By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Purpose-built 2- and 3-day packages depart from the Eilat/Aqaba border — Wadi Rum jeep safaris, overnight Bedouin camps, full-day Petra access and return transfer included. Among the highest-rated Jordan experiences in the region.
Live prices & reviews on GetYourGuide
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Browse Petra & Wadi Rum packagesvia GetYourGuide
Multi-day Jordan tours that bundle Petra entry, a Wadi Rum jeep safari, overnight desert camp and border logistics. Booking in advance is strongly advised in peak season (March–May, September–November) — these sell out weeks ahead.
Live prices & reviews on Viator
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See overnight tour optionsvia Viator
For travellers who want Petra and Wadi Rum woven into a longer Israel itinerary. Multi-day packages from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem crossing into Jordan at Eilat/Aqaba, typically 8–14 days with accommodation and guiding throughout.
Live prices & reviews on TourRadar
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Browse Israel–Jordan packagesvia TourRadar
Petra and Wadi Rum are the two most visited sites in Jordan — and from Eilat, both are within reach on a single overnight trip. A 2-day itinerary gets you a sunset jeep safari in Wadi Rum and a full day at Petra. Three days adds breathing room: a slower Wadi Rum morning, time for the Monastery hike, or a night in Aqaba on the Red Sea.
This guide covers both formats, the costs, the Jordan Pass question, and the desert logistics that most tour pages skip.
The Yitzhak Rabin / Wadi Araba border crossing sits just 5 km north of central Eilat — a 10-minute taxi ride. Once across, Wadi Rum is about 3.5 hours north and Petra is 3.5 hours northeast. The border is open daily (typically 06:30–20:00; verify current hours before travel) and the crossing takes 45–90 minutes each way on a normal day.
Eilat is the logical launch point if your trip is centred on Israel. If you’re touring Jordan on its own or flying into Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum are better reached via the King’s Highway or Desert Highway from the north — the Petra from Eilat vs Amman comparison covers that decision in detail.
The Jordan Pass is the first thing to sort before your trip. Purchased at jordanpass.jo, it bundles:
For a 2-day trip with one Petra day, the pass saves roughly JD 25–35 versus paying separately. Buy it online before leaving Israel — it cannot be purchased at the border crossing.
Day-tripper note: The visa waiver only applies if you stay at least one night in Jordan. Day-trippers from Eilat who return the same day pay the JD 40 visa fee separately on top of the pass, which reduces the saving. An overnight Bedouin camp (included in most tour packages) makes the pass unambiguously the better deal.
The classic format. Tight but very doable.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Cross Wadi Araba border into Aqaba |
| 09:30 | Border cleared; transfer begins (~3.5 hrs to Wadi Rum) |
| 13:00 | Arrive Wadi Rum village; lunch |
| 14:00–18:00 | 4-hour jeep safari: Lawrence’s Spring, Khazali Canyon, Um Sabatah dune |
| 18:30 | Sunset at the dunes — the single best moment of the trip |
| 19:30 | Dinner at camp (included in most packages) |
| Night | Overnight Bedouin camp |
Camps range from basic tents (hot shower, shared bathrooms, ~JD 40/night per person) to bubble pods or “Martian Domes” with panoramic views (~JD 100–160/night). Most mid-range organised tours include a comfortable camp with private bathrooms and electricity.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 07:00 | Early start from camp (1.5 hrs to Petra) |
| 08:30 | Arrive Petra Visitor Centre; collect map |
| 09:00–15:00 | Full Petra day: Siq → Treasury (Al-Khazneh) → Street of Facades → Theatre → Royal Tombs |
| Optional | If legs hold: add the Monastery (Al-Deir) — 800-step climb, the site’s most dramatic monument after the Treasury; allow 90 minutes extra |
| 15:30 | Depart Petra for the border (~2 hrs) |
| 18:30 | Re-enter Israel at Wadi Araba |
| 19:00 | Back in Eilat |
Honest Petra expectation: The walk from the Visitor Centre to the Treasury through the Siq takes 45 minutes each way and covers about 4 km. The full Petra site is much larger — the Monastery and the High Place of Sacrifice add several kilometres and significant elevation. Comfortable walking shoes are non-negotiable.
An extra day removes the pressure and opens up two options.
Aqaba is Jordan’s Red Sea resort city, 15 minutes from the border. Adding a night here lets you:
Combine as: Day 1 Eilat → Aqaba (overnight) / Day 2 Aqaba → Wadi Rum (overnight camp) / Day 3 Wadi Rum → Petra → Eilat.
