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The Treasury at Petra, one of the main sites included in the Jordan Pass

Jordan Pass 2027: When It Saves You Money, When It Does Not, and How It Works on Tours from Israel

The Jordan Pass is a tourist bundle sold by Jordan's Ministry of Tourism that combines your entry visa fee with entry to Petra and dozens of other sites. It can save you money if you stay in Jordan for at least three nights. If you are coming on a one-day Petra trip from Israel, it usually does not help, because the visa waiver does not apply to short stays.

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We run Petra trips from Eilat almost every day, and this is one of the questions guests ask us most. This guide is part of our Petra and Jordan series. For the full picture of the day itself, start with our complete guide to visiting Petra from Eilat, then come back here to sort out the pass. You may also want our Israel Jordan border crossing guide and our local guide to traveling in Jordan.

Jordan Pass at a glance

FactDetails
What it isA prepaid bundle of your Jordan tourist visa fee plus entry to Petra and many other sites
Who sells itJordan's Ministry of Tourism, online only, at the official Jordan Pass website
VersionsThree levels, which differ mainly by how many days of Petra entry you get (one, two or three days)
Key conditionThe visa waiver only applies if you stay in Jordan for at least three consecutive nights
CostPrices change, so check the official site before you buy
Who it suitsIndependent travelers or multi-day tour guests staying three nights or more
Who it does not suitDay trippers from Eilat, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem
Booking tipBuy it before you reach the border, and carry it on your phone and on paper

What the Jordan Pass includes

The Jordan Pass covers two things. First, it waives the tourist visa fee for most nationalities who qualify for a visa on arrival. Second, it gives you entry to Petra plus a long list of other sites, including Jerash, the Amman Citadel and Wadi Rum.

The three versions are the same apart from Petra. The basic pass includes one day in Petra, the middle level includes two consecutive days, and the top level includes three. Everything else on the list is the same across all three.

The full list of included sites, the validity rules and the current prices are all published on the official Jordan Pass website. These details have changed in past years, so always check there before you pay.

What it does not cover

  • Border departure taxes. When you leave Jordan by land, there is a separate exit fee that the pass does not cover.
  • Israeli exit fees. These are charged by Israel when you leave, and they have nothing to do with Jordan.
  • Guides, transport and horse rides. The pass gets you through the gate, nothing more.
  • Petra by Night and other special evening events, which are sold separately.

Jordan Pass price: what you need to know

People search for the Jordan Pass price expecting one simple number. In reality, there are three prices, one for each level, and they are set in Jordanian dinars. They can change at any time, so we do not quote them here. You will find the current figures on the official site.

What matters more than the price is what you are comparing it against. Without the pass, you would pay the visa fee and the Petra ticket separately. With the pass, you pay one bundled price. The pass saves money only if you actually qualify for the visa waiver and actually visit the sites.

Here is a simple way to check it yourself:

  1. Look up the current Petra ticket price for your number of days.
  2. Add the current visa on arrival fee for your nationality.
  3. Add the entry fees for any other sites you really plan to visit, like Jerash or Wadi Rum.
  4. Compare the total with the matching Jordan Pass level.

For most travelers who stay three nights or more and visit Petra, the pass comes out cheaper. For short stays, the math usually falls apart, as we explain below.

Jordan Pass and Petra day trips from Israel

This is where most confusion starts. The Jordan Pass Petra entry is real and useful, but the visa waiver is the part that makes the pass good value. And that waiver depends on staying at least three consecutive nights in Jordan.

On a Petra day trip from Eilat, you cross at the Arava border in the morning and return the same evening. You do not stay any nights in Jordan. That means the visa part of the pass does not apply to you, and you could be asked to pay the visa fee at the border anyway, or when you leave.

So on a day trip, the Jordan Pass works out to an expensive Petra ticket at best. In our experience, it is simpler and often cheaper to book a tour that already handles the border paperwork and the Petra entry.

How border and visa fees work on our tours

On our Israel to Jordan tours, the Jordan border and visa fees come to 140 USD per person in total. You can pre-pay them on the booking form, so you do not need to carry cash for the Jordan side of the border. Our team then handles the paperwork with the Jordanian side as part of the group arrangement.

