Why visit one country when you could see two? If you’re in Israel you can make a side trip to Petra in Jordan. Even if you can only spare one day it is still possible to visit Petra from Tel Aviv. Petra! It is a breathtaking, eye-poping wonder of the ancient world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that should not be missed. You just need to decide how you want to travel. Here are some useful tips and advice on choosing the best way to get to Petra from Tel Aviv.
1-Day Group Tours from Tel Aviv to Petra With Flights or By Bus
If your time is limited you can take a 1-day group tour to Petra from Tel Aviv. The 1-day group tours include a flight or a bus ride to Eilat where you cross the border into Jordan. For both these options the tours start early in the morning. The bus tours leave Tel Aviv at about 02:00-03:00 in the morning and the tours including flights take off at about 06:30. Once you arrive in Eilat, the tour will take you to the border and cross into Jordan. The tour then continues on the Desert Highway to Petra.
Multi-Day Group Tours from Tel Aviv to Petra
On a 2-day Petra group tour the first day consists of a guided tour of Petra and an overnight stay in a hotel in Wadi Musa near Petra. The second day is free in Petra so that you can explore on your own. Some 2-day tours include a night’s accommodation in Eilat and a free day in Eilat and then a tour of Petra on the second day. If you have more time, there are 3-4 day group tours to Petra. The longer tours include visits to other sites in Jordan in addition to Petra.
Pros:
- All the logistic details are taken care of for you.
- The border crossing bureaucracy is taken care of for you.
- No need to stand in line to buy your tickets when you arrive in Petra.
- With a guided tour you will learn about the structures you see in Petra.
- Lunch in a local restaurant is included.
- Although tours might seem expensive you have to add up all the individual costs of transport, entrance fees, etc to see that tours to Petra are cheaper than going alone.
Cons:
- If you’re simply someone who needs to do your own thing then organized tours are not for you. Consider taking the 2-day tour so that you have one day with the guide and one day to explore Petra on your own.
Cost of an Organized Group Tour from Tel Aviv to Petra
(at the time of writing)
Tel Aviv to Petra 1-Day Tour with Flights – $399
Tel Aviv to Petra 1-Day Tour by Bus – $299
Tel Aviv to Petra Multi-Day Tours From $379
In addition, you will have to pay the border fees of approximately $140. These fees are paid by all travelers whether in a group or traveling independently from Israel to Jordan and include the visa, plus the exit and entry fee.
Tips for Tours from Tel Aviv to Petra
- Check whether your chosen tour includes the cost of the flight or not.
- The border fees are not usually included in the price of the tour.
- If you have any doubts about your passport, and your eligibility to enter Jordan, talk to the tour operator.
- Remember that with most 1-day tours, there is no hotel pick-up so you will have to get to Ben Gurion for the flight, or to the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station for the bus tour. If you’ve opted for a 3-4 day tour it probably will include hotel pick-up.
- It may be possible to arrange a private guided tour through one of Israel’s tour companies.
Getting from Tel Aviv to Petra Independently
It is possible to travel from Israel to Petra without a tour. It will take some organization but it is possible. Each leg of the journey from Tel Aviv to Petra needs to be planned – from Tel Aviv to Eilat, from Eilat to the border, from the border to Petra, and then the same route back at the end of the trip. Although you could do it in a day, it is highly recommended to spend two days on this side trip. Otherwise, you will be in transit for most of your trip and only have a couple of hours in Petra before you have to start heading back to Tel Aviv.
Getting to the Israel-Jordan Border Crossing
Of the three border crossings between Israel and Jordan, the Wadi Arava crossing ( Rabin Border Crossing) near Eilat is the most convenient for reaching Petra So you need to start your journey by getting from Tel Aviv to Eilat. You could drive, fly, or take the bus to Eilat.
Tel-Aviv-Eilat by Bus: Take Egged #390 bus or the #394-night bus from Tel Aviv New Central Bus Station or the HaHagana train station. You can travel to the Central Bus Station in Eilat or get off at the Rabin Border Terminal bus stop. From there it is a 1.5km walk to the crossing. The bus from Tel Aviv to Eilat takes 5-6 hours, and the first-morning bus leaves at 05:00, getting you to Eilat at about 10:30. You should reserve your bus seat online, especially in the high season.
Tel-Aviv-Eilat by Air: Take a taxi or train from your hotel in Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport and from there, it is an hour’s flight to Eilat’s Ramon Airport. The Ramon Airport is about 20km outside of Eilat. From Ramon Airport take a taxi to the crossing. You could take bus #30 from the airport to Eilat Central Bus Station or the Rabin Border Terminal bus stop, and walk 1.5km to the crossing.