Stay two nights on the Jordan side (Day 1 Wadi Rum, Day 2 in Wadi Musa / Petra gateway). A second Petra morning covers what Day 1 couldn’t:
A Jordan Pass with a 2-day Petra ticket (JD 55) pays for itself easily.
| 2-Day Package (per person) | 2-Day DIY | |
|---|---|---|
| Border transfer | Included | Taxi to border ~₪50; Jordanian taxi onward ~JD 60–80 |
| Wadi Rum jeep safari | Included | ~JD 40–70 per person (book direct with Rum Stars, Beduin Roads, etc.) |
| Camp (B&B) | Included | ~JD 40–70 per person |
| Transfer to Petra | Included | Jordanian taxi ~JD 60 |
| Jordan Pass | Usually not included — buy separately | ~JD 75 (1-day Petra) |
| Guide at Petra | Usually optional add-on | Optional, ~JD 30–60 |
| Total estimate | $519–$595/person (GYG/Viator benchmark) | ~$300–420/person plus your own coordination |
When packages win: Timing is tight on a 2-day trip. A missed transfer or a long border queue can cascade. Packages absorb that risk — the operator handles the scheduling, the camp booking, and the border wait. For most travellers on a first visit, the ~$100–150 premium is worth it.
When DIY works: If you’re a confident independent traveller, have visited Jordan before, or are joining a multi-day Jordan trip (where the costs spread further), DIY is perfectly feasible.
Border hours. Wadi Araba / Yitzhak Rabin crossing is open daily (06:30–20:00 approximately — verify with your tour operator or Israeli MFA before travel). This is the crossing to use; do not confuse with the Allenby / King Hussein Bridge crossing further north.
ETA-IL. You need a valid Israeli ETA-IL (or visa) to re-enter Israel after Jordan. If your nationality requires ETA-IL, ensure it is active — the ETA-IL obtained when you originally entered Israel remains valid for its duration; you do not need to reapply just for the Jordan border run, but check your entry document is still valid.
Passport stamps. Israel no longer stamps passports at the Wadi Araba crossing (it uses a removable border slip). Jordan stamps your passport. If you have concerns about dual-stamp restrictions onward to certain countries, consult the relevant embassy before travel.
Phone coverage. Israeli SIM data does not work in Jordan. A cheap Zain or YCOM Jordanian SIM is available in Aqaba (~JD 5) or you can rent a pocket Wi-Fi from some tour operators.
Yes — a 2-day, 1-night trip is the standard format. Day 1: cross the Yitzhak Rabin / Wadi Araba border into Aqaba, drive ~3.5 hours to Wadi Rum, jeep safari in the afternoon, overnight Bedouin camp. Day 2: drive ~1.5 hours to Petra, full day at the site, drive back to the border and return to Eilat by evening. It is a busy schedule but very doable; most organised packages are structured exactly this way.
Three days is noticeably more comfortable. The extra day lets you spend more time in Petra (the Monastery hike alone takes 3–4 hours on top of the main Treasury route), have a slower morning in Wadi Rum, or add an overnight in Aqaba. If you can spare the extra day, take it — Petra especially rewards unhurried exploration.
Yes. The Jordan Pass (purchased at jordanpass.jo) bundles the Jordanian visa fee (JD 40) with entry to 40+ sites including Petra (JD 50 for a one-day Petra ticket) and Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (entry ~JD 5). For a 2-day trip with one Petra entry day, the pass typically saves JD 25–35 versus paying separately. Buy it online before crossing the border — it cannot be purchased at the crossing itself.
Wadi Rum is a vast sandstone and granite desert valley in southern Jordan — rust-red dunes, 300-metre cliff faces and enormous silence punctuated only by the wind. It gained international fame as the filming location for Lawrence of Arabia, Dune and The Martian. The visitor experience is primarily jeep safaris with a Bedouin guide (2–4 hours), camel riding, and overnight camps. It is developed for tourism but the landscape is genuinely spectacular, particularly at sunset and sunrise. Camps range from basic tents to "bubble" glamping pods; most tours include a mid-range camp with electricity and private bathrooms.
Desert temperatures swing dramatically. Summer nights (June–August) are warm — around 18–22°C — but year-round the evening drops 15–20°C from the daytime high. In winter (December–February) nights can reach 5–8°C and occasionally below freezing. Even if you are visiting in summer, bring a fleece or light jacket for the camp evenings; in winter, pack a warm layer you would wear in a cold European city.
Yes, but it requires more planning. You cross the border independently, arrange a Jordanian taxi or rental car to Wadi Rum and then Petra, book the Wadi Rum camp yourself (several operators have online booking), buy your Jordan Pass online, and return on your own schedule. The logistics are manageable for experienced independent travellers but organised tours cost only marginally more once you add up transport, camp and Petra entry — and remove the coordination burden entirely, which is worth a lot on a tight 2-day window.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated