From Sharm ElSheikh: The Lost City (Petra) Day Tour by Ferry

Petra is the reason to book this trip. You cross from Egypt into Jordan by ferry, then walk into a canyon of pink stone to reach Al Khazneh, the famous Treasury. I like that the package covers the awkward parts, including transport, ferry tickets, the Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, a guide, and lunch.

I also like the chance to see more than the postcard view. You visit the Roman Theater and the 13 graves along the King Wall, with time to take in the carved walls and monuments. The catch is serious: this is an exhausting day, often lasting about 20 hours and sometimes closer to 23, with a large group that may number around 48 people.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the main event: You see Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the King Wall graves, and other carved monuments.
• The journey uses road and sea travel: Your day begins by vehicle in Sharm El Sheikh, continues to Taba, then crosses the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry.
• Plan for a 20 to 23-hour day: The long return journey is part of the price you pay for visiting Petra from Sharm.
• Several guides receive strong praise: Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin are specifically noted for being friendly, helpful, and well informed.
• The group may be large: A group of about 48 people can make the day less personal, and the English and Russian arrangements may not always be even.
• Bring water and sensible shoes: Petra can be hot, and you will spend time walking through the canyon and archaeological site.

Why Petra is worth such a punishing day

Petra is not a quick photo stop. It is a vast ancient city cut into pink and red stone, and the approach gives the visit its drama. After traveling from Sharm El Sheikh through the Sinai Peninsula to Taba, you cross the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry and continue toward the gorge of Ma’an.

That route takes time, but it also explains the price. You are not simply paying for a guide at the gate. You are paying for a cross-border operation involving hotel transfers, road transport, a ferry, a Jordan entry visa, admission to Petra, lunch, and several changes of vehicle and location.

The arrival at Petra is the reward. The city was out of the wider world’s attention for more than 1,000 years, and its buildings still appear in startling shapes from the stone. The scale is hard to understand from photographs. You are looking at facades, tombs, theaters, temples, and walls cut directly into the rock.

I would book this for the site itself, not for comfort. If Petra is high on your list, the difficult schedule may feel like a fair trade. If you want a relaxed holiday excursion with plenty of sleep, this is the wrong trip.

From Sharm El Sheikh to Taba by road

Your pickup begins at your Sharm El Sheikh hotel. From there, an air-conditioned vehicle carries you through the Sinai Peninsula toward Taba. The vehicle has air conditioning throughout the main journey, and scheduled breaks help break up the long ride.

Still, do not underestimate this first section. You will be leaving very early and spending many hours on the road before reaching Petra. The overall day is described as roughly 20 hours by some visitors and 23 hours by another, so I would plan for the longer figure and treat an earlier return as a bonus.

This is a useful place to set your expectations. The tour is sold as a day trip, but it behaves more like an overnight-length expedition without a hotel night. You may have free time after returning, but do not schedule anything important for that evening.

The air-conditioned transport is a real benefit. You are moving through a hot region, and a cool vehicle makes the road sections easier. There are also stops for breaks, although you should still carry water and the personal items you need for a very long day.

Crossing the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry

At Taba, you board a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. This gives the trip a sense of occasion that a simple flight or coach transfer would not have. It also adds another stage where border procedures and timing can affect the day.

The ferry is included in the cost, as is the entry visa to Jordan. That matters because arranging each part separately would be difficult from Sharm El Sheikh, especially when you need transport on both sides of the border and admission at Petra.

You should carry your passport or ID card, as requested for the tour. Keep it easy to reach, not buried in your luggage. The information provided does not promise a fixed crossing time, so patience is part of the deal.

The move from Egypt to Jordan is one of the most unusual features of this outing. You are not merely visiting a second attraction near Sharm. You are making an international side trip by land and sea, which is why the schedule feels so stretched.

Walking into Petra and reaching Al Khazneh

Petra is found in the gorge of Ma’an, and the rock setting is central to the experience. The city’s most famous structure is Al Khazneh, often called the Treasury. Its great facade is carved into the pink stone and is the sight most people have in mind before booking.

I would give this first view the attention it deserves. Do not rush straight into photographs and then assume you have seen Petra. Look at the way the building is formed from the cliff, then notice how the surrounding stone shapes the approach.

The site is an archaeological wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also described as one of the New Wonders of the World, but those labels only tell part of the story. The stronger impression comes from seeing that major architecture was carved into the rock rather than built from separate blocks.

Your guide helps place the monuments in context. Several guides have been singled out by name for friendly and helpful service, including Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin. The quality of your explanation can depend on which guide handles your section of the day, so listen closely when the group gathers.

The group size is worth noting. One party included around 48 people, which can make the walk and explanations feel less personal. Large groups also take longer to gather at stops. If you prefer a quiet, flexible visit, this arrangement may test your patience.

The Roman Theater and the King Wall graves

The Roman Theater gives the visit a different mood from Al Khazneh. Instead of one dramatic facade, you see a performance space cut into the stone, adding another layer to Petra’s ancient city plan.

You also visit the King Wall, where 13 graves are carved into the rock. These tombs show how Petra’s stone-cutting tradition was used for more than grand public facades. The wall itself becomes a long display of carved architecture, with each section worth examining at a slower pace.

The itinerary also refers to the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel. The exact order of stops can vary, but the point is clear: the visit covers more than the Treasury. You should expect a broad introduction to Petra’s monuments rather than a single viewpoint and a quick walk back.

