From Sharm El Sheikh: Day Tour to Petra by Ferry

Petra is the reason to take this trip. You leave Sharm El Sheikh before midnight, cross from Egypt into Jordan, ride the ferry to Aqaba, then walk into the rose-colored canyon and meet the famous Treasury face to face. The payoff is enormous, but the clock is unforgiving.

I like the all-in-one planning, with transport, ferry tickets, Jordan entry, Petra admission, a guide, and lunch covered. I also like having a Jordanian guide such as Karim, Kareem, Ahmed, or Wazy explain the Nabataean city instead of simply dropping you at the gate. The catch is simple: this is a very long 22-hour day, with border and ferry waits that can test your patience.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the star: You get a guided visit to the Siq, the Treasury, the Roman theater, royal tombs, colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent.
• The journey begins before midnight: Expect a full day and night of movement, not a relaxed sightseeing outing.
• Two ferry crossings shape the day: Each sailing is scheduled for about 2 hours and 20 minutes, though port and immigration procedures can add waiting.
• Several guides may handle different sections: Karim and Kareem have been praised for their care and explanations, while Ahmed and Wazy have also guided the Jordan portion.
• Bring proper walking gear: Petra involves walking through the Siq and across an open archaeological site, so sturdy shoes and water matter.
• Lunch is included, but plan for limits: Food is provided at a local restaurant, though drinks cost extra and vegetarian choices may be basic.

The real attraction is Petra, not the transport

This excursion gives you a way to see Petra from Sharm El Sheikh without arranging hotels, border paperwork, ferries, admission, and local transport yourself. That convenience matters because the route crosses an international border and involves several separate transport stages.

You pay $381 per person, which is a serious price for a single day. The value comes from what is bundled into that figure: hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, ferry tickets, a Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, a three-hour guided visit, and lunch. If you tried to assemble all those pieces alone, the planning would be much harder.

I would not call this cheap. I would call it a practical shortcut for someone based in Sharm El Sheikh who has Petra high on the list and does not want to arrange an overnight stay in Jordan. You are paying for coordination as much as sightseeing.

The schedule is best understood as a long transport mission with a powerful middle section. The ferry, border, and road legs are necessary. Petra is the reward.

Leaving Sharm El Sheikh before midnight

Pickup takes place at your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh shortly before midnight. You travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle toward Taba, near Egypt’s border with Israel and Jordan’s Gulf of Aqaba route.

This first leg is not sightseeing. You will probably try to sleep, so keep your passport, phone, water, and a light layer within reach rather than buried in luggage. The supplied information requires a passport, and a copy must be sent to the local operator no later than two days before departure.

The vehicle is one of the more important practical details. Clean, air-conditioned coaches have been appreciated, but comfort cannot remove the basic problem: you are traveling through the night and then spending the next day walking and crossing borders.

At Taba, the planned stop is short on paper, about 20 minutes. In practice, border procedures can take much longer. Bring patience, and do not assume every pause has a clear explanation. Some parts of the Egypt-side return journey may not have an English-speaking guide nearby, so keep track of your group and vehicle.

The border crossing requires patience

This is the least predictable section of the day. You are met and assisted at the border, then continue into Jordan. The operators can also use the Arava border if the ferry is urgently canceled or if the booking falls on a day when the ferry is not running.

That backup is useful, but it changes the experience. A road transfer through the Arava border is not the same as a ferry crossing, so you should treat the sailing as planned rather than guaranteed. The key point is that the tour has a fallback route, not that the day will run exactly to the printed schedule.

Border time can also be tiring for families and anyone with limited mobility. The activity is described as wheelchair accessible, but the repeated changes between coach, immigration points, port areas, ferry, and Petra transport may still require extra care. If you have special needs, ask for clear assistance before departure rather than relying on quick instructions during the rush.

The ferry from Taba to Aqaba

The ferry ride is scheduled for about 2 hours and 20 minutes. It gives you a break from the road and adds a distinctive part to the trip: you leave Egypt by sea and arrive in Jordan at Aqaba.

