Petra and Wadi Rum: My Epic 2-Day Jordan Tour from Tel Aviv
If anyone asks me what’s been the most incredible trip I’ve ever taken, my Jordan tour from Tel Aviv back in April 2023 easily tops the list. It was an intense but rewarding journey filled with unforgettable landscapes and cultural moment that I would recommend everyone to experience it at least once! Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We joined a two-day Petra and Wadi Rum tour with Tourist Israel, starting from Tel Aviv. The itinerary covered Jordan’s most iconic highlights in a short but powerful format.
Day-by-Day ItineraryDay 1: Aqaba & Wadi Rum
The day started early at 02:00 transfering from Tel Aviv through the Negev Desert to the Arava border crossing in Eilat. Once in Jordan, Aqaba was our first stop was for a short break and time to explore the local markets.
In the afternoon we transferred to Wadi Rum and began our adventure. We set off on a thrilling jeep safari through the surreal red desert landscape, also known as the Red Desert. If you’re a Star Wars fan, this place is a must-visit. The scenery looks straight out of a movie set.
We checked into a Bedouin camp around 18:00. The accommodation was deluxe, with a proper bed, private bathroom, electricity, heating, and air conditioning. We concluded that it wasn’t worth paying extra for the igloo, as the only difference was the open ceiling, hardly justifying the significant price difference.
After settling in, we were treated to an authentic Jordanian dinner with traditional Zarb (Bedouin barbecue), salads, spreads, and bread. There was also traditional music and dancing, a beautiful moment to bond with fellow travelers and truly connect with the culture. The cherry on top? Stargazing in the desert. An absolutely magical experience.
Day 2: Petra
Another day, another early but rewarding start. We began with a sunrise camel ride through the red desert. Watching the landscape slowly light up and the red tones come to life was absolutely incredible, easily one of the most breathtaking sunrises I’ve ever seen. After that unforgettable experience, we had breakfast at the Bedouin camp. At 08:00, we headed toward Petra, with a quick view of Mount Haroun on the way.
Here’s where things got wild, we didn’t do much research and simply trusted the tour. Turns out, Petra is massive. With only a few hours to explore, we had no choice but to rent donkeys for a couple of hours to get through the main highlights quickly. Guided by Mohammed, we raced through the city in under two hours. It was intense (a little scary at times), but absolutely unforgettable. I’d still rent a donkey again, though finding the same Mohammed? Highly unlikely.
We saw Petra’s major highlights including the Siq, the Treasury, the Mountaintop Tombs, and the Theater. We only saw the Royal Tombs from afar, but spent about 30 minutes at the Treasury. It’s hard to say what impressed us more.
At 17:30, we met at the exit and began our journey back to Tel Aviv, reaching the border by 18:30. By 01:30 am, we were back in Tel Aviv, exhausted but so, so happy.
Petra was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip. Entering this ancient city, one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’, felt unreal. After returning to Tel Aviv, we continued our adventures visiting Nazareth and Jerusalem, but I’ll save those experiences for another blog post.
This trip was genuinely unforgettable, a bucket-list experience fully checked off, and something I’d gladly repeat!
Check out the exact tour we did here.
Quick tips
- Petra can feel overwhelming with vendors who see tourists as “walking wallets.” Be firm, polite, and ready to negotiate prices.
- Looking back, I highly recommend dedicating at least two days to Petra. It’s enormous, and one extra day allows for a more relaxed and comprehensive exploration. Extending your stay by one day doesn’t significantly increase the cost, considering the Jordan entry fees are already quite high and you skip them if you stay for longer.
- We booked through Tourist Israel, which provided hassle-free transportation, entry fees, and guided tours.
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