From Eilat: 2-Day Petra & Wadi Rum Tour with Camp Stay

Petra by day and Wadi Rum by night make this a memorable two-day Jordan escape from Eilat. You walk through the Nabataean capital, see the Treasury and rock-cut tombs, then trade carved stone for red desert and a Bedouin camp under a starry sky.

I like the efficient pairing of Jordan’s two best-known sights, and I like that the desert portion includes a proper two-hour Jeep ride rather than a quick photo stop. The camp stay, breakfast, Petra lunch, transport, and entrance ticket are also bundled into the $372 price.

The weak point is the border and road schedule. You must pay $140 in Jordan border fees per person, and delays can eat into your Petra time. A reported booking involved a late pickup, a long stop near Aqaba, and only about two and a half hours at Petra, so this tour needs careful confirmation before you leave Eilat.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra gets a three-hour guided visit: You see the Treasury, temples, caves, mourning houses, and other Nabataean remains.
• Wadi Rum includes a Jeep ride and camp stay: The desert section is more than a transfer, with time for camp activities and sightseeing.
• The standard tent has shared outdoor facilities: Choose the 4-star tent upgrade if a private shower and toilet matter to you.
• The $140 border fee is extra: It is non-refundable once paid, even if weather cancels the tour.
• The tour suits active visitors: Comfortable shoes are essential, and the experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.
• Timing can be unpredictable: Confirm your pickup, passport details, and border arrangements with the local partner before departure.

Petra first, Wadi Rum after dark

This tour gives you Jordan’s most famous pairing in a compact package. Petra supplies the archaeology and dramatic stonework. Wadi Rum supplies open desert, sandstone cliffs, Bedouin culture, and a night away from city lights.

You leave from Eilat at 8:30 AM, with pickup available from hotels in the city. The stated pickup point is Retamim Street 133, but you should confirm the exact meeting place with the local partner. Bring your passport or ID card, since the border crossing is part of the trip rather than a minor formality.

The price is $372 per person, before border fees and extra meals or drinks. That is a high total for two days, but the package includes round-trip transport, one-day Petra admission, a three-hour guided tour, lunch, the Wadi Rum transfer, camp accommodation, breakfast, and the Jeep excursion. If you tried to arrange all of that separately, the value would depend heavily on transport costs and the type of camp you choose.

Crossing from Eilat into Jordan

The border is the part you need to treat with patience. The border fee is listed as $140 per person, and it is not included in the advertised tour price. Once paid, that money is non-refundable, even if bad weather forces cancellation later.

You should also check whether your nationality requires special visa handling. Visas for restricted nationalities can only be processed through the relevant embassy. Do not assume that booking the tour settles every entry requirement.

The experience can involve a change of vehicle or group after crossing. One difficult booking included a wait at the border, a transfer toward Aqaba, and an unplanned stop at a shop before the onward journey. That does not define every departure, but it shows why you should ask about the exact border process, expected drive times, and who will meet you on the Jordanian side.

A late start matters here. Petra is not a small roadside attraction. You want enough time to walk from the entrance through the Siq and toward the main monuments, with room for photographs and pauses. If the morning slips by an hour or two, the site visit becomes rushed.

Walking into Petra’s Nabataean capital

Petra is the main event on day one. The Nabataeans carved and built much of this city into rose-colored sandstone, creating tombs, temples, caves, ceremonial spaces, and other structures across a broad archaeological site.

Your three-hour guided visit is designed to give the ruins context rather than leave you staring at walls without a story. The tour information says you can see more than 800 objects and features, including the Treasury, temples, mourning houses, and caves. The English-speaking guide explains the Nabataeans, their trade, art, gods, and building work.

The approach to the Treasury is one of Petra’s great reveals. The narrow Siq leads you between tall rock walls before opening toward the famous façade. After that first view, the site spreads out with more tombs and carved structures to explore.

Do not picture this as a short walk from a coach to one monument. You need comfortable closed shoes, sun protection, and clothes that work for steady walking. Open-toed shoes are not allowed, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

The three-hour tour gives you a useful framework, but it will not let you study every corner of Petra. The site is large, and your time depends on the actual departure from the border and Wadi Musa. If your vehicle arrives late, ask the guide to protect time at the central monuments rather than spending too long at shops or stops along the road.

Lunch in Petra and the road to Wadi Rum

Lunch is included after the Petra visit. Additional meals and drinks are not, so bring your own drinking water for the journey. This is not a minor tip. Jordan’s desert heat can be hard on you, while winter conditions can feel surprisingly cold.

After lunch, you transfer toward Wadi Rum. The change in scenery is part of the pleasure. Petra is a concentrated archaeological site with a busy walking route. Wadi Rum opens into huge stretches of sand and weathered sandstone formations.

The drive also creates a practical risk. A delayed Petra departure can push the Wadi Rum arrival late, cutting into the camp activities or the light available for the Jeep ride. Ask how much time is planned for the desert excursion, since the advertised highlight is a two-hour Jeep tour, while one difficult booking received closer to an hour and a half with only two stops.

Riding through Wadi Rum by Jeep

Wadi Rum is not just a backdrop for a camp. The Jeep tour gives you a moving view of the desert’s rock towers, carved canyons, sand, and changing light.

