02 Days with 01 overnight Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Eilat Border

This is an interesting way to see two Jordan highlights without doing the logistics yourself. The big win is that you start in Eilat and get help at the border, plus you get set up for both the ruins at Petra and the desert scenery in Wadi Rum on a schedule that actually makes sense.

I like that the tour is built around an overnight desert stay, so you get time for the Wadi Rum experience in the day and then the Petra visit at a full day pace. I also like that you get English help in both places, including a 3 hour guide time in Petra and a jeep tour in Wadi Rum with an English speaking guide who drives.

A possible drawback is that optional extras can add up fast, especially if you go for a hot air balloon, camel rides, or carriage rides. Also, you will want to budget for tips, since tips for guides and the driver are not included.

Key points before you go

• Assisted border crossing to take the stress out of crossing from Israel into Jordan
• Overnight camping at Our Bedouin Camp with BBQ dinner and breakfast, so you’re not rushing everything
• Petra guide for 3 hours plus admission time at the Petra Visitors Center
• 4 to 5 hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum with Bedouin tea and real desert hospitality
• Horse ride option in Petra (700 meters), included but not mandatory, with a tip expected
• Optional hot air balloon in the early morning, but it requires booking in advance

Why This Eilat Border Route Makes Petra and Wadi Rum Easier

Seeing Petra and Wadi Rum from Eilat is one of those plans that sounds simple, until you hit the real world of borders, schedules, and transport. This tour tackles the hard parts for you. You get a meet and assist service at the Eilat Border, and then all transfers are handled by car with an English speaking driver and assistant driver. That means you spend your energy on the scenery, not on figuring out who to call when.

The overnight structure is also smart. Instead of trying to cram Petra and Wadi Rum into one rushed day, you’re set up so you can catch Wadi Rum in daylight and still have time to enjoy Petra with a guided pace.

One thing I appreciate is that the tour keeps group size tight in the good way. It’s private, meaning only your group participates. If you’re traveling with family or friends, that typically means less waiting around and fewer forced compromises.

Entering Petra: Visitors Center Time and a 3 Hour English Guide

Your Petra day starts at the Petra Visitors Center, with admission included. The itinerary gives you 4 hours here, which is useful because Petra is not just a single photo stop. It’s a whole site, and you need time to get oriented, see the big features, and walk between them without feeling like you’re sprinting.

Petra is often called the rose-red city, thanks to the color of the rock many structures were cut from. You’ll also get context for the Nabataean city beneath what you see on the ground. The ruins include tombs carved into mountain sides, plus temples, a theater, and later layers from Roman and Byzantine influence such as churches and the colonnaded street.

What makes this plan practical is the English speaking guide for 3 hours in Petra. A guide matters here because Petra is easy to wander in circles if you’re just trying to read signage. With guidance, you spend more time in the right places and less time trying to guess what you’re looking at.

A small consideration: you might do a 700 meter horse ride from the main gate, and it is listed as included. It is not mandatory, but if you choose it, the horse handler expects a tip. So if you want to avoid surprises, plan a bit of cash for that day.

Petra Logistics That Actually Affect Your Day

Petra time includes lunch inside the site area at Al Qantara Restaurants or similar. This matters because Petra can drain you. Having a planned meal is one less item to manage, and it keeps you from getting stuck eating late or settling for whatever is closest.

You also have an optional carriage option at Petra Gate, listed as $40 USD for carriage (max two guests). That’s not included, but it’s there if walking is tough for your group. It’s also helpful for photos if you’re trying to keep the day moving at an easier pace.

The key thing to remember is that extras around Petra are common. Horse ride, carriage, and camel ride options exist, but they’re separate from the core tour plan. If you want maximum value, decide in advance what you genuinely want, then stick to that.

Wadi Rum Village and the Jeep Tour Through the Valley of the Moon

After Petra, you shift to Wadi Rum, often called the Valley of the Moon. The tour includes a stop in Wadi Rum Village for about 5 hours, and Wadi Rum admission is marked as free.

Then comes the big movement piece: a 4 to 5 hour Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum with an English speaking guide who also drives. This is what turns the desert from scenery into an experience. From the tour setup, you’ll get mineral water in the vehicle and you’ll also enjoy Bedouin tea and Bedouin hospitality during the day.

A box lunch is included in Wadi Rum during the tour. That’s a real convenience because once you’re out in the desert, it is not like you can hop to a café whenever hunger hits.

One practical note: the tour focuses on jeep time, so if you’re expecting a long hiking style day, this isn’t described that way. It’s built for riding through the area, seeing it from the ground and from the air-like perspective you get in a vehicle, then taking your time where stops are planned.

Overnight at Our Bedouin Camp: BBQ Dinner, Breakfast, and Desert Time

This is where the value really shows. Instead of day-tripping and leaving no room for the atmosphere, the tour includes 01 night camping at Our Bedouin Camp with BBQ dinner and breakfast.

Camping in Wadi Rum is not about luxury. It’s about getting that night sky feeling and the slower rhythm that comes with being out in the desert. Since your itinerary is built around the overnight, you’re more likely to enjoy Wadi Rum as a place, not just a drive-through.

You’ll also have dinner included and breakfast the next day. The tour lists mineral water on board and includes the dinner and breakfast as part of the overall package. That means you avoid the common headache of trying to find meals outside a structured plan.

