Petra & Wadi Rum shore excursion from Aqaba: Treasury and desert

The Treasury carved into rose-red rock, then a Bedouin jeep tour through Lawrence of Arabia's desert.

This shore excursion from Aqaba port combines Petra and Wadi Rum in a single day, with a guide leading you through the Siq gorge to the Treasury and along the Street of Facades, then a separate 4x4 jeep tour of desert canyons, sand dunes and rock bridges. A ship representative meets you at the port. Lunch and all transport are included, and you return in time for departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Petra and Wadi Rum desert

• Meet representative at ship
• Transfer to Petra via Wadi Rum desert
• Explore Petra: Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades
• Visit Royal Tombs if time permits
• Walk back to Visitor Centre
• Buffet lunch at restaurant
• Transfer to Wadi Rum
• Meet Bedouin representative
• 4x4 jeep tour of Wadi Rum desert
• Visit Lawrence Spring, Sand Dunes, Khazali Canyon, Little Bridge
• Return transfer to ship in Aqaba

The experience

Your ship representative meets you at the Aqaba port with a sign in your name. The drive to Petra takes roughly two and a half hours, passing the Sharah Mountains and Wadi Rum desert on the way. At the Visitor's Centre, your guide leads you into the Siq, a narrow gorge that opens onto Al Khazneh, the Treasury, the most photographed monument at Petra. From there you walk the Street of Facades and, if time allows, reach the Royal Tombs before heading back to the Visitor's Centre on your own.

After a buffet lunch at a local restaurant, you transfer to Wadi Rum for a 4x4 jeep tour led by a Bedouin driver. The tour covers roughly an hour and a half to two hours, taking you to Lawrence Spring, sand dunes, Khazali Canyon and the Little Bridge: the same landscape that inspired the film Lawrence of Arabia. The drive back to Aqaba takes about an hour, timed so you reach the ship before it departs.

The Petra Museum is free to visit if you have time between the main tour and lunch. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language, depending on availability.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Aqaba port to Petra and from Petra to Wadi Rum and back to the ship.
• a professional guide at Petra.
• a Bedouin driver for the 4x4 jeep tour of Wadi Rum.
• buffet lunch at a restaurant.
• free entry to the Petra Museum if you have time.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Youth (10 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Petra View Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language, so choose the departure that matches your language. This ensures you understand the history and landscape commentary throughout the day. The eight-hour window works for cruise passengers with a same-day port call. If you're staying longer in Aqaba, a separate multi-day itinerary may give you more time at each site.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 11 years); Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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 exactly is the Treasury at Petra?

Al Khazneh, called the Treasury, is the most famous monument at Petra: a massive facade carved directly into the rose-red rock face by the Nabateans over two thousand years ago. It stands at the end of the Siq gorge and is the first major structure most visitors encounter when they enter the site.

How much walking is involved at Petra?

You walk through the Siq gorge to reach the Treasury, then continue along the Street of Facades and possibly to the Royal Tombs if time permits. The walk back to the Visitor's Centre is at your own pace. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the terrain is uneven in places.

What happens during the Wadi Rum jeep tour?

A Bedouin driver takes you in a 4x4 vehicle through desert landscapes for one and a half to two hours, stopping at Lawrence Spring, sand dunes, Khazali Canyon and the Little Bridge. You climb dunes and see rock formations from ground level rather than from the road.

When do I need to be back at the ship?

The return transfer from Wadi Rum is timed to get you back to Aqaba port before your ship departs. The entire excursion runs about eight hours from the moment you leave the port.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, a buffet lunch is included at a local restaurant between the Petra and Wadi Rum portions of the day. The meal is served after your time at Petra and before the jeep tour begins.