How to Take a Day Trip to Petra from Jerusalem
Is it Worth Taking a Day Trip to Petra?
Is it worth visiting Petra? In my opinion, absolutely. Petra is one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World” and one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited. In July of 2023, I took a marathon day trip to Petra from Jerusalem. My tour departed at 3:00 am and involved border crossings and close to thirteen hours on a bus. Still, I felt that the trip was totally worth it, as this sandstone city of Petra literally looks like something out of the movie Star Wars.
This ancient Nabataean city dates back to the third century BC and can be reached by walking through the Siq, which is a narrow canyon caused by plate tectonics. At the end of the Siq is the Treasury, the most famous building in Petra.
In addition to being a “new wonder of the world,” Petra is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For anyone in Jordan, or other nearby Middle Eastern countries, a trip to Petra is a “must-do,” and I am glad I decided to take a day trip to Petra from Jerusalem.
How to Take a Day Trip to Petra from Jerusalem - Table of Contents
- Is it Worth Taking a Day Trip to Petra?
- Taking a Trip from Jerusalem to Petra
- Getting from Jerusalem to the Jordan Border
- Crossing the Israel/Jordan Border
- Getting from the Jordan Border to Petra
- Visiting Petra – A One Day Guided Tour
- Returning from Petra to Jerusalem
- My Thoughts – A One Day Tour of Petra from Jerusalem
- Petra Tours and Packages from Israel
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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Taking a Trip from Jerusalem to Petra
Taking a day trip from Jerusalem to Petra is not ideal, as it takes almost six hours to reach Petra from Jerusalem. For me, a day trip was my only option as I had a limited number of days for my trip.
To get from Jerusalem to Petra, I woke up at 3:00 am and walked to the pickup point near the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. The bus picked me up around 3:30 am, and we drove to the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Arava Border Crossing. With two stops, it took just over four hours to reach the border crossing. After crossing the border, we switched from an Israeli bus to a Jordanian bus. From the border crossing, it was another two hours to Petra.
The long travel time left us only about five hours to explore Petra and eat a late lunch. We then got back on the bus and drove back to Jerusalem. This drive took another six hours, and I arrived at my hotel just before midnight. Overall, the 22-hour trip from Jerusalem to Petra was worthwhile. For travelers who have more time, there are two and three days tours of Petra from Jerusalem as well.
Getting from Jerusalem to the Jordan Border
As stated above, it takes just over four hours to travel from Jerusalem to the Israel/Jordan border. After leaving Jerusalem around 3:30 am, we arrived at the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Arava Border Crossing at 8:30 am. The bus to from Jerusalem to the border crossing was a shuttle, and the passengers were scheduled for many different tours. The only issue was that the driver did not speak English and struggled to communicate with us, as most of the tourists did not speak Hebrew. During the four hour trip, we stopped twice for snacks and restrooms.
Crossing the Israel/Jordan Border at the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Arava Border Crossing
A one-day tour of Petra from Jerusalem includes border crossing assistance, although it isn’t really needed as the border crossing process was quite simple. After arriving at the Yitzhak Rabin crossing, which is the name of the Israeli side of the border, tourists get in line, and a border agent checks their passports before they can enter passport control.
Anyone who had an “E-Passport” was able to use an electronic passport reader to scan their passport. The machine then prints a red exit card that enables the tourist to officially exit Israel. Tourists that do not have an “E-Passport” must go to a window and have their passports scanned by a border agent. The entire process takes less than a minute with an “E-Passport” and around five to ten minutes when visiting an agent.
The next step is to pass through the Israeli Duty-Free store and then officially exit Israel. There is another agent at the end of the duty-free store who checks passports and ensures each tourist has a red exit card. After this step, the tourist will officially be in limbo for about 100 meters as they walk to the Wadi Arava Border Crossing, which is the name of the Jordanian side.
Before Jordanian Passport control, all visitors pass through a security checkpoint. This checkpoint is similar to security at an airport, as bags will be x-rayed, and travelers will pass through a metal detector. After security, there are passport control windows staffed with border agents. Simply present your passport to the border agent, who will scan it, ask why you are visiting Jordan, and then stamp your passport. From there, visitors walk through a Jordanian Duty-free store and then show their stamped passports to a final border agent.
At this point, you have now officially entered Jordan. During my tour, a Jordanian bus and guide were waiting for us. As soon as everyone in our group exited the border crossing, we continued to Petra.
Getting from the Jordan Border to Petra
As stated earlier, the bus from Jerusalem to the border was simply a shuttle. The passengers were all going on different tours to different destinations. After exiting the Wadi Arava Border Crossing, I found the bus marked “One-Day Petra Tour.” There were about thirty people on this tour, and we had plenty of space on the bus to stretch out.
Our guide for the tour of Petra was named Kareem, and he explained some basic information about Petra during the two-hour drive. The drive to Petra was quite scenic as we drove through a mix of mountains and deserts.
About thirty minutes from the entrance to Petra, we stopped at a tourist shop for snacks, restrooms, and souvenirs. The tourist shop also had a viewing area that provided a panoramic view of the mountains.