If you’re someone who hates surprises, you should know one more thing. Optional activities exist, including an early morning hot air balloon option in Wadi Rum. It’s listed as available from 06:00 am to 07:00 am for 130 JD per person (around $185 USD) and booking in advance is required. So if that balloon is on your must-do list, plan your schedule early and don’t treat it as a last-minute add-on.

Meals, Water, and What You Can Count On

Let’s make this concrete. The tour includes:

• Breakfast
• Lunch in Petra (Al Qantara Restaurants or similar)
• Box-lunch during the Wadi Rum jeep portion
• Dinner at Our Bedouin Camp
• Mineral water on board
• Mineral water, Bedouin tea, and Bedouin hospitality in Wadi Rum

That is a solid set of included meals for a multi-country style route. It also reduces the risk of spending time searching for food right when you want to be sightseeing.

One more practical point: the tour lists a lunch in Petra, but the exact restaurant may vary by availability since it’s described as Al Qantara Restaurants or similar. That is normal for group tours, and it usually just means the experience is consistent even if the venue name differs.

Price and Value: What $587 Covers and Why It Matters

At $587 per person, you’re not just paying for entrance fees. You’re paying for the whole chain: border assistance, private transportation, a guided Petra visit, a guided jeep tour in Wadi Rum, overnight camping, and multiple meals.

If you try to build this yourself, the cost tends to spread into separate payments that you have to coordinate: transport, guide time, entrance tickets, and the timing for an overnight stay. Here, those pieces are tied together. Even if you compare line by line, the biggest savings is time and stress, not only dollars.

Also, the tour description highlights brand-new car transfers and English speaking support. That helps a lot if you want clear communication when schedules shift slightly due to border flow or desert timing.

The only reason this might not feel like a great deal for you is if you plan to skip most of the included activities and spend time hunting down your own plan. This tour is best when you commit to the structure and enjoy it as designed.

Optional Costs to Budget For: Balloon, Camel, Carriage, and Tips

This is where you should go in with your eyes open. Tips for guides and the driver are not included. Horse ride is included only if you choose it, and the horse handler expects a tip. Camel rides are optional in both Wadi Rum and Petra for 10 JD (about $15 USD) per camel per hour, and you can book them upon arrival by asking your guide.

Carriage in Petra is optional at $40 USD, and the maximum capacity listed is two guests.

Then there is the balloon. The hot air balloon option is listed as an optional early morning activity in Wadi Rum, for 130 JD per person and booking is required in advance.

Hot tip for budgeting: decide your optional list before you go. If you pick just one upgrade, your total cost stays predictable. Pick two or three, and it quickly becomes a different trip price.

Guide Support and Responsiveness That Makes the Whole Trip Smoother

The best part of organized border travel is usually what happens when something goes even slightly off plan. In this case, review feedback you can expect from the tour team includes responsiveness and helpful communication, including mentions of guides and staff such as Andrea and Mohammed.

That matters because a border day is not always a perfect machine. When the team is responsive, you’re less likely to feel stuck waiting with no information. Even for travelers who are calm on their own, it’s nice to have someone who can quickly clarify what happens next.

Who This Petra and Wadi Rum Tour Is Best For

This tour is a strong match if you want:

• A structured plan that covers Petra and Wadi Rum in a tight time window
• An overnight desert night instead of a one-day dash
• English speaking guidance at both major stops
• Included meals, water, and a clear package for transportation

It’s also a good fit if you’re traveling with a group that wants flexibility on optional extras like camel rides or carriage options. Most travelers can participate, service animals are allowed, and the tour is set up as a private activity for your group.

If you hate camping at all, you may want to reconsider since the itinerary specifically includes camping at Our Bedouin Camp. And if you want to control every minute yourself, an organized itinerary might feel a bit structured for your style.

Should You Book This Tour?

You should book this tour if your top priority is stress-free logistics from Eilat into Jordan, plus a full day at Petra paired with an overnight in Wadi Rum. The combination of border meet and assist, private transfers, English speaking support, jeep time, camping, and included meals makes it a practical value for most people.

You might look for an alternative if you only want Petra and not the desert night, or if you want zero optional add-ons and zero tipping expectations. This trip is designed as a package, so the best experience comes when you enjoy the whole arc, from visitors center orientation to desert hospitality.

If you want an organized way to do both highlights without turning it into a second job, this is one of the cleaner options on the Israel to Jordan route.

FAQ

How long is the Petra and Wadi Rum tour from Eilat Border?

The tour is listed as about 2 to 3 days, with an itinerary that includes Petra time and an overnight camping stay in Wadi Rum.

What is included for Wadi Rum during this tour?

You get a 4 to 5 hour Jeep Tour with an English speaking guide who drives, mineral water, Bedouin tea, Bedouin hospitality, a box-lunch during the tour, and 01 night camping at Our Bedouin Camp with BBQ dinner and breakfast.

Is Petra guided on this tour?

Yes. You get an English speaking guide in Petra for 03 hours, and you also have admission time included at the Petra Visitors Center.

Is the horse ride in Petra mandatory?

No. The 700 meters horse ride in Petra from the main gate is listed as included and not mandatory, but the horse handler expects a tip if you do it.

Are hot air balloons or other upgrades included?

No. A balloon ride is listed as optional and requires advance booking, and there are also optional camel rides and carriage or other rides not included in the base price.

Where does the tour start?

The start is in Eilat, Eilat, Southern District. The tour also includes a meet and assist service upon arrival to Eilat Border.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.