Petra 2 Day Tour from Eilat: Explore the Lost City Without the Rush

Overview

1. Day 1Eilat to Petra, Guided Tour of the Lost City
2. 1
   08:00 AM · 15 minHotel Pickup in Eilat

   Your Petra 2 day tour from Eilat begins with pickup from your hotel or a central meeting point in Eilat. Our representative meets you and briefs you on the border crossing procedure. Make sure you have your passport, cash for border/visa fees ($140), and comfortable walking shoes.

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3. 08:30 AM · 30 minArava Border Crossing into Jordan

   Arrive at the Arava/Wadi Araba border crossing, the closest crossing point between Israel and Jordan. Our border assistance representative handles the process with you. Border and visa fees total approximately $140 per person, paid in cash (USD, EUR, or NIS accepted) at the crossing. The entire crossing typically takes 45-60 minutes, including passport control, customs, and vehicle change. Your Petra 2 day tour from Eilat continues on the Jordanian side with a Jordanian vehicle and driver.

   The Arava border crossing is the least crowded of the three Israel-Jordan crossings, making it the fastest and most efficient option for travelers departing from Eilat.

4. 2
   09:45 AM · 2 hoursDrive North Along the Desert Highway

   Board the Jordanian coach and head north along the Desert Highway (Route 15) through dramatic Jordanian desert landscapes. The drive to Petra takes approximately 2 hours. Your guide provides an introduction to Jordan's history, the Nabataean civilization that built Petra, and what to expect at the archaeological site. Watch the landscape change from the Red Sea coast to the highlands of southern Jordan.

   On clear days, you can see the mountains of Wadi Rum in the distance to the east, where Lawrence of Arabia led the Arab Revolt and where multiple Hollywood films have been shot.

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5. 3
   12:00 PM · 15 minArrive at Petra Visitor Center

   The Petra 2 day tour from Eilat arrives at the Petra Archaeological Park visitor center in Wadi Musa. Your guide collects entrance tickets (included in your tour price) and gives a brief orientation. You have the option of a short horse ride from the entrance gate to the beginning of the Siq (included with Petra entrance; tips are expected of the horsemen, 5-10 JOD).

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6. 12:30 PM · 1 hourWalk Through the Siq to the Treasury

   

   Enter the Siq, a narrow gorge 1.2 kilometers long with walls rising up to 80 meters on both sides. The canyon was formed by geological splitting, not water erosion, which is why the walls are so smooth and vertical. As you walk, your guide points out Nabataean water channels carved into the cliff walls, niches that once held religious sculptures, and remnants of the original paved road.

   The colors shift from pink to orange to deep red as you go deeper. Then, through a narrow gap in the cliff at the very end, the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) appears. This is the single most photographed moment in Jordan, and the Petra 2 day tour from Eilat gives you the time to absorb it properly.

   The Treasury is a 40-meter-high facade carved directly into the sandstone cliff around the 1st century BCE. Despite its name (given by local Bedouins who believed an Egyptian pharaoh hid gold in the urn at the top), it was actually a royal tomb. The precision of the carving, with Corinthian columns, friezes depicting mythological figures, and perfectly symmetrical proportions, is staggering considering it was carved top-down from the cliff face.

7. 13:45 PM · 1.5 hoursGuided Tour: Royal Tombs, Theater, and Colonnaded Street

   

   Your Petra 2 day tour from Eilat guide leads you deeper into the ancient city:

   The Street of Facades: A row of monumental Nabataean tomb facades lining the main path, each with carved columns and pediments.

   The Roman Theater: Carved into the hillside to seat 8,500 spectators, this theater was expanded by the Romans after they annexed the Nabataean kingdom in 106 CE. Uniquely, tombs were carved into the rock above the theater's upper seating tiers, creating a striking blend of entertainment and burial architecture.

