Petra & Wadi Rum day trip from Amman: Private jeep tour

Two ancient worlds in one day: Petra's carved Treasury and Wadi Rum's red desert.

A full-day tour from Amman combines Petra's rock-cut Nabatean city with a 2-hour 4x4 drive through Wadi Rum's desert landscape. Private transport picks you up from your hotel, stops at Madaba's Mosaic Map and Mount Nebo on the way south, then returns you to Amman by evening. The itinerary blends archaeological sites with desert scenery and Bedouin hospitality in a single journey.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Petra and Wadi Rum from Amman

• Depart from Amman to Madaba
• Visit Saint George Cathedral Church mosaics
• Drive to Petra via Mount Nebo
• Explore Petra archaeological site
• Enjoy 2-hour 4x4 tour in Wadi Rum
• Experience Bedouin hospitality and tea
• Drive back to Amman with rest stop

The experience

You start from your Amman hotel and head southwest through Jordan's interior, stopping first at the Saint George Cathedral Church in Madaba for a half-hour to see the ancient Mosaic Map: a 6th-century depiction of the Holy Land. From there, Mount Nebo offers views across the Jordan Valley before the drive continues south toward Petra. The route itself carries you through changing terrain, so the landscape shifts as you move deeper into the country.

Petra is the centerpiece: the ancient Nabatean city carved into rose-colored rock, with the iconic Treasury as its most recognizable monument. You'll have time to explore the archaeological site on foot, moving through the carved facades and narrow canyon passages at your own pace. The scale of the place (facades rising from the canyon floor, chambers cut deep into the stone) becomes clear only when you're standing inside it. This is where the tour's first half ends, and where the second half begins.

After Petra, you transfer to a private 4x4 jeep for a 2-hour drive through Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon. The ride takes you past Lawrence's Spring, across red and golden sand dunes, and to ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks. A stop at a traditional Bedouin tent includes local tea and conversation about nomadic life in the desert. If timing allows, you'll catch the sunset over the landscape. The return to Amman follows the Desert Highway north: a 117-kilometer drive with a 15- to 20-minute rest stop along the way.

The tour runs 13 to 14 hours total. Your driver speaks English and handles all transport. The vehicle is air-conditioned with on-board WiFi. Bottled water is provided. Entry fees to Petra and Wadi Rum are not included in the tour price and must be paid on-site, unless you hold a Jordan Pass. A licensed local guide at Petra is optional and available for an additional fee. If you have the Jordan Pass, entry to Madaba and Mount Nebo is covered. Without it, those fees are paid separately at each site.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• English-speaking driver.
• private air-conditioned transport with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• on-board WiFi.
• 2-hour 4x4 jeep ride through Wadi Rum with stops at Lawrence's Spring, sand dunes, and ancient petroglyphs.
• Bedouin tent visit with local tea.

Options for this experience

2 options

Round-trip Petra excursion from AmmanGuide in English · No fixed timeLasts 11 hours. The Petra visit begins with the journey from Amman to the Petra site and returns to Amman. Pickup is included.

Petra and Wadi Rum excursion from AmmanGuide in English · No fixed timeLasts 16 hours. This Petra and Wadi Rum option from Amman includes private transportation and a jeep tour, but entry tickets and a local guide are not covered. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Jordan lux tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day and want to see both Petra and Wadi Rum in one trip with a private vehicle that moves at your pace, rather than waiting for group departures at each site.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Mosaic Map at Madaba, and why is it worth a stop on the way to Petra?

The Mosaic Map is a 6th-century floor mosaic inside the Saint George Cathedral Church depicting the Holy Land in ancient times. It's one of the oldest known maps of the region and shows how the area was understood and represented over 1,400 years ago. The half-hour stop lets you see it without breaking the flow of the longer journey south.

What happens during the 2-hour 4x4 drive in Wadi Rum?

The jeep takes you to Lawrence's Spring, across the red and golden sand dunes, and to ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks. You'll stop at a traditional Bedouin tent for local tea and learn about nomadic life in the desert. If the timing works, you'll see the sunset over the landscape before heading back.

Do I need to buy entry tickets separately, or are they included in the tour price?

Entry fees to Petra and Wadi Rum are not included and must be paid on-site when you arrive. If you hold a Jordan Pass, Petra entry is covered. Entry to Madaba and Mount Nebo is also covered by the pass. Without the pass, you pay each site's fee separately as you visit.

Can I hire a guide once I'm at Petra?

Yes, a licensed local guide at Petra is optional and available for an additional fee of 70 USD. You arrange this at checkout or can arrange it on-site, depending on your preference.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes private air-conditioned transport with pickup and drop-off at your hotel, an English-speaking driver, the 2-hour 4x4 jeep ride in Wadi Rum, and bottled water. You'll need to bring sun protection, comfortable walking shoes for Petra, and cash or a card for entry fees and any optional guide. Tips for the driver are not included.