Petra's one-day entrance is 130 USD per person at the time of writing. Many of our Petra day tours already include the Petra entry ticket in the tour price. Each tour page lists exactly what is included, so check it before you book, and do not buy a separate Jordan Pass on top of an included ticket.

Ticket prices and border fees are set by the authorities and can change. If they do before your trip, we will tell you when you book.

Is Jordan Pass worth it? Our honest answer

Is Jordan Pass worth it? It depends almost entirely on how long you stay and how you enter Jordan. Here is how we explain it to guests every week.

The Jordan Pass is usually worth it if

  • You will stay in Jordan for at least three consecutive nights.
  • You plan to visit Petra plus at least one or two other included sites.
  • You are entering at a crossing or airport where Jordan issues a visa on arrival for your nationality.
  • You are traveling independently, or on a multi-day package where entry fees are not already bundled in.

The Jordan Pass is usually not worth it if

  • You are on a one-day Petra trip from Eilat, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
  • You will stay fewer than three nights in Jordan.
  • Your tour price already includes Petra entry and border handling.
  • Your nationality needs a visa arranged in advance rather than a visa on arrival. In that case the waiver may not apply.
  • You plan to enter at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, where visas on arrival are generally not issued. Check the current rules before you plan around this.

If you leave before your third night, you may be charged the visa fee on the way out. We have seen travelers surprised by this at the border, so plan your nights carefully.

Using the Jordan Pass at Petra

If you do buy the Jordan Pass for a longer trip, using it at Petra is simple. You show the pass at the Petra Visitor Center ticket office in Wadi Musa and exchange it for your entry ticket. Bring your passport, because staff may check that the name matches.

If you bought a two-day or three-day version, the Petra days usually need to be consecutive. Plan your Petra days back to back, and do not save one for later in the trip. The exact rules are on the official site, and it is worth reading them once.

Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can read about its history on the UNESCO Petra listing. For one day, most visitors walk the Siq to the Treasury, continue along the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs, and climb to the Monastery if they have the legs for it. With two or three days, you can add the High Place of Sacrifice, longer trails and nearby Little Petra (Siq al Barid).

Other sites worth using your pass for

If you have a multi-day trip, use the pass at sites you would visit anyway. Popular ones with our guests are Jerash, the Amman Citadel and the Roman Theatre in Amman. Our guide to things to do in Amman shows how to fit them into a day.

Wadi Rum is also on the list. A night at a desert camp pairs well with Petra, and our Wadi Rum guide covers what to expect.

Planning your visit in 2027

If you are planning around the Jordan Pass 2027, the first decision is the length of your stay. Everything else follows from that.

Short on time? If you have one free day in Eilat or Aqaba, a guided Petra day tour is the realistic choice. Skip the pass, pre-pay the border fees on our booking form, and let the tour handle the Petra entry.

Three nights or more? Buy the Jordan Pass before you travel. Combine Petra with Wadi Rum, Amman or the Dead Sea. Our comparison of Jordan tour packages from 4 to 8 days shows how these trips usually flow.

Starting in Amman? Read our guide to getting to Petra from Amman. It explains when a day trip makes sense and when staying overnight in Wadi Musa is better.

Prices, visa rules and opening hours here are current at the time of writing, in November 2026. They can change, and some have changed in recent years. Check the official Jordan Pass site and Visit Jordan, the official tourism board close to your travel date.

A note on safety

As of November 2026, we continue to run regular trips across the Arava border, and Petra remains open to visitors. Conditions in the region can change quickly, though. Check your own government's travel advisory for Jordan and Israel before you book and again before you travel. We will contact you directly if anything affects your tour date.

Practical tips from our guides

  • Buy online, before the border. The Jordan Pass is not sold at the crossing. Save a PDF on your phone and carry a printed copy.
  • Match the name to your passport. Use the exact spelling on your passport when you buy it.
  • Count your nights. Three consecutive nights in Jordan is the rule for the visa waiver. Two nights is not enough.
  • Do not double pay. If your tour includes Petra entry, you do not need a pass for Petra.
  • Bring your passport into Petra. Staff can ask to see it with your ticket or pass.
  • Ask about guide languages. Our guides speak English. In Petra, local Spanish and French-speaking guides are free, and German, Italian and Russian-speaking guides cost a small flat fee per booking.
  • Wear real shoes. You will walk on sand, stone and steps. A one-day visit often means many kilometers on foot.