I like this section because it turns the journey into more than a long coach ride. You get time to sit, reset, and watch the route change from one country to another. Still, the ferry is transport, not a sightseeing cruise. Delays at the port or immigration may reduce the relaxed time on board.

The schedule includes a second ferry crossing at the end of the day, also about 2 hours and 20 minutes. That return sailing can feel long after Petra, especially if you have spent hours walking. Keep water and a small snack handy, although lunch is included earlier in the day.

Aqaba is a brief bridge to Petra

After arriving in Jordan, you pass through Aqaba before continuing inland. The itinerary allows only a short visit of around 20 minutes, so you should not expect a full Aqaba tour.

Aqaba matters here mainly as Jordan’s port gateway. It is the point where the ferry portion ends and the road journey to Petra begins. The short stop may give you a quick sense of the city, but Petra remains the clear focus.

The Jordan road section leads toward the Amman Governorate area and the Petra site. The overall Petra portion is listed at about 10 hours, including the guided visit, free time, shopping, sightseeing, walking, and meal. That sounds generous, but some of that block includes movement and stops, not ten uninterrupted hours inside the ruins.

Entering Petra through the Siq

Petra was the capital of the Nabataeans, an ancient trading kingdom that carved buildings, tombs, and ceremonial spaces into the mountains. You reach the main archaeological area by following the Siq, a natural crack in the rock that forms the dramatic approach to the city.

You can walk to the Siq or choose a camel ride. The camel option adds a traditional local experience, but you should clarify the price and arrangements before accepting any optional ride. The included tour covers admission and guiding, not personal expenses.

The walk itself is one of Petra’s great pleasures. The rock walls narrow around you, and the city reveals itself gradually instead of appearing all at once. Wear shoes with a firm sole. Petra is not a quick pavement stroll, and the ground can be uneven.

The route is also exposed and demanding enough that water is essential. One practical piece of advice comes up again and again in my mind: bring more water than you think you need, and do not save all your walking energy for the final sights.

The Treasury is the unforgettable moment

At the end of the Siq, Al-Khazneh, known as the Treasury, appears between the rock walls. The carved facade has faced the outside world for more than 2,000 years, and the sudden view is the emotional high point of the day.

The scheduled visit to the Treasury is about 30 minutes, though your wider Petra tour continues beyond it. Take time to look closely at the carved details and the way the building fits the rock face. The site is famous for good reason, but the Treasury is only one part of Petra.

Your guide should help explain what you are seeing rather than simply lead you from photo stop to photo stop. Karim and Kareem have been particularly praised for clear explanations, friendly care, and keeping groups together. Ahmed and Wazy have also handled the Jordan section for some departures. Guide assignments can vary, but an English-speaking guide is included.

Petra is much easier to understand with context. The Nabataeans were not just rock-cut builders. Their city grew through trade, water management, religion, and contact with the Roman world. A good guide can connect the tombs, theaters, streets, and temples into one place rather than leaving you with a collection of impressive facades.

Beyond the Treasury: theater, tombs, and temples

The three-hour guided Petra visit includes the Roman theater, royal tombs, Roman colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent. These sights give the visit more depth than a short walk to the Treasury and back.

The theater shows the public side of Petra, while the royal tombs reveal how the Nabataeans used the surrounding cliffs for grand burial spaces. The colonnaded street points to the city’s Roman period and its changing architecture. Qasr al-Bent adds another major structure to the route.

You will not see every corner of Petra in three guided hours. Petra is too large for that, especially when you add walking, photographs, pauses, and the pace of a group. The advantage is that the tour concentrates on major sights and gives you a clear introduction.

There may also be time for shopping and personal exploration within the wider Petra stop. Local sellers offer souvenirs, and some may quote high prices for small items. You can browse, but do not let shopping eat into your time at the monuments.

Horse and camel offers are another area for caution. A horse ride was a highlight for one person who had an excellent experience with a guide named Imad, including tea in the mountains with a local family. That is a lovely possibility, but optional animal rides and prices should be handled carefully and agreed in advance.

