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

Three Jordan icons in two days. This private trip links Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea without making you arrange each transfer yourself. I like the front-door pickup, private air-conditioned car, included meals, and the chance to sleep in the desert instead of simply driving past it. I also like the small-group feel, which gives you more control than a large coach tour.

The main drawback is the pace. Petra gets about five hours, and the drive between Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea takes roughly four hours. You must also budget separately for Petra and Wadi Rum admission, and the basic desert camp has shared toilets. Still, driver Firas has earned praise for professional service and useful recommendations, while Shireen can help with booking questions and upgrades.

Five details that shape the experience

• Petra admission costs extra: Allow $70 for the Petra ticket, in addition to the tour price.
• Wadi Rum means a real desert night: The basic camp uses private tents with shared toilets, while an upgraded camp offers en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning.
• The Dead Sea stop includes resort access: You get entry and lunch at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG.
• The tour is private: Only your own group takes part, with pickup and drop-off at your Amman hotel.
• Wadi Rum is explored by local Bedouin drivers: The two to three-hour jeep ride is included, but the drivers do not usually speak English.
• Pack for two very different climates: Bring walking shoes, sun protection, and warm clothes for the cold desert night.

Is two days enough for Jordan’s big three?

Two days is enough to see the headline sights, but not enough for a slow look at any of them. That is the trade-off. You spend one long day reaching Petra and Wadi Rum, then return north the next day for the Dead Sea before being dropped back in Amman.

I think the route works best if you have limited time in Jordan and want variety. Petra gives you archaeology and walking, Wadi Rum supplies open desert and Bedouin culture, and the Dead Sea provides a lazy finish. Each stop feels different, which helps the packed schedule feel worthwhile.

The private format matters here. You are not waiting for a large group at every photo stop, and your driver can keep the day moving. It also gives you a quieter ride between places, with bottled water, Wi-Fi, and a mobile phone available in the vehicle.

The price is listed at $293.50 per person. That includes the private car, Amman hotel transfers, one night at a Wadi Rum camp, dinner, breakfast, lunch, the Bedouin jeep tour, and access to the five-star Dead Sea resort. Once you add the $70 Petra ticket and $7 Wadi Rum fee, the basic known cost reaches about $370.50 per person, before any guide, upgrade, or optional balloon ride.

That is not a bargain-basement trip, but it covers a lot of ground and removes the headache of arranging transport between three distant areas. I see the value most clearly for couples, families, and small groups who want private transport and a fixed plan. If you already have a rental car or plenty of time, you may prefer building the route yourself.

The long morning ride from Amman to Petra

The first morning begins with pickup at your Amman hotel. You travel south in a modern, air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver, and Petra is about three hours away.

That transfer is useful rather than glamorous. You can settle in, watch the scenery change, and avoid the strain of driving unfamiliar roads. The private car has space for one small piece of luggage per person, so pack lightly. A large suitcase could become awkward, especially in a small group vehicle.

The schedule gives Petra roughly five hours. That sounds generous until you start walking. The route includes the Siq, the narrow sandstone passage leading toward the Treasury, followed by the Street of Facades, Roman Theater, and Royal Tombs.

Petra is not a place where you simply step off a bus and glance at one monument. The approach through the Siq is part of the experience. The canyon gradually reveals the Treasury, and the scale of the carved city becomes clearer as you continue into the site.

The Nabataeans made Petra their capital, and the city later took on Roman features. Its fame grew slowly in the modern world after Swiss explorer J. L. Burckhardt reached it in 1812 while disguised as an Arab scholar. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

You should treat the Petra portion as a walking visit, not a quick photo stop. The ground is uneven, and the tour information specifically calls for a moderate level of fitness. Wear shoes with good support, carry water, and bring a hat and sunscreen. Five hours can pass quickly, particularly if you want time for photographs and a closer look at the tomb facades.

A guide is not automatically included. Some tour options may include one, but you need to check the option you choose. Without a guide, your English-speaking driver can help with the overall route and practical timing, but the site itself may require more independent exploration.

Sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum

After Petra, you continue south to Wadi Rum. The change is striking. Petra is a concentrated archaeological site, while Wadi Rum spreads across broad desert space, sandstone formations, and open skies.

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and became widely known in the modern era through Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab Revolt of 1916. Its appeal is not one single monument. It is the combination of rock, sand, silence, and Bedouin traditions.

Your first evening ends at a desert camp, where dinner and an overnight stay are included. The basic option provides a private tent with shared toilets. That is a genuine camping setup, not a city hotel moved into the desert. If a private bathroom matters to you, select the upgraded camp with en-suite toilets and air-conditioning.

The supplied information also notes that the desert can become very cold after sunset. This is easy to underestimate, especially after a hot day in the sun. Pack a fleece, sweater, or warm jacket even if Amman feels mild when you leave.

The overnight stop is one of the tour’s most appealing features. A day visit to Wadi Rum gives you scenery, but sleeping there lets you experience the desert after the heat and activity fade. You can sit outside, look at the stars, and enjoy the simple rhythm of camp life. The exact setup varies by accommodation option, so read the inclusions before booking.

One upgrade mentioned by a guest was a Martian dome, described as an especially memorable stay. The standard offer, however, is a tourist camp, not necessarily a dome. Shireen can help with accommodation questions and recommendations, and upgrades cost extra where applicable.

