If your cruise ship spends just one day in Aqaba, you can still see Jordan’s two most famous sights: the rose-red city of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum. It makes for a full, fast-paced day, so it helps to know exactly what fits in and what does not. This guide walks through the Petra and Wadi Rum tour from Aqaba port hour by hour.
The Tour at a Glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | About 8 hours, port to port |
| Start | According to your cruise schedule — pick-up at the cruise exit door |
| Petra | Local English-speaking guide for 2–3 hours, entrance fees, short horse ride, lunch |
| Wadi Rum | 2-hour jeep safari |
| Transport | Air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers |
| Price | $450 per person |
Book the private Petra and Wadi Rum Tour from Aqaba Port; the price is $450 per person.
Hour by Hour
- Port pick-up. Your guide meets you at the cruise exit door.
- Drive to Petra — about 1.5 hours to the Visitor Centre.
- Into Petra. Start on horseback or on foot towards the Siq, the narrow gorge whose walls rise up to 80 metres, and walk through it to the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), the façade carved into the rock that appears suddenly at the end of the gorge.
- The city. Your guide continues along the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs and Qasr Al Bint, explaining how the Nabataeans built a trading city here more than 2,000 years ago.
- Lunch in Petra.
- Wadi Rum. Drive south to the desert for a 2-hour 4×4 safari among red dunes, canyons and sandstone cliffs, with ancient rock inscriptions along the way.
- Back to Aqaba and your ship.
What You Will — and Will Not — Have Time For
A combined day covers Petra’s main trail from the Siq to the Treasury, the Street of Facades and the Royal Tombs. It does not leave time for the climb of around 800 steps to the Monastery (Ad Deir) or the High Place of Sacrifice; for those you need a full day in Petra alone. If Petra is your priority, choose the Petra Tour from Aqaba Port (from $210). If you would rather take it easy, the Wadi Rum tour (from $80) is shorter and involves very little walking.
Tips for a Smooth Day
- Wear comfortable walking shoes — you will walk several kilometres on sand and stone in Petra.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for both Petra and Wadi Rum.
- Carry a little cash for drinks, tips and any extra rides inside Petra.
- Keep your passport with you; it is needed to leave and re-enter the port.
Important: Tell us your ship’s exact arrival and all-aboard times when booking — the whole day is planned around them.
Prefer to relax? The Dead Sea tour from Aqaba port is the calmest of the three classic shore excursions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Petra and Wadi Rum in one day from Aqaba?
Yes. The tour takes about 8 hours: a guided visit to Petra’s main sights, lunch, and a 2-hour jeep safari in Wadi Rum, with the drives in between.
How much walking is there?
In Petra you walk from the Visitor Centre through the Siq to the Treasury and along the main trail — a few kilometres over uneven ground. A short horse ride is included for the first stretch. Wadi Rum is seen by jeep.
Is lunch included?
Yes, lunch in Petra is included, along with Petra entrance fees, the guide, the jeep safari and all transfers.
What are the other options from Aqaba?
Petra alone, Wadi Rum alone or the Dead Sea. Compare them in our Aqaba port shore excursions guide.