Comparing our Petra tours (no Jordan Pass needed)

If you are visiting Petra in a single day, these are the tours our guests book most. Each handles the logistics, so you do not need a Jordan Pass. Check each tour page for the exact inclusions.

TourBest forDurationPrice
Group Petra tour from Eilat with border assistanceTravelers staying in Eilat who want good value12 hoursfrom $261 per adult
Private Petra day tour from Eilat with lunchCouples and families who want their own guide and paceFull dayfrom $320 per adult
Petra day tour from Aqaba with a horse rideGuests already staying in AqabaFull dayfrom $190 per adult
Petra day tour from Tel Aviv with flights to Ramon AirportVisitors based in Tel Aviv with one day to spareFull dayfrom $400 per adult
Petra day tour from Amman with lunchTravelers based in AmmanFull dayfrom $360 per adult

The Eilat group tour is our most popular option. You get help at the Arava crossing, a drive to Wadi Musa and a guided walk through the Siq. The private Eilat tour adds your own driver and guide, plus entry fees and lunch.

The Aqaba tour is the shortest drive and the lowest starting price, since you are already in Jordan. The Tel Aviv tour saves you a long bus ride by flying you to Ramon Airport near Eilat. Remember that tours with flights are non-refundable. Our day tours without flights have free cancellation up to 36 hours before the start time.

Not sure which fits you? Our guide to the best Petra tours from Eilat, Aqaba, Amman, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem compares them in more detail.

Tours that include Jordan Pass

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Frequently asked questions about the Jordan Pass

How much is the Jordan Pass?

There are three price levels, depending on whether you want one, two or three days in Petra. Prices are set in Jordanian dinars and can change, so check the official Jordan Pass website for the current figures. Compare them with the separate cost of your visa and Petra ticket before you buy.

Is the Jordan Pass worth it for a day trip to Petra from Eilat?

Usually not. The visa waiver only applies if you stay at least three consecutive nights in Jordan, and a day trip has no nights. On our tours, you can pre-pay the 140 USD per person border and visa fees on the booking form instead.

Does the Jordan Pass include Petra?

Yes. Every version includes Petra entry, and the three levels differ by the number of Petra days. You exchange the pass for a ticket at the Petra Visitor Center in Wadi Musa.

How long do you need in Jordan for the Jordan Pass visa waiver?

You need to stay at least three consecutive nights. If you leave earlier, you may be charged the visa fee when you exit. Rules can change, so confirm them on the official site before you travel.

Can I use the Jordan Pass when crossing from Israel?

It can work at crossings where Jordan issues visas on arrival, such as the Arava (Wadi Araba) crossing near Eilat, if you stay long enough. It generally does not help at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, where visas on arrival are not usually issued. Check our border guide and the official site for current rules.

Can I buy the Jordan Pass at the border?

No. The pass is sold online only, through the official website. Buy it before you travel and carry a printed copy along with the one on your phone.

Does the Jordan Pass cover the departure tax?

No. The exit fee charged when you leave Jordan by land is separate. Israeli exit fees are also separate, since they are charged by Israel.

How long should I spend in Petra?

One full day covers the Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs and, if you are fit, the Monastery. Two or three days let you add longer trails and Little Petra. If you have only one day, a guided tour helps you use it well.

Keep planning

More travel guides for this trip

Plan your trip

If you are staying in Jordan for three nights or more, the Jordan Pass is a smart buy. If you have one day and want to see Petra properly, let us handle it. Our full-day Petra tour from Eilat takes you across the Arava border with assistance, walks you through the Siq to the Treasury and brings you back the same evening.

Message us on WhatsApp at 08-6338361 (international +972 8-633-8361) or email [email protected]. Tell us your dates and where you are staying, and we will suggest the right tour. You can also browse all our Petra and Jordan tours and guides, or the full Booking-Tours travel guide.

Cover photo: Davidchocron, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons