From Sharm El Sheikh: Day Tour to Petra by Ferry

Petra is the reason to take this trip. At the end of a narrow natural gorge, the rock opens to reveal Al Khazneh, the famous rose-colored monument carved into the cliffs more than 2,000 years ago. You also see the Roman theater, royal tombs, colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent with an English-speaking guide.

I like the all-inclusive planning: hotel pickup, transport, ferry tickets, Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, a three-hour guided visit, and lunch are covered. I also like the ferry crossing, which breaks up the long overland journey and gives the day a memorable international feel.

The catch is simple: this is a very long day, close to 22 hours, with border checks, ferry waits, and several changes of transport. Petra is worth serious effort, but this trip suits you best if you can handle a midnight departure, lots of walking, and a schedule that may not always run like clockwork.

Key points before you book

• Petra in one intense day: You see the Siq, Al Khazneh, Roman theater, royal tombs, colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent during a three-hour guided visit.
• A full night and day on the move: Pickup from Sharm El Sheikh is just before midnight, with a return around midnight the following day.
• Ferry travel adds variety: The route includes ferry crossings of about 2 hours and 20 minutes each way, plus the Taba border crossing.
• Guides make a big difference: Karim, Kareem, Ahmed, and Wazy are names associated with strong organization and clear explanations.
• Come prepared for Petra’s surface: You need sturdy shoes, water, your passport, and patience with a packed schedule.
• Lunch has limits: The meal is included, but drinks are extra and vegetarian choices may be limited beyond salads.

Why Petra is worth such a long day

Petra is not a quick roadside stop. You enter through the Siq, a narrow canyon formed by a crack in the rock, then follow the route toward a city carved into sandstone mountains. The approach matters. The rock walls close around you, and Al Khazneh appears only when the passage opens.

That first view is the emotional high point of the day, but it is not the only reason to come. Petra was the center of the Nabataean kingdom, and its remains show how a desert power built a major city along ancient trade routes. Your guide helps connect the carved facades and ruins to that larger story instead of leaving you with a collection of impressive stones.

At $381 per person, the price is high for a day trip. The value comes from what is bundled into it: pickup from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel, an air-conditioned vehicle, ferry tickets, border assistance, Jordan’s entry visa, Petra entrance, a guide, a three-hour guided visit, and lunch. If you tried to arrange every leg yourself, the transport and border details would be a major burden.

Still, this is not a relaxed bargain excursion. You pay for access to Petra from an Egyptian resort base, but you also pay with time and energy. If Petra is high on your list, the cost may be sensible. If you prefer slow travel, an overnight stay near Petra would be a better format.

The midnight departure from Sharm El Sheikh

Pickup takes place just before midnight at your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. You travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle toward Taba, with the road journey forming the first part of a long chain of transfers.

The air conditioning matters, especially after a day in Petra. Several people have found the buses and coaches comfortable and clean, but comfort cannot remove the basic problem: you are traveling through the night, then spending much of the next day walking and waiting.

Bring water, a passport, and only what you need. A small day bag is easier at border points and in Petra than a large suitcase. Wear shoes with good grip. Petra involves a great deal of walking, and the route through the Siq is only the beginning of the visit.

You should also expect the timing to shift. Border procedures and ferry operations can create long pauses. The Egypt side has been particularly prone to wasted time, and communication during the return journey may not always be as clear as you would like.

Taba and the border crossing

Taba is a short pass-by stop in the stated schedule, but the border process can take much longer than the nominal 20 minutes. You are met and assisted at the crossing, then continue into Jordan once the formalities are complete.

This assistance is important because the day involves more than one country, several transport stages, and ferry procedures. Even so, assistance does not guarantee a quick crossing. Build mental space into your day for queues and waiting.

You must provide a copy of your passport to the local partner no later than two days before departure. Bring the original passport with you as well. The Jordan entry visa is included, which removes one significant expense and administrative task.

If the ferry is canceled urgently, or if the trip takes place on a day outside the ferry schedule, you may be transferred into Jordan through the Arava border instead. That is a useful backup, but it may change the rhythm of the journey.

The ferry ride from Aqaba

After the border crossing, you continue toward Aqaba and board the ferry. Each ferry segment is listed at about 2 hours and 20 minutes. This is not just a practical transfer. It gives you a break from the road and adds a sea crossing to an already unusual day.

The ferry schedule is one of the trip’s less predictable parts. You may wait at the port, and the exact movement through immigration and boarding can be unclear. Keep your passport accessible, stay close to your group, and listen for instructions.

Aqaba itself is listed as a short stop of about 20 minutes before the main Petra visit. Do not treat this as a proper city tour. It is primarily a transit point on the way to the inland archaeological site.

The return ferry begins after lunch and your Petra visit. The second crossing can feel longer because you are tired, so use the time to rest. You still have the Egypt border and the final drive to Sharm El Sheikh ahead of you.

Inside Petra: the Siq and Al Khazneh

The main Petra visit lasts about three hours with a guide. That is enough to see the central sights, but it is not enough for every trail, tomb, and high viewpoint in the wider site.

You begin with the Siq, the natural canyon that leads into Petra. You can walk or choose a camel ride for the approach. The camel option may appeal if you want to reduce some walking, but make sure you understand the cost and arrangements before accepting any ride. Local sellers and animal handlers may offer extra services or souvenirs at prices that are not always modest.

The Siq itself is part of the experience, not merely a corridor to the main monument. The sandstone walls rise on either side, and the route builds suspense before the first full view of Al Khazneh.

