Plan 3 days to see Petra and Wadi Rum without rushing: one full day in Petra, then a day and a night in the desert.
Two days are enough if your trip is tight, four if you love walking and taking your time.
The two sites are only 112 km apart, about 2 hours by road. We get this question almost every week, so here is what we tell our guests, with transfers, times and prices. To book the desert part and your transfer, see Petra and Wadi Rum tours.
In short: which option to choose?
| You have | Petra | Wadi Rum | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | 1 day | 1 night and a half day by 4×4 | Short trips, a first taste |
| 3 days | 1 day | 1 full day and 1 night | Most travellers, our advice |
| 4 days | 2 days | 2 days and 1 night | Hikers, photographers, unhurried families |
How long do you need for Petra?
One full day lets you see the highlights: the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the theatre and the climb to the Monastery, with its 800 or so steps. It is a real day of walking. Arrive at opening time: you will have the Siq almost to yourself and avoid the midday heat.
A second day is worth it if you love walking. It gives you time to climb to the High Place of Sacrifice, see the Treasury from above, or visit Little Petra, which is quieter.
How long do you need for Wadi Rum?
The minimum is one night. The desert reveals itself at sunset, around the fire, then under the stars. Leaving before the evening means missing what our guests talk about afterwards.
The ideal is a full day and a night. Our full-day jeep tour takes in Lawrence Spring, the red dune, Khazali Canyon and the rock bridges, with a Bedouin lunch and the sunset. The night in the desert is included.
If you only have one evening, the night only is still a beautiful experience: arrive between 6 and 7 pm, dinner cooked under the sand, night in a bivouac or at the camp.
2-day itinerary: the essentials
- Day 1. Visit Petra from opening time. Around 4 pm, take a taxi to Wadi Rum (2 hours). Arrive in the village between 6 and 7 pm, Bedouin dinner and night in the desert.
- Day 2. Wake up in the desert, then a half day by 4×4 in the morning. Leave for Aqaba (1 hour) or Amman in the early afternoon.
It is busy, but doable. You will see the sites near the village, not the south of the desert.
3-day itinerary: our advice
- Day 1. A full day in Petra, night in Wadi Musa.
- Day 2. The 6 am bus or a taxi to Wadi Rum. Meet us at the Wadi Rum Rest House between 9:30 and 10 am, then a full day by 4×4, sunset, dinner and a night under the stars.
- Day 3. Breakfast in the desert, back in the village around 9 to 9:30 am. You are in Aqaba before noon for the Red Sea or your flight.
This is the option most of our guests choose. It gives you time to live the desert, not just pass through it.
Discover the full day + night jeep tour
4-day itinerary: taking your time
- Days 1 and 2. Two days in Petra, with the high trails and Little Petra.
- Days 3 and 4. Our Red & white desert tour: two days and one night down to the white sand valleys of the south, far from the busy tracks.
Climbers can swap one day for an ascent or a climbing outing.
Petra first or Wadi Rum first?
We recommend Petra first, then Wadi Rum, for three reasons:
- Petra tires your legs. The next day, you will enjoy sitting in the back of the 4×4, then around the fire.
- The morning bus leaves Petra at 6 am and reaches the village around 8:30 to 9 am, just before the tours start.
- Wadi Rum is 1 hour from Aqaba: you finish close to the Red Sea and the airport.
The other way round works very well too if you land in Aqaba.
Getting between Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba and Amman
| Route | Distance | Time | Taxi | Bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petra (Wadi Musa) → Wadi Rum | 112 km | about 2 h | 40 JOD | 6 am, 7 to 10 JOD |
| Aqaba → Wadi Rum | 70 km | about 1 h | 25 JOD | 8 am, JETT station |
| Amman → Wadi Rum | about 320 km | 3.5 to 4 h | 110 JOD | no direct bus |
Taxi fares are a guide, per vehicle, to the Wadi Rum Rest House. We can arrange your transfer at a fixed price if you ask when you book. All the details are on our page How to get to Wadi Rum.
What budget for Wadi Rum?
| Option | Price per person, group of 2 to 3 |
|---|---|
| Night only (dinner, night, breakfast) | 20 JOD |
| Half-day jeep tour | 45 JOD |
| Full-day jeep tour + night | 50 JOD |
| Red & white desert, 2 days and 1 night | 100 JOD |
The full day with a night costs less than a night followed by a half day: one more reason to plan 3 days. Prices drop further from 4 people, and children get discounts.
Entry to the protected area costs 7 JOD per person, free with the Jordan Pass. You pay on site, in cash and in Jordanian dinars, with no deposit. Withdraw cash in Aqaba or Wadi Musa before you arrive.
Our tips for combining the two
- Get the Jordan Pass if you stay at least 3 nights in Jordan: it covers your visa, entry to Petra and entry to Wadi Rum.
- Sleep in Wadi Musa the night before Petra, so you can enter the site at opening time.
- Book your seat on the 6 am bus the day before, through your hotel.
- Bring a jacket: desert nights are cool, even in spring.
- Travel light for the desert: your car or your suitcases stay safe in the village.
