Petra from Aqaba or Eilat in one day: tour, taxi, bus, prices and traps (2026)
Petra can be visited in one day from Aqaba, about 2 to 2.5 hours by road each way (around 125 km). Three solutions: an organised tour, a taxi or private driver, or the minibus. From Eilat (Israel) you must also cross the border: a day trip is possible but very long, and this route is the most expensive. Watch the ticket: Petra costs 50 JD for a visitor who sleeps at least one night in Jordan, but 90 JD without a night in Jordan, which is the case of a one-day visitor from Eilat (official Visit Petra rates, checked on 23 October 2026; see the Petra page).
Highlights
Aqaba
The Red Sea port, where most excursions start; if you sleep there, you pay 50 JD for Petra, not 90 JD.
The Treasury
With the Siq, this is the minimum to see; count at least 4 hours on site for the Treasury, the Street of Facades and the theatre; see the Siq.
The Monastery
It takes 3 to 4 more hours round trip: too much for a one-day excursion from Aqaba; see the Monastery.
Wadi Rum on the way
A single-day Petra plus Wadi Rum tour exists from Aqaba, but it sacrifices one of the two sites; see Wadi Rum.
Practical info
Tips
- The choice depends on budget: a taxi or private driver costs about 35 to 55 JD each way for the car (travel guides, price to negotiate before leaving and very variable: the 35 JD mention dates from several years ago); the public Wadi Musa to Aqaba minibus costs about 5 JD but has no fixed timetable (leaves Wadi Musa around 7:00 am, returns when the vehicle is full): it does not suit a same-day round trip. An organised excursion from Eilat (border crossing included) costs clearly more: about $385 seen on GetYourGuide on 23 October 2026, to be confirmed. Eilat border: the Yitzhak Rabin terminal is open according to guides Sunday to Thursday 6:30 am to 8:00 pm and Friday-Saturday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, with Israeli exit fees; in Aqaba, the special economic zone generally issues a free visa, to be confirmed before departure. To spend the night at Petra and pay less, see Wadi Musa and the Jordan Pass (free visa from two consecutive nights in Jordan, official rule on jordanpass.jo). See also Petra from Amman if you are closer to Amman.
How to get there
Aqaba to Petra (Wadi Musa) by the Desert Highway, via Ma.an: about 125 km, 2 to 2.5 hours. From Eilat, crossing the Yitzhak Rabin / Wadi Araba border (30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the queue), then about 1 hour to Aqaba.
Opening hours
Nearby
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