Tel-Aviv-Eilat by Car: The drive from Tel-Aviv to Eilat takes about 4.5 hours. You can drive directly to the Arava Crossing. There is no official parking lot on the Israeli side of the crossing but there is a gravel lot where people can park at their own risk. You cannot drive a rented car across the border.
Getting from the Israeli-Jordan Border Crossing to Petra
There is no public bus service from the Jordan side of the Arava border to Petra. But there are usually taxis waiting to pick up fares. You have the option of taking a taxi to the Aqaba Central Bus Station and from there taking the 2-hour bus journey to Petra. Or you could take a taxi from the border crossing to Petra, which takes about 2.5 hours. Make sure that you negotiate the price before getting into the taxi. It is also possible to arrange for a Jordanian guide and driver to pick you up at the border.
Pros:
- Great for those who love freedom and adventure and don’t mind the inconvenience of planning their transportation.
- If you have enough time you can take this type of journey at your leisure, and stay overnight in Wadi Musa. Traveling independently works best when you have a few days to spare.
- If you take the bus from Tel Aviv and if you share a taxi on the Jordan side, you could cut costs.
Cons:
- It is safer to travel with an organized tour.
- You will not have the assistance of a tour guide when you come to the border.
- You have to rely on public transport.
- You will not have a guide to take you through Petra. Although there are guides available at the entrance to Petra, it will be up to you to avoid scams and negotiate the price.
Cost of Traveling from Tel Aviv to Petra Independently
(At the time of writing) Depending on the route you have chosen you can use these figures to make an approximate calculation of the cost of your trip.
Bus from Tel Aviv to Eilat one-way is approximately $25
Flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat one-way $110-$190
Taxi from Eilat Central Bus Station to the Arava border one-way $10
Taxi from Ramon Airport to the Arava border one-way $25-$40
Bus from Ramon Airport to the border/Eilat Central Bus Station about $2 (6-7 ILS)
Taxi Arava border crossing to Aqaba bus station one-way $15
Bus from Aqaba to Petra one-way $14 or return $20
Taxi from the Arava border crossing to Petra approximately one way $75
Entrance to Petra 90 JD ($127)
Rental Car from $40 per day not including comprehensive insurance and gas.
Gas from Tel Aviv to Eilat, one-way approximately $72
Fees for crossing the border (see below)
Tips for Traveling Independently from Tel Aviv to Petra
- If you have an Israeli passport you need to show a travel “manifest” at the border. This can be arranged through a Jordanian tour company. You need to show your booking confirmation for a hotel in Jordan, and proof that you have hired a Jordanian guide.
- Crossing the border in a rented vehicle or an Israeli taxi is not permitted
- If you plan to stay in Jordan for more than 2 nights you will be given a free visa.
- Petra Archaeological Park open hours: Summer 06:00-18:00. Winter 06:00-16:00
- If you are staying overnight in Jordan then the entrance to Petra is 55 JD for the first day, 55 JD for the second day, and 60 JD for the third day.
- At the border, there may be a wait of up to an hour while your papers are being checked on both sides of the border.
Arava Border Crossing
Open Hours: Sun-Thur 06:30-20:00, Fri & Sat 08:00-20:00. Open every day of the year except Yom Kippur and Hijra New Year. Passenger vehicles can cross until 19:00.
Necessary Documents: A passport valid for the next 6 months and with at least one blank page. Israelis will need a travel manifest. Visitors from restricted countries will need a pre-arranged visa and cannot get a visa at the border.
Jordan Visa: Tourists traveling with Israeli tour groups are granted a visa on arrival at the crossing. Tourists from some countries need to pre-arrange a tourist visa at any Jordan Embassy. Check this list to see if you need a pre-arranged visa. If you are from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries then you do not need a pre-arranged visa and can be issued a visa at the border. It is best to pay your border fees with cash.
Cost of Crossing from Israel to Jordan at the Arava Border Crossing:
Border crossing tax (when departing from Israel): 105 ILS( $30)
Visa: 40 JD ($60)
Departure Tax (when departing from Jordan): 10JD ($15)
The shuttle bus that takes you from the Israeli border terminus to the Jordan terminus 5ILS ($1.5)
Jordan Pass: A Jordan Pass is a tourist discount card that grants you discounts to over 40 attractions. But for tourists traveling from Tel Aviv to Petra, the real bonus is that a Jordan Pass qualifies you for a free visa. The Jordan Pass must be purchased online before you travel and you must stay in Jordan for a minimum of 3 days. It costs 70 JD.