   The Royal Tombs: Four massive facades carved high into the cliff face of Jabal al-Khubtha. The Urn Tomb, Silk Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, and Palace Tomb each showcase different architectural styles and levels of preservation. The Urn Tomb was later converted into a Byzantine church in 446 CE, and you can still see the arched openings of the church interior.

   The Colonnaded Street: The main civic thoroughfare of Nabataean and Roman Petra, lined with columns and the ruins of markets, temples, and public buildings. At the western end stands the Qasr al-Bint temple, one of the few freestanding structures in Petra (most are carved into cliff faces). This temple to the Nabataean god Dushara survived because of its massive stone blocks.

   Your guide explains how the Nabataeans controlled the incense and spice trade routes connecting Arabia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean. At its peak around 1 CE, Petra was home to 20,000-30,000 people who engineered an ingenious water management system in the middle of a desert, channeling rainfall through dams, cisterns, and ceramic pipes.

8. 15:30 PM · 45 minLate Lunch at a Local Restaurant

   A late lunch is included in your Petra 2 day tour from Eilat (Jordanian cuisine: grilled meats, rice, salads, hummus, flatbread). This meal is served at a restaurant near the Petra visitor center.

9. 16:30 PMHotel Check-in and Free Evening

   Transfer to your hotel in Petra/Wadi Musa for check-in. The standard accommodation on the Petra 2 day tour from Eilat is a 3-star hotel (Oscar Hotel, Venus Hotel, or similar). Upgrades to 4-star (Petra Moon, Old Village Resort) or 5-star (Movenpick Resort Petra) are available on request for a supplement.

10. Day 2Exploration and Return to Eilat
11. 07:00 AM · 45 minBreakfast at Hotel

    Enjoy breakfast at your hotel (included in accommodation).

12. 08:00 AM · 4 hoursReturn to Petra for Free Exploration

    The Petra 2 day tour from Eilat gives you the entire morning for independent exploration of the archaeological park. This is the real advantage of a 2-day tour: you re-enter Petra with your multi-day ticket and explore at your own pace without a guide or group schedule.

    Recommended: Hike to the Monastery (Ad Deir)

    The Monastery is Petra's largest and arguably most impressive monument, even bigger than the Treasury at 47 meters wide and 48 meters tall. It's reached by climbing approximately 800 rock-cut steps up a mountainside trail (30-45 minutes up, 20-30 minutes down). The effort is rewarded with a massive facade that few day-trippers ever see, plus spectacular panoramic views over the Wadi Araba valley.

    Alternatively, explore areas you didn't reach on Day 1: the High Place of Sacrifice (mountain-top altar with 360-degree views), the Tomb of the Roman Soldier, the Garden Temple, or the less-visited trails toward Little Petra.

13. 12:00 PM · 2.5 hoursDepart Petra for Return to Eilat

    Meet your driver at the Petra visitor center. Board the vehicle for the return drive south to the Arava border. The Petra 2 day tour from Eilat follows the same Desert Highway route back, with a brief stop en route if needed.

14. 14:30 PM · 45 minArava Border Crossing Back to Israel

    Cross back into Israel at the Arava border. The return crossing is typically faster (30-45 minutes). An Israeli-side representative meets you and assists with the process.

15. 15:30 PMDrop-off in Eilat

    The Petra 2 day tour from Eilat concludes with drop-off at your hotel or a central point in Eilat. You're back in Israel by mid-afternoon with the rest of the day free.

    If you're continuing your Eilat vacation, consider our Eilat day tours for Red Canyon, Timna Park, or snorkeling in the Red Sea. If you're heading north, check our Masada and Dead Sea tour or Jerusalem Full Day Tour from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

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What's included

Pickup & meeting point

Know before you go

Cancellation policy

This tour includes flights or accommodation that are booked for you as soon as you book, so it is non-refundable, including no-shows. Border and visa fees are also non-refundable once paid. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. If we cancel or materially change the tour, you can choose an alternative date, a credit or a full refund. Read the booking terms.

Frequently asked questions