Private Two Day Tour To Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman

Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea make a remarkably strong two-day introduction to Jordan. You walk through Petra’s narrow Siq to the Treasury, trade the stone city for a Bedouin camp beneath the desert sky, then float in the Dead Sea before returning to Amman. The variety is the main attraction.

I like the private door-to-door transport, which removes the bother of arranging separate buses, taxis, and hotel transfers. I also like the personal touch reported in the service, with drivers such as Firas handling the long road days and Shireen helping with questions and arrangements. The main drawback is pace: Petra gets about five hours, and the trip covers a lot of ground in two days.

Key points to know

• Petra is a self-guided visit unless you select a guide option: Admission is extra, and you should plan your walking time carefully.
• Wadi Rum includes a two to three-hour Bedouin jeep ride: The local jeep drivers do not usually speak English.
• The desert night can be basic or comfortable: Standard tents share toilets, while upgraded tents have private bathrooms and air-conditioning.
• The Dead Sea stop uses a five-star resort: Lunch and beach access at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG are included.
• The long drives are part of the bargain: You get private transport and front-door pickup, but this is not a slow-paced tour.
• The price is $293.50 per person before some entrance fees: Petra costs $70 and Wadi Rum costs $7 unless your chosen option includes them.

Why this two-day route works from Amman

Jordan’s major sights are spread across the southern half of the country. Petra is roughly three hours from Amman, Wadi Rum lies farther south, and the Dead Sea sits west of the capital. Joining all three in two days means long hours in the car, but it also saves you from planning several separate transfers.

Your journey begins with pickup at your Amman hotel in a modern, air-conditioned car. The driver speaks English, bottled water is provided, and Wi-Fi and a mobile phone are available in the vehicle. Since this is a private tour, only your own group takes part, so you can ask for a short break or adjust the pace within the limits of the schedule.

There is room for one small piece of luggage per person. Pack lightly. A small soft bag is easier to manage at the camp than a large suitcase, and it leaves more room in the vehicle for everyone.

The tour is often booked about 35 days ahead, which is useful to know if you want a particular camp or upgraded accommodation. You receive confirmation at booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Five hours among Petra’s rose-colored cliffs

The first major stop is Petra, the former capital of the Nabataean kingdom and Jordan’s best-known archaeological site. The approach is part of the experience. You walk through the Siq, a long sandstone canyon whose walls narrow and twist before revealing the Treasury at the far end.

That first view is memorable because the building appears suddenly between the cliffs. Give yourself time to take it in, but do not stop your Petra visit there. The Street of Facades, Roman Theater, and Royal Tombs all help show how large and varied the ancient city was.

Petra was largely unknown to the wider world until Swiss explorer J. L. Burckhardt reached it in 1812 while traveling in disguise. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Those labels matter less once you are walking through the stone passages, but they explain why this stop deserves the largest block of sightseeing time on the first day.

The five-hour visit is enough for a meaningful introduction, though not for every path and monument. Petra involves quite a lot of walking on uneven ground, so wear shoes with firm soles. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. The walk through the Siq is manageable for many people, but the wider site can become tiring because the ground is rough and the route is not a simple loop.

A guide is not included unless you choose a tour option that adds one. Your English-speaking driver handles the road journey, but you should not assume that detailed guiding inside Petra is part of the base price. If ancient sites make more sense to you with stories and explanations, check the selected option carefully before booking.

Admission is also extra in the standard arrangement. The stated Petra entrance fee is $70, a substantial addition to the advertised $293.50 price. This is the most important cost detail to keep in mind when comparing the tour with other packages.

From Petra to a night in Wadi Rum

After Petra, you continue south to Wadi Rum. The change is dramatic. Petra gives you carved stone, narrow passages, and monumental tombs. Wadi Rum opens into broad desert space, with red sand, weathered rock formations, and a strong connection to Bedouin culture.

Wadi Rum has been inhabited since prehistoric times and became widely known in modern times through Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab Revolt of 1916. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site for both its natural setting and cultural importance.

You arrive at a tourist camp for dinner and an overnight stay. The standard accommodation uses private tents with shared toilets. That is a reasonable choice if the desert setting matters more to you than comfort, but you should set expectations correctly. This is camping, not a conventional hotel night.

An upgraded camp offers tents with en-suite toilets and air-conditioning. A further upgrade mentioned in the tour information is the Martian dome, which gives you a more unusual way to spend the night. One couple specifically chose the Martian dome and described it as the highlight of the trip, so ask about availability and added cost if that kind of accommodation appeals to you.

The desert can become surprisingly cold after sunset. Pack warm clothes even if Amman is hot when you leave. A light jacket may not be enough for the night, so bring layers that you can add after dinner.

Dinner and breakfast are included. The combination of an evening meal, a night away from city lights, and an early desert morning gives this tour much of its character. You are not simply checking Wadi Rum off a list. You are spending time there, even if the schedule allows only one night.

Wadi Rum entrance fees are not included in the base arrangement. The stated fee is $7. That amount is small beside Petra’s admission, but you should still count both fees when working out the true price.

A Bedouin jeep ride through Wadi Rum

After breakfast, you take a two to three-hour tour in local off-road vehicles operated by Bedouin drivers. This is the practical way to cover the main sights of the desert in the time available. The ride also gives you a better sense of the scale of Wadi Rum than a short walk near camp.

