Petra feels unreal before lunch, and Wadi Rum night is the bonus. I love the Bedouin camp setup with dinner, warm showers, and sleeping under the stars, plus the guided Petra morning that keeps you oriented fast. One caution: the day in Wadi Rum camp has a good chunk of free time, so you’ll want to be okay with a slower rhythm.

This tour is built for people who want Jordan’s two big hits without piecing things together themselves. You’ll have a guide with you starting when you arrive in Jordan and until you leave, and you’ll travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a group that tops out at 47. It also uses a mobile ticket, which is handy when you’re working on the fly.

Key points I think are worth your attention

• Early Petra timing to make the most of your guided visit and still have afternoon flexibility
• 4×4 Jeep tour in Wadi Rum for the desert route, not just a quick photo stop
• Bedouin hospitality that’s more than a meal, including Zerb-style dining and warm showers
• A real Aqaba brunch break before you head deeper into the desert plan
• Entrance fees included, so you can budget mostly around the add-on border taxes
• Camp is Wi‑Fi-free, which can be a feature if you actually want a night off

Why Petra and Wadi Rum from Eilat is such a smart combo

If you only have a short window, Petra and Wadi Rum together make a lot of sense. Petra is a walking-and-wonder kind of day. Wadi Rum is a slower, atmospheric kind of night. Put them together and you get contrast: carved rock and ancient routes by day, then dunes, cliffs, and Bedouin-style hospitality after dark.

What I like about this setup is that it keeps your “major work” concentrated. You get a guided Petra block when it matters most, then you’re given breathing room afterward. On the Wadi Rum side, you’re not stuck watching the desert go by through a bus window; you’re on a Jeep safari and then sleeping inside the desert camp experience.

The price is $345, which isn’t cheap, but it also isn’t trying to be a bargain-only option. You’re paying for cross-border logistics, full guiding, transportation, entrance fees, and an overnight that’s not just a hotel bed—it’s the Bedouin camp experience.

Entering Jordan via the Arava Border: plan for cash and timing

Your day starts with pickup from Eilat at 9:00 am, then you cross through the Arava Border Crossing into Jordan. The tour includes help at the border process so you’re not doing it totally on your own. After crossing, you’ll be taken to the next stop—so you’re kept moving instead of hanging around.

Two add-on costs matter here. Israeli border taxes (115 ILS) and Jordanian border taxes (50 JOD) are not included, and you need cash for the Jordanian part. That’s the one place where you can’t wing it with card payments.

Practical tip: if you want this day to feel smooth, have the cash ready before you reach the border area. Also keep your documents accessible so you don’t lose time rummaging while the group is waiting.

Aqaba brunch stop: a tasty pause before the desert drive

Before you go full desert, the tour stops in Aqaba for a traditional Jordanian brunch at a local restaurant around 10:30 am. This isn’t a tiny snack. It’s a spread that includes items like hummus, falafel, foul, salads, and fresh pita bread.

This is a small thing that pays off later. After a border crossing, a real meal helps you stay comfortable through the jeep safari and the camp dinner later. It also breaks up what could otherwise feel like one long travel stretch.

Good to know for your planning: meals on the tour are described as buffet style, and there are options for vegetarians or vegans.

Wadi Rum at speed: 4×4 Jeep safari and Bedouin camp night

Day 1 shifts into Wadi Rum around 12:00 pm, and the core adventure is a Jeep safari starting about 1:00 pm. This part matters because Wadi Rum is huge and rugged. The tour doesn’t pretend you can do it comfortably on foot in a short time. Instead, you use 4×4 transport to cover more ground and see the famous desert rock and dune formations.

Then you arrive at the traditional Bedouin campsite around 4:30 pm. That timing is nice. It gives you daylight for the camp arrival and then darkness for the night atmosphere. You’ll have dinner and overnight stay in the camp.

Bedouin dinner (Zerb style) and what the camp feels like

Dinner is included, and the experience includes authentic Zerb meal plus Bedouin hospitality. You’ll sleep on comfortable beds, and you’ll have warm showers, which is a big deal when you’re spending the night away from normal facilities.

One detail that’s easy to overlook until you’re there: the camp is Wi‑Fi-free. For some people that’s annoying. For others it’s exactly the point—you get a slower night, less screen time, and more space to talk with your group.

Also, the tour specifically sets expectations around spending the night under the stars. Even if you don’t become a stargazing fanatic, it’s still part of the emotional payoff of Wadi Rum.

The one drawback to watch for: downtime

Here’s the honest part: you might find a lot of free time in the Bedouin camp. That doesn’t mean it’s boring. It means the schedule gives you a slower block of the day where you can relax, hang out, and wait between activities.

If you’re the type who needs constant motion, plan to be okay with chilling. Bring something calming for downtime—an empty journal page, a book, or just the mindset that Wadi Rum is meant to be experienced slowly, not mined for nonstop entertainment.

Petra in the morning: guided entry, lunch, and real free time

Day 2 starts with an early wake-up at 6:00 am, followed by breakfast at the camp around 6:30 am. Then you depart for Petra at 7:15 am and arrive around 9:00 am. This is a smart time window. Petra is better when you’re not fighting the day.

