2-Day Petra Tour from Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, Israel
- 2 days (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit Jerash and Petra, and enjoy a driving tour of Amman, on a 2-day trip from Tel Aviv that includes a night at a Bedouin camp in the Jordanian desert. Combining the ancient sites makes the most of your time on the road, and pre-booked transport helps ensure a smooth border crossing as you travel from Israel to Jordan, where you find Roman ruins, a hilltop citadel, and a stone city with fascinating history.
- Itinerary includes two UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Cultural experience: eat dinner around a Bedouin campfire
- Travel in a climate-controlled van to stay cool and comfortable
- Meals, accommodations, and entrance fees included
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Guided Tour
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance Fees
- Accommodation in a Bedouin-Style Campsite
- Custom Made Travel App. for Smartphones and Tablets
- Lunch (2)Lunch
- Other Food and Drinks
- Israeli Border Taxes (196 ILS)
- Jordanian Border Taxes (50 JOD), Payable Only in Cash
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Gratitudes
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Abraham Tel AvivHaRakevet St 8, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Upon arrival, please enter the lobby of Abraham Tel Aviv (Abraham Hostel).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Day 1
Madaba and Mount Nebo
6 Stops
Tel Aviv-Yafo (Pass By)
1
King Hussein Bridge Border Crossing
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Mount Nebo
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Madaba
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Shobak Castle
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
5
Wadi Musa
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Accommodation: Overnight at a Bedouin-Style Campsite
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
Petra
3 Stops
1
Wadi Musa
6 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
King Hussein Bridge Border Crossing
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Tel Aviv-Yafo (Pass By)
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Israeli Citizens: Please note that this tour is not available to Israeli passport holders (Even if you hold an additional passport).
- No pre-arranged visa is required for certain nationalities (It will be issued at the border crossing). However, please make sure you know about your country's visa restrictions, as residents of some countries need to apply in advance. In addition, ensure that you're eligible for a visa on arrival for re-entering Israel, or, already have a multiple entry visa in advance.
- Israeli border taxes can be paid in ILS, Euro or USD (Credit card or cash).
- Jordanian border taxes can be paid only in JOD (Cash only).
- Currency exchange is availble on the Israeli side of the border.
- Solo Travelers: It is likely you will need to share a room with a person of the same gender (Depending on group size).
- Valid Passports (Original, not a copy), Hats, Sunscreen, Comfortable Shoes, Scarfs/Shawls, Warm clothes for night and Drinking Water are required.
- Please notice that certain religious clothing and objects can create issues for travelers at the border crossing. If you wish to bring such items, please consult prior to departure.
- Forbidden items in Jordan: Drones (Any size), telescopes and telephoto cameras with zoom lenses (Higher than 1000mm).
- Please be aware that some sites may be closed, or visiting times shortened, during Muslim holidays (Especially Ramadan).
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 47 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.4
based on 50 reviews
Ivan_N, Jan 2026
I am giving this tour five stars exclusively because of how the Jordanian side operated. The Jordanian part of the trip was outstanding: an extremely professional guide, absolutely no hidden fees, everything transparent and clearly explained, free water throughout the journey, a calm and very careful driver, strict organization, safety, and a genuine sense of care. Truly top-level service.
However, the overall experience was quite horrific, and I cannot recommend it to anyone. On the contrary, I feel compelled to advise people to stay away and choose a different option. The problem lies entirely in the organization of the tour itself.
We chose this tour for two reasons.
First, because it promised extensive sightseeing, including a significant amount of time in Petra — which is vast and deserves a thorough, unhurried visit.
Second, because this is an Israeli company (Abraham Hostel / Abraham Tours), and Israel is known for its understanding of security. We expected safety and professionalism.
Both expectations failed immediately due to poor planning.
The core issue is the Allenby Bridge border crossing.
