Petra day trip from Sharm el Sheikh: ferry, guide & lunch

Walk the Sik to Petra's Treasury, then explore the Royal Tombs and Roman Theater with a guide

A day trip from Sharm el Sheikh to Petra, Jordan by ferry, includes hotel pickup, a professional English-, Arabic- or Russian-speaking guide, entry to all monuments, and lunch at a local restaurant. The itinerary covers the Sik gorge, the Treasury, Façades Street, the Royal Tombs and Qasr al-Bint, with an hour of free time in Aqaba on the return. The full day runs 22 hours from hotel pickup to return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Petra day trip from Sharm el Sheikh

• Pick up from hotel
• Transfer to Taba port
• Board ferry to Aqaba
• Meet tour guide in Aqaba
• Drive to Petra
• Walk or ride horse through the Siq
• Visit the Treasury
• Explore Fassaden-Straße
• See Roman Theater
• Visit Royal Tombs
• See Qasr al-Bint
• Enjoy lunch buffet in Petra
• Drive back to Aqaba
• Free time for shopping in Aqaba
• Return to Aqaba port
• Ferry back to Taba
• Transfer to hotel

The Experience

You're picked up from your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh and driven to Taba port, where you board a ferry to Aqaba. After crossing, a 40-minute drive brings you inland to Petra, where your guide meets you. The walk through the Sik—a narrow rock gorge—opens onto the Treasury, the carved limestone facade that anchors the site. From there the route continues along Façades Street past the Roman Theater, the Royal Tombs and Qasr al-Bint, the temple at the valley's far end. Your guide handles the narrative; you choose whether to walk or ride a horse through the gorge itself.

Lunch is an open buffet at a restaurant in Petra, included in the price. Afterward, the drive back to Aqaba gives you an hour to shop or walk the waterfront before heading to the port for the return ferry to Taba. The transfer meets you at the port and takes you back to your hotel, completing the full loop.

The ferry crossing is the defining shape of this day—it means you leave from Sharm el Sheikh without a long overland drive, and it means you see Aqaba, a port city on the Red Sea, on both legs. The 22-hour window is long, but most of it is travel; the actual time at Petra runs from late morning through early afternoon. Children from age 3 are welcome, and strollers work for parts of the site, though the Sik itself requires walking or a horse.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Sharm el Sheikh.
• ferry passage to and from Aqaba.
• professional guide in English, Arabic or Russian.
• entry to all Petra monuments including the Treasury, Roman Theater, Royal Tombs and Qasr al-Bint.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Book Tour Egypt

Is this one for you?Book from Sharm el Sheikh if you want to reach Petra without a long overland drive—the ferry cuts the travel time and adds Aqaba as a second destination. The 22-hour day is long, but most of it is the ferry and transfers; the actual time exploring Petra runs from late morning through lunch. Children from age 3 are welcome, and strollers work for parts of the route, though the Sik gorge itself requires walking or a horse ride.

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Top questions

What is the Treasury at Petra and why is it the main stop on this tour?

The Treasury is the most recognizable monument at Petra—a massive facade carved directly into the rose-red cliff face, about 40 meters high, with an ornate entrance that opens onto an inner chamber. It's the first major sight you reach after walking through the Sik gorge, and the tour centers on it because it's the most photographed and visited part of the site.

How long do I actually spend walking around Petra itself?

The itinerary covers the Sik, the Treasury, Façades Street, the Roman Theater, the Royal Tombs and Qasr al-Bint. The walking and exploration happen between your arrival in late morning and lunch, then you return to Aqaba afterward. The exact pace depends on your guide and how long you linger at each stop, but the site visit is the core of the day.

Can I ride a horse through the Sik instead of walking?

Yes, horses are available for the Sik gorge itself. You can walk or ride; the choice is yours once you arrive. The rest of the route—Façades Street and the monuments beyond—is on foot.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English, Arabic or Russian, depending on which option you book at checkout.

Do I have time to explore Aqaba on the way back?

Yes, you have an hour of free time in Aqaba after returning from Petra and before the ferry departure. That's enough to walk the waterfront, visit a shop or grab coffee, but not enough for a full city tour.

Is the ferry crossing included, or do I pay separately?

The ferry crossing is included in the tour price. Hotel pickup, the ferry to and from Jordan, the guide, entry to all Petra monuments, and lunch are all covered.