Visiting Petra - A One Day Guided Tour
Entering Petra - How Much Does Petra Cost?
It was 1:00 pm by the time we arrived at Petra. Although most of us had awoken before 3:00 am, we were excited and ready to begin our visit. Before we could enter Petra, Kareem had to purchase our tickets. Petra is expensive to visit, with the one-day entrance ticket costing 90 Jordan Diners ($127). The entrance ticket is cheaper (50 Jordan Diners) for visitors who are spending at least one night in Jordan. After purchasing our tickets, Kareem led us to the entrance, and we began our tour of Petra.
We only had around four hours to visit Petra, which meant we would not be able to see all of the sights. Kareem explained that we would hike the main trail, which was five miles roundtrip and would take around 3.5 hours.
The Trails at Petra
Before setting off on the main trail, Kareem went over a few guidelines. You can see the tips and tricks below that help ensure visitors enjoy their time at Petra.
Horses and Golf Carts at Petra
The main trail walk is fairly easy, as most of the trail is flat. For people who struggle walking or are lazy, there are transportation options, including riding a horse or using a golf cart. I was told that although they claim this transportation is “free” and “included,” a large tip is required. For me, I preferred to walk and declined to ride a horse or take a golf cart to the entrance of the Siq, which is the main entrance to Petra.
Walking to the Siq
As we walked toward the Siq, which is a narrow gorge that marks the official entrance to Petra, Kareem pointed out a few key places.
Located outside the Siq are various ruins. Kareem explained that most of this ancient sandstone architecture was used for defending Petra. Although there is no consensus on the actual use of each cave and structure, Kareem said that since these structures are outside the main entrance, it is likely they served as the first line of defense.
The Djinn Blocks
Located about halfway between the visitor’s center and the entrance to the Siq are three giant blocks known as the Djinn Blocks. Kareem explained that these blocks are also known as the “God Blocks.”
There are various theories about the purpose of the Djinn Blocks. Many scholars believe that the Djinn Blocks were carved into the sandstone to house spirits, which the Nabateans believed would guard Petra at night. According to Kareem, the Djinn Blocks were also likely tombs, as it was discovered that one of the blocks had two tombs inside.
The Obelisk Tomb and the Bab Al Siq Triclinium
Just past the Djinn Blocks, are the Obelisk Tomb and the Bab Al Siq Triclinium. Both of these structures are part of the Nabataean Burial Complex.
In addition to serving as a location to bury the dead, the Triclinium served as a dining hall to honor the deceased. I wish we had received more information about these two structures, but Kareem rushed past them as we had limited time and had not even officially entered Petra.
The "Guide's Cave"
Our next stop was inside the “Guide’s Cave.” Kareem explained that this cave had been designated for guides to demonstrate the ease of carving into Petra’s sandstone. By simply using his hand, Kareem was able to carve the sandstone without much effort. The Nabataeans likely needed little more than their hands to carve the sandstone.
The Entrance to the Siq - The Entrance to Petra
At this point, we finally reached the the Siq, which is the main entrance to Petra. It took around thirty minutes from the visitor’s center to reach the entrance to the Siq. Although the Siq was created by erosion, the Nabataeans made many alterations to the steep walls of the narrow gorge.
Storing Water at Petra
One of the issues that the Nabataeans constantly faced at Petra was a lack of fresh water. Kareem demonstrated how the Nabataeans used channels to gather and store water each time it rained.
Carved into the sides of the Siq, the water channels below trapped thousands of gallons of water every time it rained.
The Nabataeans even had a water filtration system. Kareem explained that every 100 meters, these square holes in the side of the Siq’s walls helped filter debris out of the water.
The Changing Colors of the Siq
As we continued walking down through the Siq, Kareem explained that the walls of the Siq change colors based on the angle of the sun. It was difficult to get good photographs with all of the shadows, but the photos below show the difference in colors when the Siq is in the shade/sunlight.
In addition to the ever-changing colors of the Siq, I enjoyed looking for vegetation. Even in the harsh environment of Petra, an occasional tree could be found.
Modern Improvements to Petra
Not everything in Petra is thousands of years old. Throughout the years, Petra has undergone a series of improvements to keep tourists safe. Pictured below are modern wires to hold back rocks that could injure tourists. While these wires take away from the beauty of Petra, they are a necessity to ensure the safety of visitors.
Nabataean Makeup
As we continued deeper into the Siq, Kareem stopped to demonstrate how the Nabataeans used the watered down clay as a sort of makeup. In addition to being used to decorate their skin, the Petra clay also protected the Nabataean’s skin from the sun and acted as a moisturizer.
Elephants and Camels at Petra
As we continued our walk through Petra’s Siq, Kareem pointed out a few animals that were carved into the walls of the Siq. First, there were multiple elephants. The elephants took a little bit of imagination to see as over a thousand years of erosion had weathered away some of the elephant’s features.
Just past the elephant, Kareem showed us a spectacular relief of four camels. This relief has been damaged over the years, but it is supposed to show four camels with their cameleers. Two of the camels are supposed to be headed away from Petra, and two camels are supposed to be headed back through the Siq towards the Treasury.
