From Sharm ElSheikh: The Lost City (Petra) Day Tour by Ferry

Petra is the reason to take this tour. You cross the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry, then reach Jordan’s famous rose-colored city for the Treasury of Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, and the 13 graves cut into the King Wall. Seeing Petra in a single day from Sharm El Sheikh is a major trip, not a casual outing.

I like that the $329 price includes the big essentials, from hotel pickup and ferry tickets to the Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, lunch, and an air-conditioned vehicle. I also like that you get a guide on site, with guides such as Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin praised for being friendly, helpful, and well informed.

The catch is the clock. This can take 20 to 23 hours, with much of the day spent on buses, border procedures, and the ferry. Petra is worth the effort, but you should book only if you can handle a very early start and a late return.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the main event: See Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the Citadel area, and the 13 graves of the King Wall.
• The journey uses both road and sea: Travel through the Sinai Peninsula to Taba, then cross the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry into Jordan.
• The full day can reach 20 to 23 hours: Build in recovery time after you return to Sharm El Sheikh.
• The price covers major trip costs: Transport, ferry, Jordan visa, Petra entrance, on-site guide, lunch, and hotel transfers are included.
• Expect a large group: One departure had about 48 people, and English and Russian are the listed languages.
• Carry water and wear sensible shoes: Petra can be hot, and you will be walking through an archaeological site with uneven ground.

Petra in one day from Sharm El Sheikh

Petra is not close to Sharm El Sheikh, and the map matters here. You begin at your hotel, cross the Sinai Peninsula by road, reach Taba, and then leave Egypt by ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba. Once in Jordan, the route continues toward the gorge of Ma’an and Petra.

That makes this a border-crossing expedition as much as a sightseeing tour. The air-conditioned vehicle helps, and the ferry breaks up the long road journey, but you should not picture a relaxed day with hours to spare. This is the practical way to see Petra from a Sharm base if you cannot add an overnight stay in Jordan.

The schedule can stretch to around 20 hours, and some departures have taken about 23. You may leave before sunrise and return very late. I would keep the following morning free, especially if you are traveling with children, have a tight flight schedule, or simply dislike losing a night of sleep.

The upside is clear: one long day gives you access to one of the world’s great archaeological sites without arranging separate hotels, transfers, ferry tickets, entrance fees, or border paperwork yourself.

From Sinai roads to the Gulf of Aqaba ferry

The first part of the tour is a road transfer from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba. This section is functional rather than scenic sightseeing, but it is an important part of the crossing. You will spend a good deal of time seated, so comfortable clothes are more useful than anything stylish.

At Taba, the ferry takes you across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. This is one of the tour’s more unusual features. Instead of flying or staying on the road for the whole journey, you get a sea crossing that marks the shift from Egypt to Jordan.

The transport is air-conditioned, and the ferry ticket is included. Even so, border travel can make a day feel longer than the mileage suggests. Keep your passport or ID card easy to reach, follow the guide’s instructions, and avoid packing anything you do not need for the day.

You should also bring water. Breaks are provided along the route, but Petra itself can be hot, and the time between leaving the vehicle and reaching your lunch stop may be longer than you expect.

Entering Petra through the gorge of Ma’an

After the ferry crossing and the journey into Jordan, you continue toward Petra in the gorge of Ma’an. Petra was once cut into the pink stone of the region and later became famous as a city that had been forgotten by much of the world for more than 1,000 years.

The first sight of the carved buildings is the payoff for the long transfer. Petra does not feel like a single monument. It is an archaeological city spread through rock walls and open spaces, with facades, theaters, tombs, and temples appearing as you move through the site.

Your guide helps turn a large and sometimes confusing place into a readable visit. That matters on a short tour. Without context, you could spend your limited time taking photographs without understanding what you are seeing.

Guides named Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin have been singled out for friendly service and strong explanations on this route. The exact guide for your departure may differ, but the tour does include an on-site guide, which is especially useful when your time in Petra is limited.

Al Khazneh, Petra’s unforgettable Treasury

Al Khazneh, usually called the Treasury, is the sight most people picture when they think of Petra. It is carved directly into the pink stone and rises dramatically at the end of the canyon route.

This is the place where the long journey suddenly makes sense. The facade is large, detailed, and startlingly well preserved in parts. You can pause here for photographs, but do not stop at the first camera angle. Look closely at the carved columns, upper levels, and the way the building is framed by the rock.

The name Treasury can mislead you. It sounds like a place where treasure was stored, but the tour description presents it as Petra’s grand carved monument rather than promising access to a furnished interior. The visual impact is the point.

You will likely have other people around you, particularly because this is a popular route and the group can be large. A guide can help you find a sensible place to gather and explain what you are seeing before the group moves on.

Roman Theater and the King Wall graves

The Roman Theater shows another side of Petra. While Al Khazneh is a carved facade, the theater gives you a clearer sense of the city as a working urban center. The site combines monumental decoration with public architecture, making the stop more than a series of photogenic rock walls.

The King Wall is another highlight. The tour includes the 13 graves associated with this famous section of Petra. These tombs are cut into the rock and help show how much of the city was shaped around burial monuments as well as temples and civic spaces.

Take time to compare the surfaces and forms. Some details are crisp, while others have been softened by age and weather. The scale can be hard to grasp in a photograph, so pay attention to people and doorways for perspective.

