From Aqaba: Petra 1-Day Tour review
What the tour is like
This is the shortest day on the entire site because Aqaba is close to Petra — only 240 km north. Hotel pickup in Aqaba, drive north past Wadi Rum (you don’t stop there), enter Petra via the visitor centre. The tour includes a live guide for the highlights (Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs, Qasr al-Bint), then free time to explore at your own pace. Lunch is on your own at one of the visitor centre restaurants. A quick Aqaba tour or photo stop on the way back if time allows, then back to your hotel. Because there are no reviews yet, I can’t tell you what the weak points are. You’ll be a testing ground.
What works
- 8 hours total is the shortest day on the site
- From Aqaba means no extra visa hassle if you’re using the ASEZ visa-free zone
- The $70 ticket is bundled in the $289 price
- Max 25 people, so smaller groups than some competing tours
- English-speaking guide is included, not an add-on
- Cheapest way to see Petra from the Aqaba side
Worth knowing
- No reviews yet, so no real feedback on the guide quality or pacing
- Being the shortest day means the pace is fast — you’ll see highlights, not explore deeply
- Only new listing at Petra — unproven track record
- You won’t have time for the Monastery climb
- Lunch is on your own at the visitor centre
This tour is brand new, so early bookings will help establish its reputation. The 8-hour format is genuinely short, which means the pace is brisk. You’ll see the main sights with a guide, then have free time. Bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and water. Lunch at the visitor centre is basic; bring snacks. If you want more time at Petra, the 2-day tour from Amman gives you a full day and Wadi Rum. If you’re using the ASEZ free-visa option, you’ll exit through Aqaba, so this tour makes logistical sense.
Who it’s for
Travellers already in Aqaba. Cruise passengers with a limited port day. Anyone using the ASEZ free-visa zone who needs to exit through Aqaba anyway. Not for people who want a leisurely pace or the Monastery climb. For a longer day, see the Amman tours or the 2-day option. For a different Aqaba experience, you could also stay in Wadi Musa and join a Petra tour from there instead.
Other tours to consider
Most bookedFrom Amman: Petra Full-Day Private or Group Tour
Best reviewedAmman: Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea 2-Day Tour
From IsraelFrom Eilat: Petra Tour with Transfer and Lunch
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Aqaba tour so much cheaper than Eilat or Tel Aviv?
Because you’re starting in Jordan, you pay 50 JOD for the ticket, not 90 JOD. No visa fees. No international border logistics. Just 2 hours each way and a day at the site. The Eilat tour at $390 includes the 90 JOD non-accommodated ticket and border crossing costs.
Is 8 hours enough?
If you mean is it enough to see Petra? Yes, you get the main sights. Enough to explore deeply and climb to the Monastery? No. This is a highlights tour, not a full day. Book the 2-day at $249 if you want proper time.
I see no reviews yet. Should I book this?
That’s your call. The tour facts are solid: 8 hours, guide included, ticket included. But you won’t have real traveller feedback yet. If you want guaranteed reviews, book the Amman flagship at $93 with 414 reviews.
I’m using the ASEZ free-visa zone. Does this tour make sense for me?
Yes. You enter through Aqaba duty-free, spend a couple of hours in Wadi Musa at Petra, and exit through Aqaba to leave. This tour keeps you in the ASEZ zone the whole time.