The "Beautiful Woman" of the Siq
Just before the Treasury Building, which is the most famous building at Petra, came into view, Kareem asked us if we wanted to see a “surprise.” He told us to go over to the far side of the wall of the Siq and look up towards the walls of the gorge.
Kareem asked us if we could see the “beautiful woman.” None of us could figure out what he was talking about. So, Kareem then instructed us to close our eyes and step back towards the middle of the path. Once we were in position, he told us to turn our heads, face forward, and open our eyes. When we did this, the Treasury came into view.
Kareem had distracted us by asking us to look for the “beautiful woman” so he could position us perfectly to see our first view of the Treasury. As we approached the Treasury, the narrow walls of the Siq opened up, creating a huge open area.
Petra Treasury
The Treasury is the most famous building in Petra and was one of the most spectacular architectural structures I’ve visited. Built in the 1st century BC, it is believed that the Treasury originally served as a memorial for royalty or as a tomb.
Other archeologists believe that the Treasury was built by members of the Egyptian Army that escaped the closing of the Red Sea and contained lost Egyptian treasures. In reality, the Treasury likely was either a temple or a place to store important documents.
The most spectacular part of the Treasury at Petra is the facade. Looking up at the facade, visitors can see architectural influence from the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. The biggest influence likely came from the city of Alexandria, which was one of the largest cities on the Mediterranean at the time.
Street of Facades
At this point, we had been in Petra for a few hours. Kareem explained that he would be staying near the Treasury and would answer any questions, as well as point us in the direction of additional attractions. We had about an another hour to explore other parts of Petra. I chose to continue walking towards the Street of Facades and the Theater.
Throughout the Street of Facades, the Siq opens up, and the area between the walls is much wider. There are a variety of shops and places to purchase snacks. Near the end of the Street of Facades are public restrooms.
It is believed that most of the caves on the Street of Facades served as monumental Nabataean tombs. To me, the Street of Facade appeared to be something out of the movie Star Wars.
Petra Theater
With less than thirty minutes remaining before I had to turn around and retrace my steps, I quickly walked through the Street of Facades towards the Theater.
The final attraction that I saw at Petra was the Petra Theater. This magnificent structure was build around the first century AD and seated an estimated 8,500 people.
Although the Petra Theater has Roman influence, it was constructed using the Nabataean technique of carving into the stone. This style is different than Roman theaters which were built from stone.
The End of the Siq
With limited time, I was only able to walk as far as the Petra Theater. One of the issues with a one-day tour of Petra from Jerusalem is that there is limited time. For tourists that want to see more of Petra, I highly recommend they take a two or three day tour.
Animals at Petra
My biggest concern during my visit to Petra was the treatment of the animals. The treatment of the donkeys especially worried me as they were being forced to carry people that were much larger than them. Typically, there are weight limits for animals. I weigh close to 300 pounds, and I was constantly being asked if I wanted to ride a donkey or horse. From what I have researched, typically, 250 pounds is the max weight for riding a horse.
If you visit Petra, please be careful when riding the animals. Be sure that the animal is being treated humainly and is not being overworked .
Returning from Petra to Jerusalem
It was around 4:30 pm by the time I walked back through the Siq to the visitor’s center. Kareem had instructed us to meet him at the Sandstone Restaurant. This restaurant was less than a five-minute walk from the visitor’s center.
We had thirty minutes to eat before it was time to return to Jerusalem. It took around two hours to reach the Jordan/Israel border, where we repeated the border crossing process.
After re-entering Israel, we got back on the shuttle to Jerusalem. It was another five-plus hours to reach Jerusalem, which included two stops for restrooms and snacks.
My Thoughts - A One Day Tour of Petra from Jerusalem
A one day tour of Petra from Jerusalem leads to an extremely long but rewarding day. For travelers who have the time, I recommend a two or three day tour as they will be able to see more of Petra. But if you have limited time, a one day tour of Petra provides the opportunity to see some of the main attractions. I felt that this tour provided excellent value and I was extremely satisfied with the transportation, border crossing assistance, and guide.
Petra Tours and Packages from Israel
For those interested in booking a tour, I have linked one, two and three day Petra tours from Jerusalem. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
One Day Petra Tour from Jerusalem
 Day tour to Petra from Jerusalem - $299.00 A magical day tour in Petra. Choose any date and enjoy a beautiful tour to Petra with pro guides. |
Two Day Petra Tour from Jerusalem
 Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Jerusalem - $439.00 A magical two-day tour in Petra and Wadi Rum, with pro guides. Pickup/drop off from Jerusalem. |
Three Day Petra Tour from Jerusalem
 3-Day Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Jerusalem - $588.00 This fully guided 3 day tour from Jerusalem will take you through Jordan’s extraordinary history and past some of its most beautiful natural wonders. Discover the ancient city of Jerash, enjoy a driving tour through the capital Amman, spend a whole day exploring the world wonder Petra and the impressive desert landscape of Wadi Rum! |
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