Comfortable shoes are essential. The tour information does not promise a particular walking distance, but you will be exploring an archaeological site in a canyon, not visiting a paved indoor museum. Wear clothes that work for a hot, active day and bring plenty of water.

Heat can be a real issue. One visitor specifically advised carrying extra water for Petra, where conditions can be quite hot. The road vehicle and ferry may be cooled, but the archaeological site is the part where you feel the sun most directly.

Lunch after the archaeological site

Lunch at a local restaurant is included after your Petra visit. That is convenient after the long walk and means you do not need to spend time hunting for food during a tightly timed international excursion.

Do not expect lunch to turn the trip into a leisurely food tour. It is best viewed as a practical meal and a welcome pause before the return journey. The day has a lot of moving parts, so a scheduled meal helps keep the group together and the timetable moving.

A dinner stop in the evening is not included in the stated package. One person specifically wished there had been food later in the day, so carry suitable snacks for the return if you know you will need more than lunch.

Guides, languages, and group size

The tour operates in English and Russian. This is important if you want detailed explanations in English. One account describes a transport guide from Aqaba to Petra speaking mostly Russian, even though many people in that group could not understand it.

That issue may not affect every departure, but it is a fair warning. Ask early which guide will handle your section and where English explanations will be given. If you are in a mixed-language group, some commentary may be repeated or shortened.

The named guides provide a useful contrast. Mohammad is praised for being an absolute legend, Mayos for being friendly and well informed, and Alladin for being thoughtful, helpful, and highly familiar with the site. These comments suggest that the guide can make a major difference during a demanding day.

At the same time, a strong guide cannot remove the basic limits of a large group. You may need to stay alert, keep track of the meeting point, and return promptly when asked. This is not the format for wandering off alone to study one tomb at length.

What the $329 price really covers

At $329 per person, this is an expensive day trip. But the price includes more than the Petra entry fee. You get hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, ferry tickets, the Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, an on-site guide, and lunch.

Those inclusions make the cost easier to understand. You are buying a managed international transfer as well as a major archaeological visit. Booking the ferry, border arrangements, transport, and entrance separately would require more planning and would leave you responsible for connecting each piece.

The value depends on your alternative. If you are already in Sharm El Sheikh and Petra is a must-see, this may be the simplest practical route. If the price stretches your budget and Petra is only a vague idea, the long day and large group make it harder to justify.

The ferry route is also part of the calculation. A flight might reduce road time, but that option is not what this tour provides. One person said flying would have been preferable to so much time on a coach, while still calling the day worthwhile. You should make the same comparison before paying.

How to prepare for the 20 to 23-hour schedule

Treat this as a stamina challenge. You will need comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes, your passport or ID card, and plenty of water. Add snacks for the return journey because lunch comes after the Petra visit and no evening dinner is listed.

Keep your travel documents and valuables with you during the road, ferry, and border sections. The tour includes an entry visa, but you still need the identification required for the crossing.

I would also prepare mentally for waiting. Border movements, ferry timing, group assembly, and the long road sections can all stretch the day. The transport is air-conditioned and there are breaks, but neither feature makes the schedule short.

The best approach is to focus your energy on Petra. Sleep well beforehand, avoid planning anything after the tour, and think of the return as part of the cost of seeing the site from Sharm. The people who enjoyed this most accepted the long journey before departure and then let the archaeology carry the day.

Who should book this Petra excursion?

I would recommend it to anyone staying in Sharm El Sheikh who has always wanted to see Petra and does not have time for a longer Jordan trip. It suits people who value seeing one major world site even when the transport is tiring.

It also suits organized travelers who appreciate having the visa, ferry, entrance, lunch, and transfers bundled together. The practical advantage is significant: you are not left to coordinate an international route on your own.

I would be more cautious if you dislike large groups, need a quiet pace, or struggle with very long travel days. The mixed English and Russian guiding can also be a concern, especially if clear commentary matters as much to you as the monuments.

The cancellation terms are fairly flexible, with full refunds available when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Sharm schedule is still changing.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Petra is a personal priority and you accept that the visit may take 20 to 23 hours from hotel pickup to return. The Treasury, Roman Theater, King Wall graves, and carved stone setting are strong reasons to make the effort.

Skip it if you want a gentle holiday day or if you expect a small, perfectly balanced English-speaking group. At $329, the trip is best value for someone who would regret leaving Egypt without seeing Petra, not for someone simply looking for another sightseeing option.

The practical verdict is simple: go for Petra, go prepared for the marathon, and carry water, snacks, and patience.

FAQ

How long does the Petra day tour take?

The tour can last about 20 hours, and one account describes a 23-hour day. You should plan for a very early start and a late return to your Sharm El Sheikh hotel.

How do you travel from Sharm El Sheikh to Petra?

You travel by air-conditioned vehicle through the Sinai Peninsula to Taba, then take a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. From there, the tour continues by vehicle to Petra.

Are ferry tickets and the Jordan entry visa included?

Yes. The package includes ferry tickets and the entry visa to Jordan.

What does the Petra visit include?

You visit Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the 13 graves along the King Wall, and other monuments including the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included after the Petra visit.

What languages are available on the tour?

The listed tour languages are English and Russian. Group language arrangements can vary, so English commentary may not be equally available at every part of the journey.