Petra day tour from Sharm El Sheikh: midnight pickup, ferry crossing, $424 with visa and entry
Full itinerary: midnight to midnight
Pickup from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh just before midnight. 2.5-hour drive to the Taba border crossing. 20 minutes at the border. 2 hours 20 minutes ferry crossing to Aqaba. Then coach north into Jordan. Photo stop. 3-hour guided tour inside Petra: Al-Khazneh (the Treasury), the Roman theatre carved from a single cliff face, the royal tombs, the colonnaded Cardo, Qasr al-Bint. Free time for walking and shopping. Lunch at a local restaurant included. Back to Aqaba, ferry back to Taba (2.5 hours), drive back to Sharm, arriving around midnight (next calendar day). Guides available in French, Italian, English and Russian. Skip-the-line entrance to Petra. Includes ferry tickets, Petra entrance fee, Jordanian entry visa, and lunch. Beverages, water at lunch, gratuities and personal expenses are not included. Reviewer James from the United Kingdom: "Family enjoyed it, guide excellent and helpful. Obviously a long day but well worth the effort." Reviewer Ilmars from the United Kingdom: "Long travel time, but we were fed, given stops for water and essentials, and the guide was engaging and full of detail." Rated 4.6 from 86 reviews. Read the full Sharm review.
The ferry: 2 hours 20 minutes Taba to Aqaba
The tour includes the ferry crossing. This is the scenic route from Egypt to Jordan: fast catamaran across the Gulf of Aqaba, sea views, no land border crossing through Israel. The ferry is a full-day option if the land border is closed. If the ferry is cancelled (rare, but weather can close it), the operator reroutes you via the Arava land border instead, adding 2–3 hours to the day.
Visa requirement: passport copy 2 days ahead
You must email or send a scanned passport copy to the local partner at least 2 days before the tour so they can pre-process your Jordanian entry visa. This is not optional — without it you will have a long delay or may not be allowed to board the ferry. The visa is included in the $424 price; you do not pay extra at the border.
Cost breakdown: $424 tour includes ferry, visa and lunch
Tour price: $424, which includes the ferry crossing, Petra entry fee, Jordanian visa, lunch and the guide. Drinks and water at lunch, snacks and personal expenses, and gratuities are not included. Budget another $20–30 for drinks and optional extras, plus a tip for your guide (10–15% is standard). A tip for the ferry staff is optional but customary.
Send your passport copy to the operator at least 2 days ahead. Midnight pickup means you sleep most of the drive down and the ferry. Bring comfortable clothes for sleeping on the coach. The night ferry can be rough in winter; take a seasickness tablet if you are prone. Wear comfortable shoes for the 3-hour Petra walk. Bring a light jacket for the air-conditioned coach.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to send a passport copy ahead of time?
Yes. You must email or send a scanned copy of your passport to the local partner at least 2 days before the tour. This is for your Jordanian entry visa processing. Without this step you will have a long border delay or may not be allowed on the ferry.
How long is the ferry crossing?
2 hours 20 minutes on a fast catamaran from Taba (Egypt) to Aqaba (Jordan). If the ferry is cancelled (rare), you are rerouted via the Arava land border (adds 2–3 hours). The ferry avoids a land border crossing through Israel.
How much actual time am I at Petra?
3 hours guided tour plus free time for walking — roughly 4–5 hours on site. You see the Treasury, Roman theatre, royal tombs, the colonnaded street and Qasr al-Bint. This is more time than the Eilat or Tel Aviv options, but not a full, leisurely day.
Is the Jordanian visa included?
Yes. The $424 price includes the visa (you pre-process it by sending your passport copy 2 days ahead). You do not pay extra at the border.
What is the 4.6 rating about?
86 reviews, mostly positive. Feedback is about the long travel time (it is 22 hours on the clock), but reviewers praise the guides, the ferry as an experience, and the value. Ilmars noted: 'Long travel time, but we were fed, given stops for water and essentials, and the guide was engaging.'
Can I stay in Jordan overnight?
The itinerary has you back in Sharm around midnight. You are not staying overnight in Jordan. If you want to stay overnight, the two-day tour from Amman ($249) is better value.