Your Petra time begins with a guided visit around 9:00 am. The guided tour ends around 12:00 pm, and then you get lunch in Petra plus a free afternoon for exploring on your own.

After lunch, you’ll have room to do what you want with the sites—walk more, linger on viewpoints, or simply move at a pace that feels right. The group gathers again at the Visitor Center at 4:00 pm, then you head back and return to Eilat in the evening.

How the guided portion helps

A guided Petra visit is the difference between seeing a lot of stones and understanding how the place connects. Even if you don’t care about every detail, having someone help you get oriented saves you from wandering into confusion. You also get help pacing the big moments so you’re not exhausted too early.

Then the free afternoon gives you the best of both worlds: structure first, then freedom.

The timing trade-off

The trade-off is that you’re not doing Petra at an ultra-slow, multi-day pace. You have a guided block, then a chunk of independent time. If you want to do everything deeply—every path, every side area, every angle—you might need more than one day. If you want the highlights done well, this schedule is very workable.

Meals and comfort: warm showers, buffet options, and getting what you pay for

This tour includes breakfast and dinner plus lunch on the Petra day. Meals are described as buffet style, and they note there are many options for vegetarians or vegans. That’s important because dessert and hummus won’t cover every meal choice when you’re on the road.

You also get air-conditioned vehicle transport, which helps on travel days where the heat can wear you down. The overnight bed setup is described as comfortable, and again, the warm showers in camp are one of those small details that can make or break an overnight experience.

On value: entrance fees for Petra and guiding are included. Accommodation in the Bedouin campsite is included. A Jeep tour in Wadi Rum is included. When you add those together, the $345 price feels more like paying for a planned system than paying for only sightseeing.

Price and logistics: what’s included vs what costs extra

Let’s talk real numbers and what you’ll likely feel in your wallet.

Included

You get:

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Full guiding
• Entrance fees
• 4×4 Jeep tour in Wadi Rum
• Bedouin campsite accommodation
• Dinner, breakfast, and lunch (buffet style)

Not included

You’ll also need to budget for:

• Other food and drinks beyond included buffet meals
• Israeli border taxes: 115 ILS
• Jordanian border taxes: 50 JOD, payable only in cash
• Travel insurance

If you like to plan ahead, this is the main budgeting area to watch. Once you handle the border taxes, most of the rest is already covered.

Group size and pace

The maximum group size is up to 47 travelers. That doesn’t mean it feels chaotic, but it does mean you should expect a busier vibe than a private driver-and-guide setup. The schedule also has long blocks between key moments—especially in Wadi Rum camp—so come with patience.

Who should book this Petra and Wadi Rum tour

This is a good fit if:

• You want Petra and Wadi Rum in a tight time window from Eilat
• You prefer a guide-led Petra day instead of trying to decode everything alone
• You’re excited about a true overnight in the desert with Bedouin hospitality
• You want food included and options for vegetarians/vegans

It may be less ideal if:

• You hate long travel days or you want zero waiting around
• You want a deep, slow Petra experience with many extra days there
• You’re not comfortable bringing cash for border costs (Jordan taxes require cash)

One more note: the experience is described as suitable for most travelers, but Petra involves walking. If you have mobility concerns, you’ll want to think about the walking demands of a full Petra visit before committing.

Should you book it? My bottom-line advice

If Petra is on your must-see list and Wadi Rum feels like the right kind of night-in-the-desert adventure, I’d book this tour. The combination of guided Petra, a Jeep safari, and a Bedouin camp night hits the big Jordan boxes without making you manage cross-border details.

The smart part is how it’s timed: Aqaba for a solid brunch, Wadi Rum for the jeep and camp night, then Petra early enough to make the guided morning count. The main thing to be ready for is downtime in camp and the extra border taxes—especially having the cash for Jordan.

If you’re the type who likes structure plus some freedom (guided morning, free afternoon at Petra), this tour matches that style well.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and when do you return to Eilat?

Pickup starts at 9:00 am from Eilat. The return back to Eilat is listed as arriving around 19:00 after crossing back through the Arava Border Crossing.

Is this tour fully guided?

Yes. The tour includes full guiding, and it states that one guide is with you from the moment you arrive in Jordan until the moment you leave.

How much of Petra is guided vs free time?

You visit Petra with a guided tour starting around 9:00 am, and the guided tour ends around 12:00 pm. Then you have lunch and free afternoon time, with a group gathering back at the Visitor Center at 4:00 pm.

What’s included for Wadi Rum?

You get a 4×4 Jeep tour in Wadi Rum, plus accommodation in a Bedouin campsite and dinner for the overnight stay.

What meals are included?

Dinner, breakfast, and lunch are included. The meals are buffet style, and there are many options for vegetarians or vegans.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. Entrance fees are included in the tour.

What border taxes are not included, and how do I pay?

The tour notes Israeli border taxes (115 ILS) and Jordanian border taxes (50 JOD) are not included. Jordanian border taxes are payable only in cash.

Is there Wi-Fi in the Bedouin camp?

The camp experience includes a note that there is no Wi‑Fi in the camp.