislike long transfers, the cost will feel harder to justify. A multi-day Jordan trip would allow a slower visit, but that is a different holiday plan.

Who should book this Petra day trip?

I would recommend it to you if:

• Petra is high on your must-see list.
• You are staying in Sharm El Sheikh and do not want to plan a cross-border trip alone.
• You can handle an overnight departure and a full 22-hour day.
• You are comfortable with walking, ferry travel, immigration, and changing vehicles.
• You value a guide who keeps the main sights organized.
• You want the essential Petra monuments rather than several days of archaeological exploration.

I would think twice if you are traveling with very young children, need predictable timing, or find long waits especially difficult. The tour can also be a poor match if you need a full vegetarian meal, though you can ask about arrangements before departure.

The best practical preparation is simple: take your passport, send the required passport copy on time, wear supportive shoes, carry water, bring money for drinks and personal purchases, and keep a light layer for the air-conditioned vehicles.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if seeing Petra from Sharm El Sheikh is important enough to justify a very long day. The reward is substantial: the Siq, the sudden view of Al-Khazneh, the royal tombs, Roman remains, and a guided introduction to the Nabataean city.

I would not book it as a casual add-on. The border waits and ferry schedule can test your patience, and the return journey may feel harder than the outward trip. But with realistic expectations, a strong guide such as Karim or Kareem, and sensible preparation, this is a practical way to reach one of the world’s great ancient sites from Egypt.

FAQ

How long does the Sharm El Sheikh to Petra tour last?

The experience lasts about 22 hours. Pickup begins just before midnight, and you are expected to return to your Sharm El Sheikh hotel around midnight the following day.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh, air-conditioned transport, ferry tickets, Petra entrance fees, a Jordan entry visa, a guide, a three-hour guided Petra tour, and lunch at a local restaurant.

Is the ferry ride included?

Yes. Ferry tickets are included, and each listed ferry journey takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

What documents do I need?

You need your passport. You must also provide a copy of your passport to the local partner no later than two days before the tour.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The listed live tour guide language is English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.

What happens if the ferry is canceled?

If the ferry is urgently canceled, or if the booking is made for a day outside the ferry schedule, you may be transferred into Jordan through the Arava border instead.