From Sharm ElSheikh: The Lost City (Petra) Day Tour by Ferry

Petra is the reason to consider this punishingly long day. After a road trip across Sinai and a ferry from Taba to Jordan, you reach a city carved into pink stone, with Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, and the tombs of the King Wall waiting inside the gorge. It is a big archaeological prize packed into a very tight schedule.

I like that the price includes the major moving parts: hotel pickup, transport, ferry tickets, Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, a guide, and lunch. I also like the chance to visit Petra without arranging several separate border, ferry, and entry details yourself. The catch is simple: this is not a relaxed excursion. Plan on roughly 20 to 23 hours away from your hotel, depending on the day’s timing.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the main event: You visit Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel, and 13 graves along the King Wall.
• The journey uses both road and sea: You travel from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba, then cross the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry into Jordan.
• Expect an exceptionally long day: Previous departure times have resulted in days of around 20 to 23 hours.
• The package covers the costly essentials: Ferry tickets, Jordan’s entry visa, Petra admission, lunch, transport, and hotel transfers are included.
• Guide quality can shape the day: Guides named Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin have been praised for their helpful, friendly approach, while one transport guide was criticized for speaking mostly Russian.
• Bring water and sensible shoes: Petra can be hot, and the walking route through the archaeological site calls for comfort rather than style.

Why Petra is worth such a long day

Petra is not a quick roadside attraction. It is an ancient city cut into towering pink stone in the gorge of Ma’an, and its most famous buildings appear as part of a larger archaeological area rather than as isolated monuments.

The first sight many people picture is Al Khazneh, often called the Treasury. Its carved facade is one of the world’s great archaeological images, but you should not stop your expectations there. The Roman Theater, tombs along the King Wall, and the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel give you a better sense of the city’s scale.

I like this tour because it lets you tick off a major site that is otherwise difficult to reach from Sharm El Sheikh. The tradeoff is that you spend a large part of the day getting there and back. You are paying for access to Petra, not for a leisurely Jordan holiday.

The journey from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Sharm El Sheikh. From there, an air-conditioned vehicle carries you across the Sinai Peninsula toward Taba.

This section is functional rather than scenic in the sightseeing sense. Its value is that the tour takes care of the long overland connection and keeps you moving toward the border and ferry. Air conditioning matters here, especially when you are committing to a day that may last close to a full day and night.

The exact timing can vary, so I would keep the day before and the evening after this excursion as open as possible. One person planned around a return time and found the tour lasted about 20 hours, while another described a 23-hour day. That difference is enough to affect dinner plans, sleep, and any other booking you make.

There are reported breaks along the way, but you should still carry water and a few practical snacks for the road. Lunch is included later, but it is wise not to depend on one included meal to carry you through such a long outing.

Crossing the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry

At Taba, you continue by ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. This is one of the more distinctive features of the excursion. You are not simply sitting on a coach for the entire route, and the ferry breaks up the long journey with a change of pace.

The ferry tickets are included, as is the entry visa to Jordan. That is a real convenience. Border crossings and international transport can be the most stressful part of an independently arranged day trip, and having these items built into the package gives you fewer details to manage yourself.

You need to bring your passport or ID card. Do not leave this until the morning of departure. It is the document needed for the international part of the trip, and forgetting it could stop the whole outing before Petra enters the picture.

The tour is offered in English and Russian. That does not necessarily mean every part of the day will be delivered equally in both languages. One account described the guide on the transport from Aqaba to Petra as speaking mostly Russian, which made the commentary difficult for much of the group. If clear English explanations matter greatly to you, confirm how the groups and guides are organized before paying.

Entering Petra and seeing Al Khazneh

After reaching Jordan, you travel toward Petra and the gorge of Ma’an. Petra’s entrance is a strong payoff after the long route, because the city does not reveal all of itself at once.

Al Khazneh is the essential stop. The carved facade rises from the pink stone and gives you the iconic view associated with Petra. You will have time to take in the workmanship and the setting, but this is a day tour, not a slow archaeological study. Your guide will help you focus on the major features without leaving you to find them on your own.

I would use this first major stop to get your bearings rather than rushing straight into photographs. Look closely at how the building is cut into the rock, then pay attention to the surrounding canyon. The setting is part of the experience. Petra feels different from a museum because the architecture and the stone are joined together.

The admission fee is included, so you do not have to make another payment when you reach the site. That matters on a tightly timed international excursion, where every delay can eat into your time inside Petra.

The Roman Theater and King Wall tombs

The Roman Theater adds a different note to the visit. Rather than one monumental facade, you see a large performance space cut into the stone, giving you another view of the city’s public life and engineering.

The tour also includes the King Wall, known for its 13 graves. These tombs help show how much Petra contains beyond the Treasury. If you only know Petra from pictures of Al Khazneh, this part of the route gives you a fuller impression of the site.

The experience is best approached as a highlights tour. You will see several major sections of Petra, but the schedule and return journey mean you should not expect to explore every path or corner. Comfortable shoes are important, and comfortable clothing will make the long day easier from the first pickup to the final ride home.

