What Does a Petra Day Tour Cost? (City by City)
From Amman: $73–$93 tour + 50 JOD ticket
The cheapest option on the site. Both Amman tours include transport and a driver. The ticket (50 JOD, roughly $70) is usually not included—you buy it at the visitor center. The operator may bundle a simple lunch or a stop for food; if not, budget $15–20 for a meal at a local restaurant near the visitor center or in Wadi Musa. Tip the driver ($5–10) if you like. Total out of pocket: $73–93 (tour) + $70 (ticket) + $15–20 (food) + tip = roughly $160–200 per person for the full day.
From Aqaba: $289 tour, ticket included
The shortest day on the site (8 hours door-to-door). The ticket is included in the $289 price. You enter via ASEZ (Aqaba Special Economic Zone), which means a free visa if you stay two nights and exit the same way. No hidden border fees. Add $15–20 for extra food and a tip: roughly $310–330 total.
From Eilat: $390 tour, ticket included, skip-the-line
The tour price includes the entry ticket and skip-the-line access. The 90 JOD non-accommodated rate is baked in (the operator ate it). You pay $390, show up at 08:15, and go straight to the Siq. No border fees for the Eilat crossing (you are already in the ASEZ zone). Add food and tip: roughly $420–450 total.
From Jerusalem: $299 tour + $125 cash at the border
This one stings. The tour price is $299, but the operator does not include the visa and border fees. You pay $125 in cash (USD, EUR, or NIS) directly to the Jordanian authorities at the border. That is on top of the $299. The Petra ticket is included. Have the exact amount ready. Total: $299 (tour) + $125 (border) + $15–20 (food/tips) = roughly $440–445.
From Tel Aviv: $583 tour with flights, ticket included
The most expensive tour on the site, but it includes two flights (Ben Gurion to Ramon and back). The Petra ticket is included; skip-the-line entry is included. Lunch is listed as "own expense," so budget $15–25. Tips and extras: add another $10–15. Total: $583 (tour with flights) + $15–25 (lunch) + tips = roughly $610–635.
From Sharm El Sheikh: $424 tour with ferry, visa included
The journey: midnight pickup, 2.5 hrs by road to Taba, 2 hr 20 min ferry to Aqaba, then drive to Petra. About 22 hours total. The tour price includes the visa. Lunch is at a local restaurant in Ma'an Governorate and is included. The ticket is included. Tips and extras: add $10–15. Total: $424 (tour) + tips = roughly $435–450.
Two-day Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea tour: $249 + site fees
The tour starts at $249 for the package (two days, Bedouin camp, transport). But it lists site fees as payable on site: Petra ($70), Wadi Rum ($10), Dead Sea resort and lunch ($40 cash to the driver). That is $249 + $120 in extras. Add tips, extra meals, and snacks: roughly $400–450 total for two days.
Tipping norms
On a day tour, $5–10 for the driver or guide is customary. It is never required, but it is standard. If the guide was exceptional, tip more. If lunch and water were included and the service was good, tip $10.
Food and water strategy
Most tours include water and some include lunch. Bring extra snacks (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate) because the food at the visitor center and in Wadi Musa is basic and overpriced. A bottle of water at the visitor center is 2–3 JOD (about $2–4). Bring a refillable bottle or buy one in Amman before you go.
The entry ticket (50–90 JOD) is the biggest single cost after the tour price. From Amman it is usually separate; from Eilat, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv it is bundled. Read the tour fine print.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Petra entry ticket?
50 JOD if you slept in Jordan. 90 JOD if you crossed the border the same day. That is roughly $70 vs. $127. Many tours from Amman do not include the ticket—you buy it at the visitor center. Eilat, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Sharm tours bundle it into the price.
What are the border costs?
Depends on your route. From Eilat: free (ASEZ zone). From Aqaba: free visa if you stay two nights (ASEZ). From Jerusalem: $125 cash paid at the Jordanian border. From Tel Aviv: included in the flight/tour bundle. From Sharm: visa included in the tour.
Do I need to tip the driver?
$5–10 is customary for a driver or guide. It is not required, but it is standard. Tip what you feel the service was worth.
Is food included?
On most tours, a simple lunch or snack is included. The Eilat, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv tours usually exclude food—budget $15–25 for a meal. Always check the tour details before booking.