From Jerusalem: Petra, Wadi Rum & Aqaba 2-Day Glamping Tour

Jordan packs its biggest southern sights into two very long days here. You get the red cliffs of Petra, a sunset jeep ride in Wadi Rum, Aqaba’s sea views, and a private glamping tent with a bathroom and WiFi.

I especially like two things: the four-country view from Mamluk Castle and the comfort of having transport, a local guide, border guidance, Petra admission, meals, and lodging arranged together. The main drawback is time. Border delays and a late start in Jordan can leave only about three and a half hours at Petra.

Key points to know before booking

• The border crossing shapes the whole trip: Arrive early and expect the crossing to take up to an hour, or longer if groups are gathered on the Jordanian side.
• Wadi Rum is the evening highlight: A jeep safari reaches famous rock formations and ends with sunset in the desert.
• Glamping means real comfort: Private tents include bathrooms and WiFi, with Martian Bubble Tents available as an upgrade.
• Petra is covered at a brisk pace: You see the Siq, Treasury, Obelisk Tomb, Theater, shrines, and colonnaded street, but free time is limited.
• Budget for border charges: The advertised price is $399, but many participants must also pay $125 in cash for visa issuing and border fees.
• Aqaba extras cost more: Boating is listed at $75, and private beach access is $25.

The big tradeoff: Jordan’s best sights in only two days

I see this as a practical way to add Jordan to a Jerusalem holiday without arranging separate transport, hotels, guides, and border transfers. You cover three very different places: the Red Sea port of Aqaba, the wide sandstone world of Wadi Rum, and the Nabatean city of Petra.

The catch is distance and timing. The departure from Jerusalem is early, and the return is not a gentle hop back across the border. You spend meaningful time on the road and at checkpoints, so this is best for you if seeing the major sights matters more than having long, quiet visits.

At $399 per person, the price covers a fair amount: an air-conditioned bus, a live guide in English or Spanish, border assistance, Petra entry, one night of accommodation, dinner, and lunch. But you need to add border charges, and possibly Aqaba activities. That makes the real cost higher than the headline figure.

The trip has a rating of 4.3 from 19 ratings, which fits the experience as described: strong scenery, good camp comfort, and useful organization, balanced by delays and a rushed Petra visit.

Leaving Jerusalem and crossing into Jordan

The meeting point is at the entrance to the David Citadel Hotel. The branded bus does not provide hotel pickup, so you need to reach this spot yourself and arrive at least 15 minutes early.

Do not treat the departure time as flexible. The instructions are strict, and the bus will not be waiting for late arrivals. Bring your passport, and provide passport number, birth date, issue date, expiry date, and nationality during booking.

The southern border crossing is not just a quick passport check. Border processing may take up to an hour, and the Jordanian side may gather people from several tour groups onto one bus. This can create a long wait before the Jordan portion properly begins.

You also need to check your visa position before booking. Some nationalities require a visa in advance through Jordan’s Ministry of Interior. Many participants must pay $125 in cash, using US dollars, euros, or Israeli new shekels, directly to Jordanian border authorities. If you already have a valid visa stamp or do not need a visa, the listed border payment is $65.

Israeli passport holders must use their Israeli passports at every border crossing during the tour. Have the exact cash ready. This small bit of preparation can save a lot of fuss at the crossing.

Aqaba’s castle, sea, and optional beach time

Once you reach Aqaba, the day begins with a look at the city and its narrow alleys before visiting Mamluk Castle. The 16th-century fortress is the sightseeing stop with the broadest view of the trip.

From the castle, you can see Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia at once. That is a fine geography lesson in one glance, and it helps explain why Aqaba has long mattered as a port and border town.

The next part is flexible, but it is not included in the base price. You may choose boating for $75, enter a private beach for $25, or spend time by a pool and Jacuzzi. Snorkeling is also offered as part of the beach activity choices.

I like having this option because Aqaba gives the tour a change of pace before the desert. Still, you should ask how much time is available and what you want to spend. If your main goals are Wadi Rum and Petra, the extra beach cost may not feel worthwhile.

The schedule can also leave you waiting in Aqaba. One account of the trip described a very early arrival at the border followed by a first planned activity much later in the day. That makes the stop useful as a break, but not necessarily tightly paced.

Wadi Rum by jeep, from Seven Pillars to sunset

From Aqaba, you switch from city and sea to open desert. Wadi Rum is known as the Valley of the Moon, and its sandstone formations give the place an almost unreal shape.

The jeep safari is one of the best reasons to choose this tour. You travel through the desert in a 4WD vehicle, stopping around famous formations such as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom. The guide explains the area’s geology while you take in cliffs, open sand, and weathered rock.

Wadi Rum has also served as a setting for Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia. That film connection is fun, but the stronger reason to go is the scale of the place. The rock towers and empty stretches make Aqaba feel far away, even though the two are linked in the same day.

The safari ends with sunset. Timing matters here, since the light is part of the experience. You should expect a scenic ride rather than a technical off-road thrill ride, with the main pleasure coming from the setting and the changing colors.

After the jeep trip, you spend the night in a Bedouin camp. The accommodation is described as glamping, not basic tent camping. You receive a private tent, a private bathroom, and WiFi, with an upgrade available to a Martian Bubble Tent.

The camp’s comfort and food are strong points. Dinner is included, and the setup gives you a warm, easy night in the desert rather than a night of roughing it. If your idea of desert travel includes a proper bed and bathroom, this arrangement makes a major difference.

What the glamping night really adds

The overnight stay is more than a place to sleep between sightseeing days. It gives Wadi Rum a proper evening and lets you experience the camp after the jeep ride instead of passing through the desert in daylight only.