Petra can be hot, so bring plenty of water for the time you spend outdoors. The transport has air conditioning, but the archaeological site itself is open to the elements. A hat and sun protection are sensible additions, although only comfortable shoes, clothing, and identification are specifically required.

Guides can make the difference

The strongest guide reports name Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin. These guides have been described as friendly, helpful, and attentive, with Alladin receiving particular praise for his care and practical help during the day.

That matters because a tour of this length needs more than a driver and a ticket. You want clear instructions at border points, useful explanations at Petra, and someone who can keep the group moving without making the day feel chaotic.

Guide performance may not be identical across every departure. One account rated the transport guide from Aqaba to Petra poorly because the commentary was mostly in Russian, even though many passengers could not understand it. This is the main service risk I would keep in mind. The tour is available in English and Russian, but ask how language groups are handled if you are booking with an English-speaking party.

Group size can also affect the experience. One report described a group of about 48 people and wished for a smaller party. A large group can make it harder to hear commentary, gather quickly, or move at your own pace. On the other hand, a larger operation may be part of why the company can arrange the ferry, border details, transport, and entry fees at this price.

Lunch after the archaeological visit

Lunch at a local restaurant is included after your time at Petra. This is a welcome pause before the return journey, particularly because the day begins early and may continue late into the night.

Treat lunch as a practical included meal rather than the main culinary reason to book. The information provided does not specify the menu or the restaurant, so you should not book this expecting a particular Jordanian dish or a long dining experience.

The bigger issue is the evening return. One person would have appreciated a dinner stop later in the day. Lunch is covered, but the complete excursion can stretch to 20 or 23 hours, so carrying a small snack is sensible. You may have breaks during the journey, but dinner is not listed as included.

How the $329 price works out

At $329 per person, this is not a cheap day trip. It becomes easier to assess when you separate the price of the destination from the price of the logistics.

The package includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Air-conditioned transport
• Ferry tickets
• Jordan entry visa
• Petra entrance fees
• An on-site tour guide
• Lunch

You are paying for a complicated international route, not just a seat on a bus and entry to one attraction. The ferry, visa, entrance fee, and transfers would be awkward to arrange separately, especially within one day.

Still, value depends on your priorities. If you want time to linger in Petra, photograph every tomb, or explore Jordan at a slower pace, this is poor value because the schedule is so compressed. If you are staying in Sharm El Sheikh and Petra is high on your must-see list, the all-in arrangement can justify the cost.

The reserve-and-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Those terms are useful when you are still watching your holiday schedule, though the tour itself remains a major commitment of time.

The real cost is your energy

The most important cost is not on the receipt. It is fatigue.

You may leave your hotel before sunrise, cross Sinai, wait and travel through the ferry connection, reach Petra, walk through the archaeological area, eat lunch, and then repeat much of the route in reverse. Reports of 20-hour and 23-hour days are not minor details. You should treat this as an endurance excursion.

I would not book it the day before a flight, a diving trip, or anything that requires you to be rested. I would also avoid filling the following morning with a fixed plan. The return time can shift, and the trip is too long to build around a precise bedtime.

The good news is that the transport is air-conditioned, the ferry breaks up the road time, and the route includes rest stops. The experience is demanding, but it is not an uninterrupted ride in one vehicle.

Who should book this Petra trip?

This tour suits you if Petra is a personal priority and you are willing to trade comfort and free time for access. It is especially useful if you want the major arrangements handled for you, including the visa, ferry, entrance, transport, guide, and lunch.

It also works for people who prefer an organized route through an unfamiliar international connection. You can focus on the archaeological site rather than solving each border and transport step yourself.

I would be cautious if you dislike early starts, long coach rides, large groups, or strict timing. A smaller private arrangement would likely be better for you, but that is not what this experience offers. The group may be around 48 people, and the English commentary may depend on the assigned guide and how languages are mixed.

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes, and plenty of water. Keep your schedule open, and carry some money for shops. One useful bit of practical advice is to bargain firmly if you buy anything along the route or near the site.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if seeing Petra from Sharm El Sheikh matters more to you than having a restful day. The architecture is the clear reward, and Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, and the 13 King Wall graves give you a meaningful first look at the ancient city.

Skip it if you need a calm holiday pace or want several hours to explore Petra without watching the clock. At $329, the tour makes sense because it bundles difficult transport and entry arrangements, but the very long return journey is a serious part of the purchase.

For the right person, this is a demanding but memorable way to reach one of the world’s great archaeological sites. Just book it knowing that the ferry, the border crossing, the heat, the walking, and the long ride home are all part of the Petra experience.

FAQ

How long does the Petra day tour take?

The tour can take roughly 20 to 23 hours from hotel pickup to return, depending on the day’s timing.

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.

How do I reach Jordan during the tour?

You travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba, then take a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan.

Are ferry tickets included?

Yes, ferry tickets are included in the tour price.

Is the Jordan entry visa included?

Yes, the entry visa to Jordan is included.

What Petra sights are included?

The tour includes Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel, and the 13 graves at the King Wall.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included after exploring Petra.

What languages are available?

The tour is available in English and Russian.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and comfortable clothing. Carrying plenty of water is also sensible because Petra can be hot.