Lunch is useful, but not a major feature

Lunch at a local restaurant in Petra is included. That is welcome after the morning’s transport and walking, and a local meal saves you from having to find food during a tightly timed day.

Do not expect drinks to be included. Budget separately for water or other beverages. Vegetarian diners should also ask what is available before sitting down. The meal may include salads and some suitable dishes, but the vegetarian selection can be limited.

The lunch setup may feel informal, with groups sometimes needing to work out where to sit and how the buffet or serving arrangement works. I would treat the meal as practical fuel rather than a carefully staged culinary event.

The return journey to Sharm El Sheikh

After Petra, you return to Aqaba and take the ferry back toward Taba. Then you cross the border again and board transport for Sharm El Sheikh, with hotel drop-off expected around midnight.

This is where the 22-hour duration becomes real. You will have already spent a night on the move, walked through Petra, eaten lunch, crossed borders, and taken two ferry rides. The return can feel less organized than the outward journey, especially if you are tired and instructions are brief.

Keep your hotel name and phone details accessible. At the final transfer stage, you may need to pay close attention to which vehicle serves your hotel. The air conditioning helps, but it does not turn the return into a restful evening.

The good news is that the main coordination is included, and many departures have had strong pickup and communication. The realistic view is that the day may run smoothly overall while still containing long stretches of waiting.

What the $381 price really buys

At $381, the price makes sense mainly for convenience. You receive the major fixed costs in one booking:

• Hotel pickup and return in Sharm El Sheikh
• Air-conditioned ground transport
• Ferry tickets in both directions
• Jordan entry visa
• Petra entrance fee
• English-speaking guide
• Three-hour guided Petra visit
• Lunch at a local restaurant

Personal expenses are not included. Set aside money for drinks, souvenirs, optional camel or horse rides, and other purchases.

If Petra is a once-in-a-lifetime priority, paying for a managed day can be sensible. You avoid finding your own way between Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Aqaba, and Petra. If you dislike rushed schedules or border uncertainty, the price will not solve the basic nature of the trip.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option make the booking less rigid. They are helpful safeguards, but they do not change the physical demands of the day.

Who should book this Petra day trip

I would recommend it to you if Petra is high on your list and you are staying in Sharm El Sheikh for a limited time. It is also a good fit if you prefer one organized package over arranging ferries, visas, admission, guides, and transfers yourself.

You should be comfortable with:

• A pickup before midnight
• A total duration of about 22 hours
• Long border and port procedures
• Walking through Petra
• Two ferry journeys
• A full return transfer after sightseeing

Families can consider it, but small children may find the schedule hard. People with mobility concerns should confirm how assistance works at each transfer point, even though wheelchair access is offered.

I would not choose this for a slow, restful holiday day. I would choose it for a high-value historical target that deserves the effort.

FAQ

How long does the Sharm El Sheikh to Petra tour take?

The full experience lasts about 22 hours, with pickup shortly before midnight and return to your Sharm El Sheikh hotel around midnight.

Is hotel pickup included?

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

Does the tour include the ferry?

Yes. Ferry tickets are included for the journey between the Taba area and Aqaba, with each listed crossing taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Is a Jordan visa included?

Yes. The entry visa to Jordan is included. You must bring your passport, and a passport copy must be sent to the local partner no later than two days before the trip.

What sights do you see in Petra?

The guided visit includes the Siq, Al-Khazneh or Treasury, the Roman theater, royal tombs, Roman colonnaded street, and Qasr al-Bent.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant in Petra is included. Drinks are not included, and vegetarian choices may be limited, so plan accordingly.

Should you book this Petra tour?

Book it if you want to see Petra from Sharm El Sheikh and can accept a punishing schedule. The ferry crossing, included border arrangements, Petra admission, lunch, and local guide give you a practical package, while guides such as Karim, Kareem, Ahmed, and Wazy can add real value to the ruins.

Skip it if you need generous rest time, dislike border waits, or want to explore Petra at a slow pace. For everyone else, this is a demanding but worthwhile way to reach one of Jordan’s great ancient sites in a single, tightly packed day.