The ride lasts about two hours as planned. Your local guide explains the desert and the Bedouin way of life, while the vehicle carries you across ground that would be tiring to cover on foot. The experience is best treated as an introduction rather than a full desert expedition. You get a taste of the space, geology, and daily conditions faced by people who live there.

The desert can be severe. Summer brings extreme heat, while winter nights can be freezing. Sun glasses, a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable clothing are essential. For a winter departure, pack warm layers and a change of clothes.

The timing of the Jeep trip matters. Late afternoon gives you softer light, but the exact schedule depends on the Petra visit and the road. If desert time is your main reason for booking, confirm that the full two-hour ride is still planned before you cross the border.

Sleeping at a Bedouin camp

The overnight stay gives this trip its character. Instead of returning to a city hotel, you spend the night in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum. You can expect camp activities, dinner arrangements depending on what you purchase, and breakfast the next morning.

The standard tent has a shower and toilet outside. That is part of the simple camp setup, but it may not suit you if you want privacy or easy access during the night. The upgrade is a 4-star tent with a private bathroom, including a shower and toilet inside the tent.

The upgrade also makes sense in winter, when walking outside to shared facilities is less pleasant. It is worth checking the exact upgrade cost before booking, since the base price does not include every camp comfort.

The camp can be a real highlight. One booking described a desert camp hotel with a swimming pool, good food, and a sky full of stars. Those extras are not guaranteed in every tent category or at every departure, but they show the range of the accommodation offered under the camp description.

For the best night, pack a warm layer even outside winter. Desert temperatures can drop after sunset. You should also carry drinking water, since meals and beverages beyond the stated inclusions are your responsibility.

Breakfast, desert sightseeing, and the return

Breakfast is included at the camp. The second day includes more Wadi Rum sightseeing before the return journey, although the precise timing is not detailed. The schedule must balance camp departure, desert touring, border formalities, and the drive back to Eilat.

This is where the two-day format can feel tight. Petra and Wadi Rum are both major destinations, not quick add-ons. A smooth border crossing and prompt departure can make the plan work well. Delays, group changes, or long stops can shorten the time at one or both sights.

A previous booking had a late morning departure toward Petra after spending the night in Wadi Rum, along with a long unexplained stop on the road. That booking reportedly left only about two and a half hours at Petra, despite the planned three-hour guided visit. I would ask for a clear morning departure time at the camp and confirm how the return day is organized.

What the $372 price really covers

The price makes sense if you value convenience. You are paying for cross-border transport, a Petra guide, admission, lunch, a desert transfer, the Jeep ride, camp accommodation, and breakfast. The tour saves you from arranging several difficult connections across Jordan.

It is less attractive if you want control over every hour. You cannot easily adjust the Petra visit, extend the desert ride, or choose your own restaurant. The group may also be combined with another party after the border.

Remember the extra costs:

• $140 per person in border fees
• Drinks and meals not specifically included
• Any optional visits or tours
• The private-bathroom tent upgrade, if selected

The cancellation terms are friendly before departure. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. The border fee is the exception, since it remains non-refundable once paid.

Who should book this Jordan trip?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Eilat and want Petra and Wadi Rum in one organized trip. It works especially well for a solo visitor who does not want to arrange a Jordanian driver, Petra entry, desert transport, and camp stay separately. The English-language format also keeps the experience straightforward.

It suits you if you enjoy walking, outdoor conditions, basic camp life, and a full sightseeing schedule. The desert night and Jeep ride add something that a Petra-only day trip cannot provide.

I would hesitate if you need guaranteed punctuality, private transport, easy walking, or a relaxed schedule. The border fee is steep, the crossing can take time, and the trip is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. If Petra is your single priority, a tour with more protected time at the site may be a better choice.

Final call: book it with a few checks

Book this tour if you want the strongest possible first taste of Jordan from Eilat: Petra’s carved monuments, a Wadi Rum Jeep ride, and a night in a Bedouin camp. The combination is memorable, and the included services make the price easier to defend.

Before paying, confirm the pickup location, passport details, border fee process, planned Petra arrival time, Jeep duration, and tent category. Choose the private-bathroom upgrade if shared outdoor facilities will bother you. If the local partner can give you a firm schedule and you are ready for a long, active two days, this is a practical way to see both headline sights.

FAQ

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins at 8:30 AM from hotels in Eilat. The stated pickup location is Retamim Street 133, but you should confirm the exact meeting point with the local partner.

Is the border fee included in the tour price?

No. The Jordan border fee is $140 per person. It is non-refundable after payment, including if the tour is later cancelled because of weather or another circumstance.

What is included at Petra?

The tour includes one-day Petra admission and a three-hour guided tour with an English-speaking guide. Lunch in Petra is also included.

Does the standard tent have a private bathroom?

No. The standard Bedouin tent has the shower and toilet outside. You can upgrade to a 4-star tent with a private shower and toilet.

How long is the Wadi Rum Jeep tour?

The planned Jeep tour lasts two hours. The exact timing can depend on the day’s schedule and road conditions.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable closed shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, a change of clothes, warm clothing for winter, and your own drinking water. Pets and open-toed shoes are not allowed.