Petra from Israel: Day Trip, Flights or Overland (2026 Guide)

Petra, the rose-red Nabataean city carved into Jordan’s sandstone cliffs, is the most popular cross-border excursion from Israel. But “Petra from Israel” actually means three quite different trips, and the right one depends on where you’re based and how much time you have. This guide compares them head to head. (If you’re weighing the Jordan side — Eilat versus driving down from Amman — see our companion guide, Petra from Eilat vs from Amman.)

The three routes at a glance

Route 1 — Eilat day trip (the efficient classic)

If you’re already in or near Eilat, this is the obvious choice. The Yitzhak Rabin / Wadi Araba crossing is minutes from town, and from the Jordanian side it’s about a two-hour drive to Petra. A typical day starts around 6:30am and gets you back by evening.

• Cost: roughly $215–407 per person on a group tour.
• Pros: no flight, lowest price, shortest transit.
• Cons: still a long day; only a few hours on site; you need to be in the far south already.

The big “do it once” caveat applies to every day-trip version: a single day at Petra is a taster, not the full experience.

Route 2 — Tel Aviv with flights (no Eilat stay needed)

If you’re based in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and don’t want to overnight in the south, you can fly to Eilat at dawn, cross the border, see Petra and fly back the same night.

• Cost: roughly $399–445 per person, including the short domestic flight.
• Pros: keeps your base in the centre of the country; no long southbound drive.
• Cons: the most expensive day option and the longest day; everything hinges on the early flight running on time.

This route suits travellers on a tight schedule who’d rather pay for convenience than spend two days getting Petra done.

Route 3 — Jerusalem multi-day (the one Petra deserves)

The overnight trip — typically marketed from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv as a 2-day, 1-night package — heads south, crosses at Wadi Araba, and gives you a hotel night near Petra so you can explore unhurried.

• Cost: from about $295 per person, plus what’s bundled for the hotel.
• Pros: time for the Siq, the Treasury, the Monastery, the High Place of Sacrifice and the longer trails; far less exhausting.
• Cons: uses two days of your itinerary; pricier once the hotel is in.

If Petra is a bucket-list item rather than a box to tick, this is the route we’d pick.

Border, visa and the costs to budget for

Whichever route you choose, factor in the cross-border admin upfront:

• Jordan visa: roughly $60–125, depending on how it’s arranged. Day tours often handle a group visa at the Wadi Araba crossing.
• Border / exit fees: around $65 combined for the Israeli exit tax and Jordanian fees.
• Passport: mandatory, valid at least six months, carried physically.
• Buffer time: crossings can be slow at peak periods — guided tours smooth this, but build in slack.

See our border crossings guide for the full picture on the Wadi Araba crossing and what to expect.

Which should you choose?

• Already down south? Take the Eilat day trip — cheapest and quickest.
• Based in the centre, short on days? The Tel Aviv flight trip gets it done in one (expensive) day.
• Want to actually experience Petra? Do the Jerusalem/Tel Aviv overnight — the extra day transforms the visit.

Start with our Eilat guide, compare the Jordan-side approach in Petra from Eilat vs from Amman, and browse more cross-border options in our best tours in Israel and tour packages. If you want to extend beyond a day trip and combine Israel and Jordan properly, see our 10-day Israel and Jordan itinerary which routes through Petra, Wadi Rum and Amman.