Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat: Lost City & Traditional Lunch

Walk the Siq gorge to Petra's Treasury, carved from red rock 2,300 years ago.

A 12-hour day trip from Eilat to Petra, Jordan's UNESCO-listed lost city carved by the Nabataeans, includes border crossing, a local English-speaking guide, entrance fees, and traditional lunch. You cross into Jordan, drive through desert to the site, explore the Treasury, royal tombs and ancient theater, then return to your Eilat hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Petra tour from Eilat

• Cross border to Jordan
• Drive 2.5 hours to Petra
• Explore Petra's tombs and monuments
• Walk through Siq gorge to Treasury
• Visit Royal Tombs and Nabatean Theater
• Return drive with wilderness views

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Eilat and a border crossing into Jordan. A process that takes up to an hour and includes customs. You'll need a valid passport and cash for border fees ($125 for most travelers, $65 if you hold a valid Jordanian visa). Once across, a 2.5-hour drive through open desert brings you to Petra's entrance.

At Petra itself, your guide leads you through the Siq, a narrow gorge that opens onto the Treasury, a temple facade carved directly into the red cliff face. From there the route takes you past the Obelisk Tomb and the Djin blocks (ancient structures the Nabataeans built over 2,300 years ago), and on to the Royal Tombs and the Nabataean Theater. You move at a pace that lets you stop for photos and take in the colored rock formations around you. Lunch happens in an authentic local restaurant mid-afternoon, so eat a proper breakfast before you leave Eilat.

The return journey retraces the desert drive back to the border, then the final leg to your hotel. The full day runs 12 hours from pickup to drop-off. Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a hat if it's summer, and dress warmly in winter. The tour operates in English. Spanish is available for an additional cost if you arrange it when you book.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Eilat.
• border crossing assistance and guidance.
• entrance fees to Petra.
• transport in a modern air-conditioned vehicle.
• a fully qualified English-speaking Jordanian tour guide.
• and a traditional lunch in a local restaurant.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour in EnglishAvailable from 1 Mar 2027includes pickup

Tour In SpanishAvailable from 1 Mar 2027includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years)

GroupUp to 45

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 190

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bein Harim Ltd

Is this one for you?Book the English-language tour if you want a guide who can explain the history and architecture as you move through the site. Spanish is available at checkout for an additional fee. The 12-hour commitment means an early start and a late return, so plan the rest of your Eilat day around the pickup time. Arrive 15 minutes early to the designated location to avoid any delay.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years).

What is the Siq at Petra and what will I see walking through it?

The Siq is a narrow gorge carved into the rock that leads into Petra's main site. As you walk through it, the gorge opens onto the Treasury, a massive temple facade carved directly into the red cliff face, which is the most famous monument at Petra.

How much time do I spend actually at Petra before heading back?

Your guide takes you through the main sites (the Treasury, Royal Tombs, Obelisk Tomb, Djin blocks and the ancient theater) with time to explore and photograph. Lunch is included partway through the afternoon at a local restaurant on-site.

What happens at the Jordan border and how long does it take?

Border crossing includes customs and control, a process that typically takes up to an hour. You'll need a valid passport and cash for border fees: $125 if you don't hold a Jordanian visa, or $65 if you do. Have the exact amount ready.

Can I book this tour if I hold an Israeli passport?

Yes, Israeli passport holders are welcome. You must use your Israeli passport at every border crossing during the tour. Bring it with you and have it ready for the border process.

Is breakfast included, and when do we eat lunch?

Breakfast is not included, so eat a full meal before hotel pickup. Lunch is included in an authentic local restaurant and happens mid-afternoon during the Petra portion of the day.