We spent around four hours crossing the border into Jordan and almost three hours crossing back. This was at a border crossing that was filthy, overcrowded, badly maintained, foul-smelling, deeply uncomfortable, stressful, and frankly unsafe.
On the Jordanian side, staff actually tried to help us and speed things up.
On the Israeli side, we were locked inside a minibus, not allowed to use a toilet, with a visibly irritated driver, no communication, no care — just waiting.
To be clear: we spent more total time at the border than in Petra itself, more than at all other stops combined.
One location from the itinerary — the Crusader castle — was skipped entirely, though by that point it barely mattered. The only concern was not losing Petra altogether.
Only later did we learn that this border crossing is not only extremely overloaded and unpleasant, but also closes at 6 PM and shuts down for Shabbat. As soon as we met the Jordanian team, we were told our time would be cut short and that we would have to return around midnight.
As a result, we drove all the way through Jordan, arrived late, slept for about five hours, then woke up at 5:30 AM and rushed to Petra by 6:00.
Yes, this had one advantage: we saw Petra at sunrise, empty of tourists. That was beautiful.
But we paid for time — for six hours in Petra, calmly and properly. In reality, you get maybe three hours at best, and only if you are lucky with your guide (as we were).
The rush happens because everyone is panicking about making it back to the border before it closes. At any moment, the Israeli side may shut down, and you simply won’t make it through.
The emotional and physical toll was severe. The entire experience was exhausting, stressful, frightening, and deeply unpleasant. People returned barely functional — sleeping in minibuses, unable to eat properly, stiff necks, complete exhaustion.
Again, the Jordanian side was wonderful: excellent food, warm hospitality, no tipping expectations at all. We wanted to tip the guide, but he disappeared quickly — clearly distressed by how much time we had lost. He made sure we were transported and left. We never saw him again, nor the Jordanian driver, though we truly wished we could thank them.
On the Israeli side, things deteriorated further. We were driven to Jerusalem and then simply put into a regular taxi. The driver spent the entire ride pushing additional services, complaining about money, and generally behaving in a way that felt like a scam — exactly the kind of situation we had hoped to avoid by choosing an Israeli company.
Later, when we described this experience to others, we were told we were essentially crazy for agreeing to this route. Over the past year alone, there have been terrorist attacks and killings of Israeli border guards at the Allenby crossing. It is one of the most tense and sensitive crossings in the region, heavily monitored because goods — and far more dangerous things — pass through it toward Palestinian territories. That is why inspections are slow and strict, and why no tourist fast-tracking exists.
The next day, we crossed into Egypt via Eilat. The border control took 10 minutes. It was calm, clean, civilized. Israeli friends later told us that any sensible tour should use a 24/7 border crossing, especially since Petra is actually closer from there.
This leads to an unavoidable conclusion:
Abraham Hostel / Abraham Tours appears to be cutting costs.
Transporting people through Jordan is cheap. Transporting them across Israel to Eilat is expensive. So they choose the nearest border, regardless of comfort, safety, stress levels, or the core promise of the tour.
This comes at the cost of:
• safety
• physical well-being
• psychological comfort
• and, most importantly, the main experience — Petra itself
Even worse, the day before the tour, we received instructions explaining how to get out of the Allenby crossing on our own if there were delays. That alone destroys any sense of security or support. You feel that you may simply be abandoned at a dangerous border crossing — for this price.
We paid primarily for safety and six calm hours in Petra.
Instead, we spent six hours at border control, were driven endlessly across Jordan, slept in vehicles, barely functioned physically, and saw far less of Petra than promised.
I strongly recommend Jordanian tours directly — perhaps even flying to Oman and entering Jordan from there, or taking a tour from Eilat. Jordan itself felt safe, organized, and professional.
But I urge everyone to stay away from Abraham Hostel / Abraham Tours for Petra trips, especially via the Allenby crossing. This route is unsafe, poorly planned, and does not deliver what is promised.
