Petra & Wadi Rum: 1-Day Private Tour from Amman

Two Worlds in One Day: Petra's Ancient Stones & Wadi Rum's Red Desert

You're picked up early from Amman and driven to Petra, where you explore the rose-carved Nabataean ruins at your own pace. Then it's south into Wadi Rum for a 2-hour 4x4 jeep tour through red desert, ending at sunset. Private transport, water, and an English-speaking driver are included throughout. Optional Bedouin dinner available for 20 JD per person before the return drive to your hotel.

Is this one for you?Right for travelers with limited time who want to see Petra and Wadi Rum without arranging multiple transports or guides. Expect a full day out—the distance between sites and the time needed to see each one properly is what makes fitting both into a single trip possible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Petra and Wadi Rum desert

• Pickup from Amman early morning
• Explore ancient Nabatean city Petra
• Travel to Wadi Rum desert
• Take 2-hour 4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum
• Watch sunset in Wadi Rum
• Option for Bedouin dinner and campfire
• Return to drop off point

The Experience

The driver arrives early, and you're moving south toward Petra before the heat settles. Three hours on the road gives you time to watch the landscape shift—the city thinning out, the hills rising, the air changing. Your English-speaking driver handles the route while you sit back in the air-conditioned vehicle, water bottles within reach. Petra doesn't announce itself; you round a bend and suddenly the canyon opens, and there it is—two thousand years of Nabataean stone carved straight into rose-colored rock. You walk in on your own pace, moving through the Siq, past the Treasury, into the city the Nabataeans cut into the mountain itself. There's no rushing it, and the tour doesn't try to.

After Petra, you drive deeper into the desert. Wadi Rum looks like nothing else—vast, red, and somehow both empty and full at once. The 4x4 jeep tour runs two hours through the sand, your driver navigating the dunes and stopping at the spots that matter: rock formations that tower overhead, valleys that open without warning, views that stretch until they disappear. You're moving constantly, which is the only way to see this much of it. The sunset happens while you're still out there, the light turning the rocks gold and then deep orange, and then it's done. You can head back to Amman straight after, or stay for a traditional Bedouin dinner—zarb, cooked underground—which costs 20 JD per person and comes with time around the campfire. Either way, the driver takes you back to your hotel when you're ready.

The whole day runs long, and it has to. Petra and Wadi Rum are not close to each other, and they're not close to Amman. But that's the point—you see two of Jordan's biggest sights without arranging transport twice, without negotiating with different drivers, without wondering if you're getting lost. The vehicle is yours, the driver knows both routes, and you move through the day on a schedule that actually works.

Top questions

How long is the drive from Amman to Petra?

Approximately three hours each way by private vehicle.

Is entry to Petra included?

No. Petra entry is not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately at the site.

What's the 4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum like?

A 2-hour guided tour through the desert, stopping at rock formations and viewpoints. Your driver navigates the dunes and chooses the route.

Is the Bedouin dinner included?

No. Dinner is optional and costs 20 JD per person if you choose to stay. It's not part of the base tour price.

What time does the tour start?

Early morning pickup from your Amman hotel. Exact time is confirmed when you book.

Can I do this tour with young children?

Yes. Infant seats are available on request if you mention it at booking. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Is lunch included?

No. Meals are not included except for the optional Bedouin dinner in Wadi Rum.

What if I want to stay longer in Wadi Rum?

You can arrange to stay late for dinner and the campfire. Contact the operator to discuss extra costs for the extended time.

What’s included

Your day includes private vehicle pickup from your Amman hotel, air-conditioned transportation throughout, bottled water, WiFi on board, a 2-hour 4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum with a local guide, fuel surcharge, and a professional English-speaking driver. Petra entry and meals are separate; the optional Bedouin dinner in Wadi Rum is 20 JD per person.