The jeep drivers do not usually speak English. That is not necessarily a problem if your priority is seeing the terrain, but it does mean you should not expect a detailed English commentary during every part of the ride. Your main English-speaking contact is the driver who brought you from Amman.

A hot-air balloon ride may be arranged instead of, or in addition to, the usual morning activity, but it requires prior booking and a separate payment. Because the ride is optional and weather-sensitive, treat it as an add-on rather than a guaranteed feature.

This morning also shows the tradeoff built into the tour. Two or three hours is enough to sample Wadi Rum, but not enough for every possible activity. A camel trek, longer hike, or slower camp stay would call for a separate itinerary. Here, the jeep ride gives you the most scenery in the shortest time.

Floating at the Dead Sea

From Wadi Rum, the road to the Dead Sea takes about four hours. After the open desert, the Dead Sea feels like a completely different Jordanian experience. It is part of the Great Rift Valley and sits 408 meters below sea level, making it the lowest point on earth.

The water has an unusually high salt content, so you float rather than swim normally. The sensation is odd and fun, but you need to be careful. Avoid getting the water in your eyes, and do not treat the sea like an ordinary swimming pool. The mineral-rich mud along the shore is also associated with skin treatments and therapeutic use.

The tour includes entry and lunch at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG, described as a five-star resort. That inclusion gives you a controlled place to use the beach, change, and spend time at the water. It also adds comfort after the long drive from Wadi Rum.

You get about three hours here. That is enough for a relaxed float, mud treatment, lunch, and some time in the sun. It is not a full resort holiday, so do not book this tour expecting a long afternoon by the pool.

The Dead Sea stop is one of the best value points in the package because resort access and lunch are already covered. A cheaper tour might take you to the area but leave you to arrange beach access and food separately. Here, the resort setting makes the final stop simple.

What the $293.50 price really covers

At $293.50 per person, the tour covers a great deal of ground and includes several costly moving parts. You receive private hotel pickup and drop-off from Amman, an English-speaking driver, air-conditioning, bottled water, Wi-Fi, a mobile phone in the car, one night at a Wadi Rum camp, dinner, breakfast, lunch, the Bedouin jeep ride, and Dead Sea resort access.

The price is strongest for people who value convenience. You do not need to arrange a rental car, find a desert transfer, book a separate camp, or work out how to reach the resort. A private vehicle also lets your group travel together instead of joining a larger bus.

The advertised figure is not the final cost if Petra and Wadi Rum entrance fees are separate. Add the stated $70 Petra fee and $7 Wadi Rum fee unless your selected tour option includes them. A private guide at Petra, upgraded camp accommodation, a Martian dome, or a hot-air balloon ride can also raise the total.

Group discounts may improve the value for families or friends traveling together. The price should be judged against the full package, not just the headline number. If you prefer independent travel and already have transport, this may feel expensive. If you want a compact, organized route with private transfers, it is easier to justify.

The people who make the long days easier

Your driver is an important part of the experience because the road time is substantial. Firas is one named driver associated with the tour, and he is described as offering useful recommendations, answering questions, and working in a professional manner.

Shireen is another named contact who helps with booking questions and recommendations. This matters because the tour has several choices to sort out, including standard or upgraded camp accommodation, guide options, and the possible balloon ride.

The local Bedouin jeep drivers provide the desert transport, though they generally do not speak English. Think of the experience as a mix of English-speaking road support and local operation in Wadi Rum, rather than one guide accompanying you at every stop.

Who should book this Jordan tour?

I would choose this tour if you have only two days beyond Amman and want the country’s three headline sights in one clean arrangement. It suits couples, families, and small groups who value privacy and do not want to drive long distances themselves.

It also works well for first-time visitors who want an overview before returning to Jordan for a slower trip. Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea each feel distinct, so you come away with a strong sense of the country’s variety.

I would hesitate if you dislike early starts, long drives, uneven walking, or basic camping. The schedule is full, Petra requires stamina, and the desert night may be chilly. People who want a relaxed Petra visit or several desert activities should allow more than two days.

The tour is private, but the Wadi Rum jeep ride is operated locally, and the camp may be more rustic than you expect. Read the accommodation option closely before paying. The standard camp shares toilets, while the upgraded version adds a private bathroom and air-conditioning.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an efficient, private introduction to southern Jordan and appreciate having transport, meals, desert accommodation, and Dead Sea access arranged together. The strongest features are the wide range of experiences, the helpful English-speaking support associated with Firas and Shireen, and the ease of front-door pickup and drop-off.

Think twice if you want a slow archaeological visit, a high-comfort desert hotel, or a low final price after extras. Before booking, confirm whether your option includes Petra and Wadi Rum admission, check the camp level, and ask about the cost and availability of the Martian dome or balloon ride. For a compact first look at Jordan, this is a practical and memorable choice.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup from Amman included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your Amman hotel are included in a modern, air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two days and includes one overnight stay in Wadi Rum.

Is the Petra entrance fee included?

No. The stated Petra entrance fee is $70 unless you select a tour option that specifically includes it.

Is the Wadi Rum entrance fee included?

No. The stated Wadi Rum entrance fee is $7 unless your selected tour option includes it.

What accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

The standard option provides a private tent with shared toilets. An upgraded camp offers a tent with an en-suite toilet and air-conditioning.

Is the Wadi Rum jeep ride included?

Yes. A private Bedouin jeep tour lasting two to three hours is included. The local jeep drivers do not usually speak English.

Is lunch at the Dead Sea included?

Yes. Entry and lunch at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG are included.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.