We are not asking for a refund. We are grateful for the adventure and deeply thankful to the Jordanian team. But it is painful to realize that the people who truly cared for us were not the ones we paid — while the organizers simply ordered taxis and sent us through a dangerous, high-risk border crossing.
Five stars for Jordan.
A serious warning to everyone else.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Dear Ivan
Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We truly appreciate feedback that addresses the experience honestly and in depth - and we are especially grateful that, despite everything, you still chose to give the tour five stars.
This tour has been operating in its current format for over 10 years, in close and exclusive partnership with our Jordanian team. We are very glad to hear that your experience on the Jordanian side was so positive - our partners there truly provide outstanding service, and your kind words are well deserved.
You are absolutely right that the border crossing is the most challenging part of this trip. This has been further affected by the circumstances of the past year, which we believe are temporary. Unfortunately, aside from the Egypt border - which is exceptional - none of the crossings to Jordan currently operate 24/7, unlike the situation prior to October 7th.
Within these limitations, many of which are beyond our control, we do our best to coordinate closely on both sides, provide clear pre-tour information, and plan the schedule to maximize time in Jordan. We also open a dedicated WhatsApp group with both our Israeli and Jordanian operations teams to support travelers throughout the journey. Sadly, regulations do not allow staff to accompany the group through the border itself.
Regarding the route: the choice to use the Allenby crossing is not a cost-saving decision, but rather an attempt to reduce overall driving time and allow more time in Jordan. Unfortunately, on your travel day, unusual delays prevented this from happening.
We sincerely apologize for your experience with the taxi driver on the return to Tel Aviv. This does not reflect our service standards, and that driver will no longer work with us.
Thank you again for your honest and respectful feedback. It helps us continue improving this complex tour, and we truly appreciate you sharing it with us.
Diogo_N, Aug 2023
Loved it, totally worth it, one in a life experience! Going and sleeping at the desert and then seeing Petra was amazing, the guide was wonderful, the place we stayed was great too, would recommend for sure
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Diogo,
Thank you so much! We hope to see you on more adventures with us soon!
Best,
Ryan_M, Aug 2023
Awesome trip. So memorable. The structures look so great. The Bedouin camp was very awesome. The guide was great. Overall awesome
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Ryan,
Thank you so much for the great review! We're so pleased you enjoyed your time, and look forward to having you with us again soon.
Therese_S, Jul 2023
Fabulous trip, very well organised! Border went very well. Everything explained. Don’t change money there as bad exchange rate, tour guide took money later in the day for Jordanian border visa. Lots of opportunities to change money on trip. If you get Madhi as tour guide you are in for a treat!! He made the trip for us.
Bedouin camp was great, basic but comfortable. Petra was amazing, got the monastery & the caves & the scenery foto of the Treasury on the cliff done. Madhi explains so well about the time& helps you choose what you want to do. They take dollars& euros as well as Jordanian dollars of course in Petra. Food through out trip was plentiful & fine. Do this tour, you will not be disappointed, I recommend it 120 out of 100!!
Jared_S, May 2023
Great tour guide (Mahdi). Cool campground with beautiful views of rock formations, and exceptional food. And overall a highly recommended site visit. It’s a lot to pack in two days, but well worth the time and money.
Kelly_S, Aug 2022
There isn’t enough I can say about this trip. The sites were amazing, the camp was wonderful and the guide (Mahdi) - wow! My son celebrated his 11th birthday on the first day of the trip. After the guide discovered it was his birthday, unbeknownst to us, he arranged for a surprise at the Bedouin camp. At dinner, they turned out all the lights, brought out a cake and sang happy birthday. Throughout the day, he received gifts from the guide, the driver and several shops we stopped in. Madhi made this an experience my son will never forget. As for the sites, Madhi had a ton of detail and interesting stories to share about all of the locations. He provided excellent direction on how to make the most of our time at Petra and work with the locals. I would take this tour again in a heartbeat.