Private facilities also matter after a long road day and a border crossing. You do not have to trade all comfort for the desert setting. WiFi is available, though the point of the camp is still the stars, silence, and sandstone surroundings.

The Martian Bubble Tent upgrade may appeal if the unusual room is part of your reason for booking. The standard private tents already include bathrooms and WiFi, so decide based on the novelty rather than basic need.

Dinner is included, while drinks are not. Bring enough cash or another way to pay for anything you want beyond the supplied meals. The tour includes one dinner and one lunch, not a full meal plan for both days.

Petra’s Siq and the Treasury on a tight schedule

The second day takes you along the Desert Highway toward Petra. The road section offers desert and mountain scenery, but it also explains why the Petra visit can feel rushed.

Petra dates back about 2,300 years and was the capital of the Nabateans. The approach begins through the Siq, a narrow, colorful gorge that leads to the Treasury. This first reveal is the site’s great visual moment, as the carved facade appears at the end of the stone passage.

From there, the visit includes the Obelisk Tomb, Petra Theater, decorated shrines, and the ancient colonnaded street. The guide provides context as you walk, helping connect separate ruins into a picture of an old city rather than a series of red-rock photographs.

The Petra visit is on foot or horseback. The supplied details present a horse ride as part of the experience, but the inclusions do not clearly list a separate horseback fee or explain exactly how it is arranged. I would confirm this before you book if riding is important to you.

Plan for roughly three and a half hours at Petra based on the reported schedule. That is enough to reach the Treasury and see several central features, but it is not enough for an unhurried exploration of every path.

Wear sensible walking shoes and keep your expectations in check. Petra is larger than its famous facade, and the walk from the entrance through the Siq takes time. You will get the main sequence of sights, but not the freedom of a full-day archaeological visit.

Guides, languages, and the pace of the commentary

The guide service is offered in English and Spanish. A local professional guide accompanies the two-day trip, and border assistance is included, which is useful when several agencies and buses are involved.

Good guiding can make a short Petra visit work better. You need clear directions, a sense of how long each stop takes, and enough background to understand the Nabatean city without being buried in dates.

One account of the tour praised the guide’s manner and explanations but also found that some commentary moved into personal political and religious opinions rather than staying focused on the sites. That is worth knowing before you go. If this happens, politely steer the conversation back to Petra, Wadi Rum, or local history.

The guide’s role is also practical. With a border crossing, several vehicles, and a combined Jordan-side bus arrangement, clear instructions matter as much as storytelling.

Transport, meals, and the real price

The bus is air-conditioned, an important feature when you are crossing desert roads and spending long hours moving between sites. Comfort matters here because the two-day schedule includes an early start, border waiting, the Aqaba to Wadi Rum transfer, the Desert Highway, and the return to Jerusalem.

The $399 price includes the main structure of the trip:

• Air-conditioned bus transport
• Live guide in English or Spanish
• Border crossing help and guidance
• Petra entry
• One night in glamping accommodation
• One dinner
• One lunch

You need to add the border payment, which may be $125 or $65 depending on your visa status. You also pay separately for drinks and optional Aqaba activities. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must reach the David Citadel Hotel meeting point and manage your return from the stated drop-off point in Jerusalem.

I consider the price reasonable if you value convenience and want one booking to handle the main pieces of a cross-border trip. It is less attractive if you want maximum Petra time, a private schedule, or the lowest possible cost. The tour sells access and organization, not a slow-paced visit.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Jerusalem plans are still moving, but they do not remove the need to check visa rules first.

Who will enjoy this Jordan trip most

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Jerusalem, have only two days, and want to see Petra and Wadi Rum without arranging Jordanian transport yourself. It also suits you if a comfortable tent, included meals, and a guided border crossing are worth paying for.

The tour works particularly well for first-time visitors who want the headline sights in a clear order. You get city, sea, desert, and ruins in one compact trip.

I would think twice if Petra is your main reason for going and you dislike rushed sightseeing. A separate Petra-focused trip could give you more time at the site. I would also hesitate if long waits, early departures, or fixed meeting points frustrate you.

This is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, or wheelchair users. The walking, transfers, desert ride, and border process call for a certain level of physical ease.

Should you book the Petra and Wadi Rum tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized first taste of southern Jordan from Jerusalem, especially if you value Wadi Rum’s sunset, a comfortable desert camp, and help at the border. The strongest parts are the variety, the private glamping setup, the castle viewpoint, and the jeep ride through Wadi Rum.

Think carefully about the extra cash and the schedule. Bring your passport, arrive early, prepare the border fee in exact cash, and accept that Petra may receive only a brisk three and a half hours.

For a short Jordan add-on, this is a solid choice. For a relaxed archaeological holiday, choose a longer stay.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Jerusalem?

The meeting point is at the entrance to the David Citadel Hotel. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $399 per person. You may also need to pay $125 in cash for Jordanian visa issuing and border fees, or $65 if you already have a valid visa stamp or do not require a visa.

What languages are available for the guide?

Live guiding is available in English and Spanish.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes air-conditioned bus transport, a tour guide, border crossing assistance, Petra entry, overnight accommodation, one dinner, and one lunch.

What type of accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

The glamping stay offers a private tent, private bathroom, and WiFi. You can upgrade to a Martian Bubble Tent.

Are Aqaba beach activities included?

No. Boating is listed at $75, and private beach entrance is $25. Drinks are also not included.

What documents and information are needed to book?

You need a valid passport. The reservation requires each participant’s passport number, date of birth, date of issue, expiration date, and nationality. Some nationalities need a Jordanian visa in advance.