Petra: Day Trips and Tours from Sharm El Sheikh

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The stunning stone facades of Petra are one of the seven wonders of the world. Hewn from canyon walls over 2,000 years ago, this rose stone city in southern Jordan is a middle eastern locale worthy of a trek. Plan a day trip to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh to explore this architectural and historical marvel. Arriving there from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt is no simple feat: expect bus, boat and horse or even camelback travel over the 6-hour journey to this destination. Despite the distance, travelers there rave that pictures and films do not compare to experiencing the beauty of Petra in person.

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Authors

Derika Neira

Lorie Halliday

Arriving there from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt is no simple feat: expect bus, boat and horse or even camelback travel over the 6-hour journey to this destination. Despite the distance, travelers there rave that pictures and films do not compare to experiencing the beauty of Petra in person.

You will find bellow all you need to know about Petra, one of the most amazing sights for day trips from Sharm El Sheikh.

How to get to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh?

Guided tour to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh

Day trips from Sharm El Sheikh to Petra are a convenient way to access this spot, since getting there involves complicated steps, including a border crossing and VISA fees. Leave the details to a tour company and take a Petra day tour from Sharm El Sheikh in the easiest way possible!

Put planning your trip in the hands of professionals and join a guided tour to Petra. Tour companies coordinate schedules from pickup at your hotel to arrival in Petra, as well as organizing tourist visas and other fees.

There are single and multi-day tours from Sharm to Petra. Most of them include all transportation, border crossing and marina fees, lunch and a guided tour of Petra. Overnight trips include meals and a hotel stay.

How much does the entrance ticket to Petra cost?

Adults: JD90 (US$130)
Children (under 12 years old): Free
Overnight visitors: JD70 (US$90)

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh?

Pour yourself a cup of coffee because your day trip to Petra from Sharm begins in the wee hours of the morning. Expect pickup at your hotel between 1 AM and 3 AM to begin your 16- to 22-hour excursion.

Ride in a bus or car north to either Nuweibaa, about one hour from Sharm, or Taba, about a 2-hour ride. There, you hop on a ferry for a ride into Aqaba, Jordan, taking 2-4 hours. At Aqaba, travelers will continue north by bus or car for another 2 hours to the Ma’an Gorge where Petra is hidden.

Enjoy stretching your legs on your walk into the siq (canyon) and take in all you see. Horseback and camelback rides are common ways to venture into the siq. A guide will usher you to the best sites on a 3-hour tour before heading for a meal in mid-afternoon.

After your meal, some tours schedule free time to explore Aqaba before the return journey to Sharm. A majority of tours return to Sharm after the meal and drop you off at your hotel around midnight.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Petra?

Visiting Petra with a tour is the simplest way to see this historical gem. With several kinds of transportation, border crossings and other fees, let professionals handle the details of your visit. Tours vary from economical group day tours, private day tours, and multi-day tours. Choose the best one to fit your desires!

Guided tours to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh

Paying a package fee for everything you need for your visit, a guided day tour is arguably the best way to see Petra. Tours include transportation in air-conditioned vehicles, a meal, VISA and marina fees, and a guided visit to Petra.

Tour guides commonly speak English, Russian and Arabic. Many tours have guides who also speak major European and Asian languages.

Most day tours to Petra are for groups of 10 to 30 people and are a 20-hour trip. Some allow service animals, and although some are wheelchair-accessible, most are not appropriate for people with mobility issues.

Private tour to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh

Take advantage of all that other tours offer, plus the privacy of traveling without the crowds. Private tours to Petra afford you the chance to move at your own pace, to have the full attention of your guide, and to avoid the stresses of a large group. Some private tours are similar in price to group tours.

Most private tours involve road and water travel, but trips including a flight as the airplane tours are also an option. A day trip with a flight from Sharm to Petra departs at 5:30 AM and lasts only 15 hours.

2-Day tour to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh

Savor a slower paced visit with a 2-day tour that includes hotel accommodation in Wadi Musa and extra time to explore Petra. The closest town to Petra, Wadi Musa, is tourist-centric without losing local charm. Take time to wander among the stone buildings that mimic Petra’s architecture while shopping for Nabataean pottery and tasting Jordanian specialties in the many restaurants.

The itinerary for Day 1 is similar to single-day tours, but the additional time in Wadi Musa and Petra affords you a much more in-depth visit to this ancient area. On Day 2, you’ll explore Petra on your own. With more than 800 monuments in the park and kilometers of trails to follow, you won’t run out of new things to see. After lunch, return to Sharm by car or bus and boat by around midnight.

Multi-day tour to Petra plus Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh from Cairo

See the iconic sights of Egypt plus a jaunt to Petra on this private 5-day tour. Fly to Cairo for a quick overnight stay on day one. Day two takes you to Alexandria where you will soak in the city’s millennia of Egyptian, Greek and Roman history. Day three, head to Sharm El Sheik for desert safari and quad biking. On day four, fly to Petra for a day’s visit. Day five, you’re back in Cairo for a camelback tour of the Pyramids of Giza before catching your afternoon flight home.

How much does a tour to Petra from Sharm El Sheikh cost?

Travelers have options from relatively inexpensive to luxury tours. The most budget-friendly tours are US$180 per person but don’t include the US$70 entry ticket to Petra itself. The most inclusive group tours run between US$270 and US$500 per person.

Private tours are also available, a way to avoid crowds and enjoy a more tranquil visit. These tours run between US$570 and US$1,000 per person and include a meal, transportation in a private vehicle and all other fees.

Multi-day tours range from US$650 to US$950 per person, and the additional time and sites visited make for an attractive alternative to the hurried pace of a single-day trip to Petra.

What will you see and do on a Petra day trip from Sharm El Sheikh?

Begin your day skirting the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba on your right, as you make your way north from Sharm. On your left are red rock expanses to take your breath away. Board a ferry and see the Red Sea waters from up close. In Petra, follow your guide through the canyon to the Street of Facades, Royal Tombs and the temple Qasr Al Bint.

Witness the layers of history beginning with the Nabataens who carved lives for themselves out of the stone in 400 B.C.. Romans overtook the area 500 years later and added their stamp followed by the Byzantines who Christianized the area. By the time westerners discovered Petra, it was home to Bedouin tribes. See remnants of the many cultures that left their marks here during your tour.

Climb on the back of a horse or camel, as you continue to other remarkable sites like the Roman theater and El Khazneh, “the Treasury.” Taste Jordanian specialties at a local restaurant before beginning the return journey to Sharm.

When is Petra open over the year?

Petra is open all year, but occasional spring flooding may cause closures.

What are the opening times?

The park and visitors’ center are open from 6 AM to 6 PM during the summer and from 6 AM to 4 PM in the winter.

When is the best time to visit Petra?

Spring and fall are the best times to visit Petra. To avoid summer heat, plan your visit from March to early June or from mid-September to mid-November. Fall is considered the high season due to the pleasant weather in the area. Spring may be rainy, but if you want to avoid crowds, this season is your best choice.

Winter visits to Petra are also an option for a more tranquil time, as you will benefit from fewer visitors and cooler temperatures. High temperatures range from 15 to 17 degrees Celsius, providing a comfortable experience if you dress accordingly.

Are there any tours to Petra from other cities in the Middle East?

Yes, there are tours departing from other cities in the Middle East:

Travel tips

Tipping is customary in Egypt and Jordan, so have Egyptian pounds and Jordanian dinar on hand.
One meal is included in a 20-hour period, so expect to bring or purchase snacks and drinks throughout the day.
Wear comfortable clothes and good walking shoes. Wear clothes appropriate for riding horses or camels.
Bring sunscreen and a hat.