Al Khazneh, also called the Treasury, is Petra’s signature sight. Its facade is carved directly into the cliff, with classical details that look almost theatrical. Your guide can explain why the monument belongs to a Nabataean city rather than treating it as an isolated wonder.

From there, the route takes in the Roman theater, royal tombs, Roman colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent. These stops show several layers of Petra’s use and development. The tomb facades are dramatic, the theater reveals the city’s public life, and the colonnaded street points to the Roman influence that came later.

The three-hour format requires discipline. You may have time for photographs and a little independent looking, but not unlimited wandering. Stay aware of meeting points and the return schedule. Missing the group would be a serious problem on a day with ferry and border connections.

Guides, explanations, and group care

The guide can shape your entire impression of Petra. Karim and Kareem are praised for clear explanations, enthusiasm, and careful attention to the group. Ahmed and Wazy are also associated with the Jordan and Egypt portions of the journey. Names and assignments can vary, but the best guides do more than point at monuments.

A good guide gives you the Nabataean context, explains what you are seeing, and keeps the group moving through a complicated day. Kareem, in particular, is described as hospitable and willing to help with small practical needs. That kind of care matters when you are tired, thirsty, or unsure where to go next.

English is the stated guiding language. The tour is wheelchair accessible, but Petra’s terrain, the Siq, walking distances, and animal transport options still deserve a direct conversation before booking if you have mobility needs. The information provided does not explain exactly which sections are accessible or what assistance is available on the ground.

There may be moments when you are between guides, especially during Egyptian transport or at the return border. Keep track of your own group and hotel transfer rather than assuming someone will always be beside you.

Lunch in Petra

Lunch at a local restaurant is included after the Petra visit. It is a welcome pause after several hours on your feet, and the meal is intended to offer something for different tastes.

Drinks are not included, so carry some money for water or other beverages. Vegetarian diners should ask about the available dishes before sitting down. The meal may provide salads but not a full vegetarian selection, so anyone with a strict diet should prepare for limited choice.

The restaurant stop is also a useful place to regroup before the return to Aqaba. Do not linger too far from your group. The ferry schedule and border procedures leave little room for an unplanned delay.

The return to Sharm El Sheikh

After lunch, you return to Aqaba for the ferry and then continue through the border process toward Egypt. The final drive brings you back to your Sharm El Sheikh hotel at around midnight.

This is where the length of the day becomes most obvious. You may have been awake since the previous evening, walked through Petra, crossed borders, and spent hours in vehicles and on ferries. The return is not sightseeing time. It is simply the necessary route home.

Communication can be less consistent on the Egypt side during the return. You may not always receive clear instructions about toilet breaks, drinks, or when you can leave the vehicle. Stay alert at stops and keep your hotel name and contact details easy to find.

The transfer should take you back to your hotel, but do not wander away from the vehicle at the final garage or rest stop. Confirm where your group is before buying food or walking off.

Is $381 good value?

The $381 price includes a great deal of coordination. You are not paying only for Petra admission. You are paying for a cross-border operation with road transport, two ferry journeys, border assistance, a Jordan visa, entrance fees, a guide, lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

That makes the price easier to justify for someone who has only one free day from Sharm El Sheikh and wants Petra without arranging the complicated transport alone. The included ferry tickets and visa are especially useful because they remove costs that could otherwise appear later.

The value is weaker if you dislike rushed sightseeing or expect a leisurely Petra visit. You spend roughly three hours inside the archaeological site, while the total trip lasts about 22 hours. A longer Jordan stay would give you more time and reduce the pressure, but it would also cost more and require extra planning.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking provide useful flexibility. The tour also has a separate entrance for skipping the regular line, according to the activity details, though border and ferry queues remain outside the control of that arrangement.

Who should book this Petra trip?

I would choose this tour if Petra is a must-see and you are staying in Sharm El Sheikh without enough time for an overnight Jordan trip. It is also a good fit if you prefer having the visa, ferry, admission, meals, and transfers arranged together.

You should be comfortable with a midnight start, a long day, walking on uneven ground, and waiting at borders. Families with very young children or anyone needing a predictable schedule should think carefully, since the timing can be tiring and the border process may be slow.

Pack these essentials:

• Passport and a copy sent to the local partner at least two days before departure
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water and money for drinks
• Sun protection suitable for a full day outdoors
• A small bag rather than bulky luggage
• Your hotel name and contact details for the return transfer

Should you book it?

Book it if you want to see Petra from Sharm El Sheikh and accept that the journey will be as demanding as the destination is rewarding. The strongest parts are the organized cross-border transport, the ferry experience, the guide-led visit, and the chance to see Al Khazneh along with several major Petra monuments in one day.

Skip it if you need a relaxed pace, dependable minute-by-minute timing, or a broad selection of vegetarian food at lunch. For most determined first-time visitors, though, the trip offers a practical way to reach one of the world’s great archaeological sites without arranging the complicated route alone.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about 22 hours, starting with pickup from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel just before midnight and returning around midnight the following day.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at hotels in Sharm El Sheikh are included, with transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is the Jordan visa included?

Yes. The entry visa to Jordan is included in the tour price. You must also provide a copy of your passport to the local partner no later than two days before the trip and bring your passport with you.

How long is the ferry ride?

Each ferry journey is listed at about 2 hours and 20 minutes. The trip includes a ferry journey toward Jordan and a return ferry to Taba.

What do you see in Petra?

The guided visit includes the Siq, Al Khazneh, the Roman theater, royal tombs, the Roman colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent. The guided portion lasts about three hours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant in Petra is included, but personal expenses and drinks are not included. Vegetarian choices may be limited, so ask about the available meal options before eating.