Julie_G, Feb 2020
Sooo glad we took this tour. Full of wonderful surprises. Once we got thru the very tedious process of Jordanian border control it was smooth & so professionally conducted. Our fabulous guide, Abdullah, certainly went the extra mile to make sure we were all comfortable. He is a very knowledgeable man & we learned so much. The driver certainly knew the roads & as we put on the miles, our family of four very appreciative of his efforts, too. Highly recommend this tour & all concerned to make it work so well. Jordan is my 53rd country. Astoundingly beautiful. Don't miss this well-valued trip.
Response from Host, Mar 2020
Thanks for your review, we really appreciate it. So glad that you had a great time on the 2 day Jordan Tour. Our knowledgeable guides are an essential part of the Jordan experience!
Raymond, Feb 2020
Quick And interesting tour, it is really worth it for the price, we received a lot of informations along the way. A big congratulation to our guide in Jordan mister Mahdi
KimP1200, Jul 2019
One of the 8 wonders of the world that's so worth making the trip for. The natural rock formations leading into the main attraction made the journey the more stunning in my opinion. To see the Treasury at the end of the walk was absolutely breathtaking. Beware of the sun exposure and the 8km return journey if you intend to see the Monastery at the north west corner of the site, there is a moderate climb to the Monastery.
Alternative modes of transport include donkey, camel and horse carriage if walking is not doable. The donkeys will even climb the steps to and from the Monastery. Beware the insistent locals offering goods and services in the valley.
We arrived to site at 7.30am making the stroll bearable as it wasn't the hottest time of day. It's a decent walk to the Treasury so be prepared. The ground is mostly sand and loose rocks so proper walking/hiking boots are optimal. There are little stores along the way to buy water and supplies if you've not come prepared.
If there is a next time, I would love to see the Treasury at night candle lit, albeit missing out on the full beauty of natural rock ravine leading to it.
The attractiveness of the tour was not having to worry about getting to Petra. The interchange between Israel and Jordan borders took longer than expected however, firstly due to another tourist's trouble exiting Israel and secondly the process for the group staying in Jordan for only 2 days (when a visa is needed) as opposed to staying for 3 or more days when a visa is NOT needed. Kamal, our experienced tour guide tried to expedite the process but still took over an hour each side of the border. We were also not fully informed of exit and entry border fees, so there was last minute currency exchange at the Jordan border. FYI - to exit Israel, it's ILS102 per person, to enter Jordan, it's JD40, to exit Jordan it's another JD10.
Even though we left Tel Aviv at 6.30am, our Jordan tour didn't start until 11.30am after all border crossings were completed. It felt somewhat a waste of half a day.
**spoiler alert** The best surprise of the tour for me was the ancient Rome city of Jerash, magnificently preserved and maintained, absolutely worth the scorching sun to walk the site for 90 minutes. Being a history fan, I found it fascinating and jaw dropping the level of restoration that has been done.
morty56scott, May 2019
Such an incredible journey! A few great stops along the way. The best guides I have ever had for anything. Food was fantastic . Crossing the border is a bit of a headache with many checkpoints and delays so be prepared for some waiting but it is all worth it in the end to walk through Petra. It is doable to see the Monastery as well as the top view of treasury within 5 hour period...
Edwin_S, Oct 2023
El tour es muy bueno, el guía muy amable y con mucho conocimiento.
Hay que tener en cuenta que de 2 días sólo 6 horas son para pasar en Petra, el primer día es el traslado con visita a otros lugares, como se menciona en el desglose del tour, pero creo es mejor que la opción de 1 día, el traslado es cansado.
En definitiva lo único que a mi parecer es lo malo del tour, es que se tiene convenio con lugares para que se realicen compras de recuerdos, sitios donde los precios son demasiado altos.
Recomendación, no comprar en los sitios donde te lleva el guía, hazlo en los tiendas del camino o en la misma Petra, pero siempre negocia el precio, los vendedores abusan mucho de tu estatus de turista.
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