Reviewed · PETRA TOURS

From Amman :Private full day tour to Petra with Hotel pickup

5.0 · 24 reviews From $90 Operated by Alamal Travel &Tourism · Bookable on Viator
Book on Viator →

Petra is the reason to take this tour: after a long but easy ride from Amman, you walk through the narrow Siq and meet the Treasury face to face. I like the private door-to-door transport and the freedom to explore Petra without being tied to a large group or a fixed guide. The English-speaking driver can help with tickets and make stops for food or souvenirs.

The catch is the distance. You spend about six hours on the road and only four hours inside Petra, so this is a useful one-day visit, not a full study of the ancient city. Still, the 4.9 rating from 24 ratings and 100 percent recommendation reflect what this trip does well: it makes a demanding day manageable.

Key points to know before booking

  • Six hours of private driving: The round trip from Amman takes about three hours each way, with an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and WiFi.
  • Four hours at Petra: You have time for the Siq, Treasury, Roman amphitheater, altar, and court, but not every corner of the site.
  • Tickets can be added: Entry is not included in the base arrangement unless you choose the option that includes tickets.
  • Your own group only: This is a private activity for your friends or family, not a shared coach tour.
  • Helpful driver support: The English-speaking driver can help you buy your Petra ticket and make stops for food or souvenirs.
  • Flexible cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Why this private Amman to Petra day trip works

From Amman :Private full day tour to Petra with Hotel pickup - Why this private Amman to Petra day trip works

Petra is not a quick side trip from Amman. The road takes around three hours each way, so transport shapes the whole day. This tour removes the awkward part: you are collected at your Amman hotel, ride directly in a private vehicle, and return to that same hotel after your visit.

I like this setup for two reasons. First, you do not need to negotiate with taxis or arrange a second ride at Petra. Second, you control your time once you enter the site. You can stop for photographs, walk at your own pace, and decide how much energy to spend beyond the Treasury.

The private format matters most if you are traveling with family or a small group of friends. You are not waiting for strangers to finish lunch or keeping pace with a guide. The tradeoff is that there is no local guide included, so the site’s stories and ancient details are yours to discover through your own planning.

Other ways to see the rose-red city from Amman:

The three-hour ride from Amman

Pickup begins at your hotel in Amman. From there, the English-speaking driver takes you to Petra in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. The journey is listed at about three hours, which makes bottled water and onboard WiFi useful little comforts.

This is the part of the day to settle in and conserve energy. Petra involves walking, and four hours inside the site can pass quickly. A private ride also gives your group a quieter setting than a shared bus, with no need to manage several pickup points.

The driver can stop along the way for food and souvenirs. That is a practical advantage, especially because lunch is not included. You should budget separately for anything you want to eat, and you should confirm with the driver when and where a stop will fit the day’s timing.

The ride is still long. If your main goal is to see Petra in detail, an overnight stay near the site would give you more time. If you have only one day available from Amman, this direct arrangement saves the trouble of piecing together transport yourself.

Arriving at the Petra Visitors Center

From Amman :Private full day tour to Petra with Hotel pickup - Arriving at the Petra Visitors Center

At the Petra Visitors Center, the driver can help you purchase your admission ticket. The ticket is not included in the standard price unless you select the option that includes entry tickets, so check your booking choice carefully before departure.

Allow around 15 minutes for this stop. It is a short practical pause, but it can keep the arrival simple. You do not have to figure out the ticket process alone, and your driver can point you in the right direction before you begin walking.

The price is listed at $90 per person. That figure covers the private transportation, English-speaking driver, air conditioning, bottled water, and WiFi, but entry tickets and lunch may cost extra depending on your selected option. For a solo guest, the price may feel high compared with a shared transfer. For a family or group splitting the cost of a private vehicle, the value is easier to see.

Walking through the Siq to the Treasury

Once you enter Petra, the route begins with the Siq, the narrow passage that leads into the ancient city. This is the most memorable approach to the site because the rock walls close around you before the Treasury appears at the far end.

You will have about four hours in Petra. That is enough time to reach the Treasury, take photographs, and see several of the main areas named for this visit. The first reveal of the Treasury is the natural focus of the walk, but it is only one part of Petra.

The tour leaves you to explore on your own. That gives you room to pause and take in the carved stone rather than being hurried from one explanation to the next. It also means you should think ahead about what you most want to see, since four hours is not enough for every path and monument.

Wear sensible walking shoes and keep your water close. The tour provides bottled water, but Petra is a large outdoor site and your walking time is limited. The provided information does not promise a particular route beyond the Siq and the listed sites, so ask the driver about the practical meeting point and return timing before you set off.

A few more things to do in Amman worth a look

What fits into four hours at Petra

The main sights specifically included in the visit are the Treasury, Roman amphitheater, altar, and court. The Treasury is the visual highlight, while the other areas help you see that Petra was much more than a single carved facade.

The Roman amphitheater gives the visit a different scale. After the close walls of the Siq and the focused view of the Treasury, an open performance space helps you understand the size of the ancient settlement. The altar and court add further places to explore, though the tour does not include a local guide to explain each site in depth.

Four hours is a reasonable amount of time for a first look at these major areas. It is also the main limitation of the day. A recent rating of the trip praised Petra as worth the long drive but pointed to the wish for more time inside the site. That is a fair warning, not a flaw unique to this tour. The Amman to Petra distance leaves little room for a longer Petra visit on the same day.

To use your time well, decide before entering whether your priority is photography, seeing several named monuments, or simply walking slowly through the Siq and Treasury area. You can do a good mixture of all three, but you may need to skip parts of the site.