The route also includes the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel. The wording covers several important parts of the archaeological area, but the exact order of stops can vary with the day’s timing and local arrangements. Your guide will direct you through the planned visit.

How much walking and heat should you expect?

You need comfortable shoes. Petra is an archaeological site rather than a smooth urban attraction, and you will be walking between carved monuments and open areas. The supplied information does not give a precise walking distance, so I would not plan around a specific number of steps.

Comfortable clothing matters for the same reason. The day combines long periods of sitting with time outdoors in Petra, where it can be hot. Dress for movement and bring water with you rather than relying only on stops along the route.

The tour includes lunch at a local restaurant after your exploration. That gives you a proper pause after the site visit, but it does not remove the need for snacks or water during the day. The overall schedule is long enough that personal supplies are sensible.

This is not the right choice if you want a slow, detailed archaeological study. It is better for checking Petra off your list, seeing the principal monuments, and gaining a guided introduction in one demanding day.

What the $329 price really covers

At $329 per person, this is an expensive day trip on paper. The price becomes easier to judge when you count what is bundled into it.

Included are:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Air-conditioned transportation
• Ferry tickets
• Jordan entry visa
• Petra entrance fee
• On-site tour guide
• Lunch

You are paying for a cross-border operation with several moving parts, not just a guide and a ticket at Petra. The ferry, visa, admission, road transfers, and hotel service would be difficult to arrange as separate pieces during a short holiday.

The strongest value is convenience. You do not need to solve the Taba crossing, ferry booking, Jordan entry arrangements, or Petra admission on your own. The tradeoff is that you give up flexibility and spend much of the day traveling with a group.

One point to check before paying is the exact schedule for your date. The total duration has been described as a full day, but actual returns can reach 20 to 23 hours. If you have a dinner reservation, spa booking, or early departure the next morning, leave plenty of space.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your holiday plans are still shifting. Cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, according to the stated terms.

Group size, languages, and guide quality

The tour is offered in English and Russian. That is useful for many visitors, but the language balance can affect the experience. One reported departure had about 48 people, with most of the group speaking Russian.

A large group keeps the price and logistics manageable, but it can make explanations harder to hear and slow down movement through the site. One complaint concerned a transport guide between Aqaba and Petra who spoke mostly Russian, leaving some English-speaking passengers with less useful commentary.

That does not mean every section will have the same problem. The on-site guides praised by name, including Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin, were described as friendly, thoughtful, helpful, and good at explaining Petra. Still, if you prefer a quiet visit or detailed English commentary at every stage, ask the operator about the language setup and group size before booking.

The most important guide work happens inside Petra. A good guide helps you understand why the Treasury, theater, tombs, and Citadel matter, then keeps a large group moving through a site where it would be easy to lose time.

Lunch and the late return to Sharm

Lunch is served at a local restaurant after your Petra visit. That is welcome after the walking and heat, and it means you do not need to arrange a separate meal during the Jordan portion of the tour.

The return journey follows the same broad pattern: transport back toward Aqaba, ferry crossing, the Taba connection, and the road transfer to Sharm El Sheikh. This is where tiredness catches up with you. The outward journey feels like an adventure; the return can feel like a test of patience.

One useful detail from the experience is that there are stops for breaks along the way. Air conditioning is available on the buses and boat, but you should still carry water for Petra and keep essential items close rather than buried in luggage.

Do not count on an evening meal after returning. A late dinner stop was specifically wished for, but it is not listed as part of the included program. Eat properly at lunch and bring something small for the ride if you need regular food.

Who should book this Petra day trip?

I would recommend it to you if Petra is high on your list and you have only a Sharm El Sheikh base. It suits people who accept a long transit day in exchange for seeing a major world site, and it works well if you value an all-in package over independent planning.

It is also a good fit if you want the main Petra sights with an on-site guide. The Treasury, Roman Theater, King Wall graves, and Citadel area provide a strong first visit, even though you will not have the time that an overnight stay would give you.

I would hesitate if you dislike border crossings, large groups, or very early departures. I would also think twice if your schedule is tight, since the return time can be later than expected and may reach 23 hours from pickup to hotel drop-off.

The tour has a 4.4 rating from 52 reviews, which fits the practical picture: Petra earns strong praise, while the long travel day and occasional language or group concerns keep the experience from being effortless.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Petra badly enough to accept the journey. The site is the star, and the package removes many costly and complicated details from a Sharm to Jordan day trip.

Before booking, confirm the pickup time, expected return window, language arrangement, and likely group size. Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing, and plenty of water.

If you have an extra night available in Jordan, an overnight visit would give you a calmer pace. If you do not, this ferry tour is a practical, ambitious way to see Petra in one very long day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour is described as a full-day experience, but the actual schedule can take about 20 to 23 hours, including travel between Sharm El Sheikh and Petra.

What sights are included at Petra?

The visit includes Al Khazneh, known as the Treasury, the Roman Theater, the 13 graves of the King Wall, and the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel.

How do I travel from Egypt to Jordan?

You are picked up in Sharm El Sheikh, travel by road through the Sinai Peninsula to Taba, and then take a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan.

Is the ferry ticket included?

Yes. Ferry tickets are included in the tour price.

Is the Jordan entry visa included?

Yes. The Jordan entry visa is included.

Is the Petra entrance fee included?

Yes. Admission to Petra is included.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included after your Petra visit.

What languages are offered?

The listed tour languages are English and Russian.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and comfortable clothes. Water is also a practical choice because Petra can be hot.