The Bedouin jeep ride through Wadi Rum

After breakfast, you take a two to three-hour jeep tour of Wadi Rum. Local Bedouin drivers operate the off-road vehicles, giving you a more direct connection to the people who live and work in the desert.

The ride is included in the tour price, but the jeep drivers do not usually speak English. That is worth knowing in advance. You may get a more local experience, but you should not expect a long English explanation at every stop. Your main English-speaking contact is the driver who handles the road transfers.

A jeep is also a practical way to cover Wadi Rum. Walking would take far longer, and a camel trek is not part of the included plan. The open desert setting gives you a chance to see the area’s natural formations and cultural sites without spending the entire morning on foot.

A hot-air balloon ride is available as an optional extra, but it requires advance booking and separate payment. It is not part of the standard package, so think of it as an add-on rather than a replacement for the jeep tour.

The desert portion is best suited to you if you enjoy simple accommodation, open spaces, and a little dust. It may be less appealing if you need hotel-level comfort every night or want a detailed English-language talk at every point.

Four hours north to the Dead Sea

After the morning in Wadi Rum, you face a long transfer to the Dead Sea, listed at about four hours. This is the least active part of the trip, but it is also where the private vehicle earns its keep. You can rest between major stops instead of handling the drive yourself.

The Dead Sea sits in the Great Rift Valley at about 408 metres below sea level, the lowest spot on earth. Its high salt content makes the water feel oily and allows you to float with unusual ease. The shore mud contains minerals and is widely associated with therapeutic use.

The tour includes entry to the beach at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea by IHG, plus lunch. That resort access is important because the Dead Sea is not simply a matter of pulling over beside the water. A resort gives you a more organized place to change, eat, and spend time at the shore.

You get about three hours there. That is enough for the main ritual: apply mud if available at the resort area, enter the water carefully, float, rinse off, and relax. Keep the visit practical. Do not shave immediately before going into the water, avoid getting salty water in your eyes, and follow the resort’s instructions.

The Dead Sea is a fine final stop because it asks little of you. After Petra’s uneven ground and Wadi Rum’s off-road ride, floating in warm mineral-rich water feels like a reset. Lunch is included, so you do not need to plan another meal during the stop.

What the private format really adds

The private setup is more than a marketing label. Only your group takes part, and pickup and drop-off are arranged from your Amman hotel. That saves time at the beginning and end of the trip and gives you a direct point of contact during the long road sections.

The English-speaking driver handles the main transport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Firas has been singled out for professional service, useful recommendations, and a good approach to the job. That kind of support matters on a route with multiple hotels, camps, admission points, and timing changes.

Shireen has also been praised for answering booking questions and helping with recommendations. You may value that support most when choosing between basic and upgraded camp accommodation, or when deciding if you want to arrange the balloon ride.

There are limits. This is not necessarily a fully guided archaeological tour of Petra. Jeep drivers in Wadi Rum generally do not speak English, and entrance fees are not all included. Read the selected tour option carefully so you know if a Petra guide, upgraded accommodation, or other extra has been added.

What to pack for this two-day route

Pack less than you might for a normal hotel trip. The car has room for one small piece of luggage per person, and a compact bag is easier to manage at the camp.

Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes for Petra’s uneven ground
• A hat and sunscreen
• Warm clothes for Wadi Rum after dark
• A small overnight bag if you want to leave larger belongings organized in the car
• Enough personal items for one desert night

You should also expect a moderate amount of walking. Petra is the demanding part, while the Wadi Rum jeep ride reduces the amount of walking needed in the desert. The Dead Sea stop is mainly for relaxation.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. For ordinary cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have only two days, want Jordan’s three major sights, and prefer not to organize long-distance transport. It suits first-time visitors who value convenience, private transfers, and a clear route.

It also works well for a small private group that wants to split the cost of the car and possibly upgrade the camp. The included meals and resort access make the price easier to understand, especially when you compare it with arranging separate hotels, transfers, desert tours, and Dead Sea entry.

I would hesitate if your main goal is slow travel. Petra deserves more than a hurried visit, and the four-hour ride from Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea takes up a large part of the second day. You may also prefer another plan if you need private bathrooms, a detailed guide at every site, or large luggage space.

Final call: a fast, well-planned Jordan sampler

Book this tour if you want maximum variety in two days and like having transport, meals, camping, and the Dead Sea stop arranged in one plan. The strongest points are the private service, the Bedouin jeep ride, and the unusual chance to sleep in Wadi Rum.

Before paying, confirm three things: the Petra guide option, the camp standard, and the extra admission fees. Add the $70 Petra ticket and $7 Wadi Rum fee to your budget, and bring warm clothes for the desert night. If you accept the brisk pace and basic camp conditions, this is a practical way to see a remarkable slice of Jordan without wrestling with the route yourself.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup in Amman included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your Amman hotel are included in the private tour.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $293.50 per person. Petra admission, Wadi Rum admission, and any selected upgrades or optional activities are additional.

Is the Petra entrance ticket included?

No. Petra admission is listed separately at $70.

Is Wadi Rum admission included?

No. The Wadi Rum entrance fee is listed separately at $7.

What accommodation is provided in Wadi Rum?

One night at a tourist camp is included. The basic camp has private tents and shared toilets. An upgraded camp has en-suite toilets and air-conditioning.

Is the Wadi Rum jeep tour included?

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

Is the Dead Sea resort entrance included?

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

Can I take a hot-air balloon ride in Wadi Rum?

Yes, but it is optional, costs extra, and requires advance booking.

How far in advance can I cancel?

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.