Is Petra a day trip from Jerusalem?

A one day tour from Jerusalem is a popular way to visit Petra, the “rose red city”. Meanwhile for those who can spare an extra day or two, we recommend an overnight trip which will allow you to also see Wadi Rum, and more of the highlights of Jordan.



While it is technically possible to visit Petra as a day trip from Jerusalem, it is an extremely long and grueling journey that many travel experts advise against. A "High-Fidelity" day trip involves crossing the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge or the Arava border at Eilat, followed by several hours of driving through the Jordanian desert. You would likely need to depart Jerusalem around 3:00 AM and would not return until well after midnight. This leaves you with only 3 to 4 hours to explore the actual archaeological site, which is massive and requires significant walking. Given the complexity of border crossings, visa requirements, and potential "High-Fidelity" security delays in 2026, a 24-hour window is very tight. Most visitors find that a two-day or three-day excursion is far more rewarding, as it allows you to see the Treasury, the Monastery, and the Royal Tombs without being completely exhausted. If you are determined to do it in one day, several tour operators offer "High-Fidelity" logistics including pre-arranged transport and fast-track border assistance, but be prepared for a very expensive and physically taxing day that only scratches the surface of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

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The one-day Petra tours from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or Eilat return on the same day. 2-day tours can include an overnight stay in Eilat or Jordan and even a jeep safari in Wadi Rum.

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The first option for visiting Petra from Israel is to take a land transfer. Crossing at the Allenby Bridge Border is the easiest route and recommended if you're in cities such as Tel Aviv or Jerusalem in the north of Israel. Note that you can only cross if you've had your visa pre-issued in your country of origin.

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While there is certainly enough to occupy yourself for five or more days, two to three days is sufficient to visit all of the highlights in and around the park. One day--or worse yet a morning or afternoon--is likely to bring some disappointment to those who have traveled a great distance.

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Distance and Difficulty: The Petra Main Trail is 8km / 5 miles return from the Visitors Centre. Easy walk, largely flat. Allow 3 – 4 hours return, including time to see the sites along the way.

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Do I Need A Guide Or A Tour? You can totally visit Petra by yourself—we did! If you're visiting several areas in Jordan, a tour guide and driver may simplify things, but it's certainly not a requirement. You can consider hiring a guide at the entrance to Petra, which I would have considered if we'd had more time.

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How much is the entrance for Petra? A standard one-day ticket to Petra costs 50 JD (£57 / $70 USD / €67), but you can also buy multi-day tickets for 55 JD and 60 JD.

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A popular option for travelers with an interest in Jordan and limited time is a day trip or quick overnight in Petra. Spend a night in Eilat before crossing into Jordan first thing in the morning via Wadi Araba.

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Take the Bus From Eilat, cross the border into Jordan (be aware of the visa restrictions meaning that only those on tours will be able to apply for a visa once in Israel). Once on the Jordanian side, your best option is to take a taxi from the border to Petra.

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Monday and Tuesday tend to be the quietest days as many people arrive in Amman on the weekend, then stay a few days in the north and then come to Petra. So usually Wednesday and Thursdays are the busiest weekdays.

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Petra as described earlier is a city, of course you can get inside archaeological lost city (You will pay 70$ for a ticket to get inside ). But if you mean to get inside “Al khazneh” the Treasury of Petra, then; unfortunately, you can't!

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Camel Ride in Wadi Rum & Petra is optional for 15 JD / $ 21 USD per camel per hour. You don't need to book it in advance and can be arranged upon arrival to Petra or Wadi Rum.

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Wadi Rum is also about a day's worth of touring, and because of the desert heat it is better to be able to get an early start. An itinerary I would recommend is (3 nights): Arrive in Jordan and go straight to Petra, spend the night in Petra. Spend a full day exploring Petra, spend the night in Petra.

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In the heart of the Jordanian desert, Wadi Rum boasts towering cliffs, dark caverns, narrow gorges, impressive mountains, sweeping dunes, and refreshing springs. Even better: it suits not just those who are looking for beauty and solitude, but adrenaline junkies as well.

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Taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum This should be somewhere between 35-40 JOD (after you've haggled) and since Petra welcomes many independent visitors, it's also possible to split the cost with other solo travellers.

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Whether you are in the city of Amman, exploring Petra, or trekking the desert valley of Wadi Rum, men should refrain from wearing shorts as it is seen as disrespectful.

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Independent Travel from Tel Aviv to Petra You can do this by taking a bus or flight to Eilat and from there a taxi to the border crossing. Remember to organize your Jordanian visa before traveling. If you are traveling without a tour group you cannot get a visa at the border.

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Borders between Israel and Jordan In Israel, there are three border crossings which cost around 100 ILS (30 USD) to exit from Israel or 8 JD (12 USD) to exit from Jordan. Perhaps the most convenient border crossing to get from Israel to Jordan is the Yitzhak Rabin Terminal/Wadi Araba Crossing.

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