Returning to Amman after the visit

After your Petra visit, you meet your driver and begin the roughly three-hour return to your Amman hotel. This direct return is one of the strongest practical reasons to choose a private tour. You do not need to search for a taxi after a full day of walking, and your group can rest in the air-conditioned vehicle.

The journey back may feel long. That is the honest cost of seeing Petra from Amman in one day. The private vehicle makes it more comfortable, but it cannot shorten the road. Plan for a full day of roughly 10 to 11 hours from pickup to return.

The driver’s friendly approach adds value here. The service includes help with tickets and can include stops for food or souvenirs, based on the details provided about the trip. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and lunch is also outside the tour price.

What the $90 price really buys

The $90 per person price should be judged as a transport and convenience package, not as a fully guided Petra tour. You are paying for hotel pickup, private round-trip transportation, an English-speaking driver, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and WiFi.

You are not automatically paying for a local guide, lunch, or entry to Petra. Tickets are included only if you choose the ticket option. That distinction matters because a low advertised price can rise once admission and food are added.

For two or more people, the private format can be a sensible buy. You get a dedicated vehicle and avoid the uncertainty of arranging taxis between Amman and Petra. You also keep the day within your group. Solo visitors may prefer to compare the cost with a shared trip, but the convenience of hotel pickup and a direct return still has real value.

The price also buys time and less fuss. You do not have to haggle for a taxi, manage several transfers, or find your way back after Petra. If your priority is a simple day trip rather than the lowest possible fare, that is the strongest argument for booking.

What is included, and what is not

The included services are straightforward:

  • Private transportation
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • English-speaking driver
  • Bottled water
  • WiFi on board
  • Hotel pickup and return in Amman
  • Entry tickets only when you select that option

The exclusions deserve equal attention. Lunch is not included, alcoholic beverages are not included, and no local guide accompanies you through Petra. The driver can help with the ticket purchase, but that is different from having a guide explain the monuments as you walk.

This arrangement suits people who enjoy independent sightseeing. You get a ride and practical support, then make your own choices inside Petra. If you want detailed archaeological explanations throughout the site, you will need to arrange that separately, since a local guide is not part of this experience.

Who should book this Petra trip

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Amman, have one day for Petra, and value a private ride more than the absolute lowest price. It is also a good fit for families and small groups that want to stay together and avoid shared transport.

It works well for independent visitors who already know the main sights they want to see. The Siq, Treasury, amphitheater, altar, and court give you a clear first-visit route, and four hours provides enough time to cover several headline locations.

I would think twice if you want a slow, detailed visit. The six-hour road time leaves only about four hours at Petra, and the lack of a local guide means you will not receive built-in interpretation. In that case, staying closer to Petra or choosing a longer arrangement may serve you better.

Most people can participate, according to the tour details, and the activity is private. The information does not provide a specific accessibility assessment, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the provider for current site and vehicle details before booking.

Booking and cancellation details

Confirmation is received at the time of booking. The activity is offered as a private experience, so only your group takes part.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. That rule is worth noting because the tour occupies most of a day and transport is arranged in advance.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want Petra from Amman without the hassle of arranging long-distance transport yourself. The private vehicle, hotel pickup, ticket help, bottled water, WiFi, and flexible sightseeing make a demanding day much easier. The friendly service and willingness to stop for food or souvenirs are useful touches.

Do not book it expecting a complete Petra tour. The day includes about six hours of driving, four hours at the site, no local guide, and possible extra costs for admission and lunch. For a first glimpse of Petra with your own group, $90 per person can be fair value. For a slow or deeply explained visit, give Petra more time than this schedule allows.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup included in Amman?

Yes. The trip starts with pickup from your hotel in Amman and returns you to your hotel after the Petra visit.

How long does the whole tour take?

The experience lasts approximately 10 to 11 hours. The drive to Petra takes about three hours, the Petra visit lasts about four hours, and the return drive takes about three hours.

How long do I spend at Petra?

You have approximately four hours to explore Petra.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is transportation air-conditioned?

Yes. Transportation is provided in an air-conditioned private vehicle.

Does the driver speak English?

Yes. An English-speaking driver is included.

Are Petra entry tickets included?

Entry tickets are included only if you select the option that includes them. Otherwise, admission is not included, and the driver can help you purchase a ticket at the Visitors Center.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is a local guide included at Petra?

No. A local guide is not included. You explore Petra on your own after arriving.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

More like this

Petra Tours, compared.

The full Petra Tours list →
Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea 2-Day Tour
★★★★★★★★★★4.9· 1,173 reviews

Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea 2-Day Tour

Read our review →
Petra & Wadi Rum Private or group Day Tour
★★★★★★★★★★4.9· 750 reviews· from $126

Petra & Wadi Rum Private or group Day Tour

Read our review →
Petra and Wadi rum Full day Tour
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 538 reviews· from $99

Petra and Wadi rum Full day Tour

Read our review →
Petra Full-Day Private Tour from Amman
★★★★★★★★★★4.9· 392 reviews· from $78

Petra Full-Day Private Tour from Amman

Read our review →
Amman Petra Full-Day Trip
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 270 reviews· from $95

Amman Petra Full-Day Trip

Read our review →
Lasting memories in Petra & Jordan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 270 reviews

Lasting memories in Petra & Jordan

Read our review →
Full day tour to Petra
★★★★★★★★★★5.0· 250 reviews· from $95

Full day tour to Petra

Read our review →

Browse the lists this tour appears in

Scroll to Top

Explore Jordan

Pick a ruin, a shoreline or a stretch of red sand.