Eilat Tours Compared: Red Sea, Petra & Desert Safaris 2026

Eilat sits at the tip of Israel’s southern Negev on the Gulf of Aqaba — a short strip of Red Sea coastline shared with Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia that gives Israel one of the world’s most accessible coral reef systems, immediately adjacent to dramatic desert mountain scenery. The result is an unusually varied tour menu. Here is an honest comparison of the main types, what each actually covers and how to choose. For the city overview, see our Eilat region guide.

Eilat tours compared

Prices are ranges and vary by operator, group size and season. Peak periods (Passover, Jewish High Holidays, European summer) push prices up and availability down. Check live pricing when you book.

Red Sea snorkeling and boat tours

The most accessible introduction to Eilat’s reef. A glass-bottom boat covers the coral without getting wet — you view the reef through a clear hull floor, which works well for non-swimmers and young children. Guided snorkeling tours supply equipment, bring you to the best reef sections of the Coral Beach Nature Reserve and typically run 1.5 to 3 hours.

The Coral Beach Nature Reserve is the main snorkeling site — a protected reef stretching roughly 1.2 km along the coast with marked underwater trails. Entry with your own gear costs a modest fee at the reserve gate; joining a guided tour adds navigation and typically higher-quality equipment. Conditions are good year-round, with summer offering the warmest water and best visibility.

For those who want to go deeper, see our Eilat diving and snorkeling guide for full dive course options, recommended operators and seasonal advice.

Scuba diving tours

Eilat is one of the most beginner-friendly dive destinations in the world — a supervised open-water course can be completed entirely in the northern Red Sea, and most operators offer PADI certification. Fun dives for already-certified divers typically run at the Underwater Observatory reef, Moses Rock and the Japanese Gardens.

Prices vary: a single guided fun dive runs roughly $50–80, a PADI Discover Scuba taster is ~$80–110, and a full Open Water certification (3–4 days) costs ~$300–400 including equipment. Always verify that your operator holds a recognised certification and that the guide-to-diver ratio is stated. See our Eilat diving and snorkeling guide for operator guidance and the best dive sites.

Eilat Mountains jeep and desert safari

The desert begins immediately behind the hotels. The Eilat Mountains — a dramatic red-black granite range that gives the city its characteristic backdrop — contain several day-trip destinations reachable in 30 to 90 minutes:

• Red Canyon — a narrow sandstone slot canyon with distinctive red-and-yellow banding. The two-hour walking circuit is moderate; some jeep tours combine a drive with the canyon hike. Red Canyon entry is free but guides help navigate the signage.
• Timna Park — an ancient copper-mining site with 9,000 years of history, a natural rock arch (Solomon’s Pillars), the Mushroom rock formation and an artificial Red Sea recreation lake inside the park. Timna Park has its own entry and can be visited independently, but a guide makes the historical context coherent.
• Desert Bedouin camp — some operators include a stop at a working Bedouin encampment for tea, camel riding and a demonstration of traditional Negev life. Verify that the experience is with a genuine community, not a tourist reconstruction.

Full-day desert safaris (~8 hrs) typically cover Red Canyon + Timna Park + a viewpoint over three international borders (Israel, Jordan, Egypt). Half-day versions focus on one or two sites. Prices run roughly $80–150 per person depending on duration and group size.

Dolphin Reef experiences

Dolphin Reef is a private beach and lagoon where a pod of bottlenose dolphins live semi-wild — they can leave the lagoon freely but choose to remain. Visitors can observe from the jetties (modest entry fee) or book supervised snorkeling or diving sessions in the lagoon with the dolphins.

The key distinction from captive dolphin shows elsewhere: the dolphins are not performing, the encounters are unscheduled, and guides prioritise the animals’ welfare. An encounter is not guaranteed — if the pod is resting or outside the lagoon, the session proceeds without them. This low-pressure approach is exactly what makes it worthwhile for travellers who want an ethical wildlife experience.

Book direct with Dolphin Reef for the best price; tour operators on GetYourGuide and Viator bundle transport and sometimes discounted combined tickets.

Petra day trips from Eilat

The most popular multi-country excursion from Eilat. Petra — Jordan’s rose-red Nabataean city carved into cliff faces — is roughly 130 km from Eilat by road across the Yitzhak Rabin / Wadi Araba border crossing. Organised day trips handle the Jordanian entry formalities (visa-on-arrival for most nationalities), provide a licensed guide at the site and return you to Eilat the same evening.

A full day at Petra is genuinely long — typically departing Eilat by 05:30–06:00 and returning after 21:00. The walking inside Petra is substantial: the classic Siq-to-Treasury-to-Monastery circuit covers 7–12 km on uneven terrain depending on how far you explore. Wear walking shoes, not sandals.

For a more in-depth comparison of the Eilat route versus entering from Amman — including cost breakdown, border wait times and the case for an overnight in Wadi Rum — see our Petra from Eilat vs from Amman guide and Petra tours compared.

How to choose

• First visit to Eilat, limited time: a Red Sea snorkeling tour in the morning, then explore the Coral Beach reserve independently in the afternoon.
• Certified divers: a fun dive or two-tank guided dive from one of the established operators; see diving in Eilat.
• Desert landscape focus: Eilat Mountains jeep safari to Red Canyon + Timna Park, half- or full-day.
• Families with young children: glass-bottom boat tour (no swim needed) + a stop at Dolphin Reef for the afternoon.
• The signature Israel–Jordan combo: a Petra day trip — exhausting but unforgettable; consider an overnight if you can spare a second day.

For a wider view of Israel’s guided tours, see our best tours in Israel guide. If you are visiting Petra and comparing routes, the Petra from Eilat vs from Amman guide covers every practical consideration. For a full hub comparing all Eilat day trips — self-drive options, cross-border excursions and water activities — with a comparison table and seasonal planning, see the Day trips from Eilat guide.