From Sharm El Sheikh: Day Tour to Petra by Ferry

Petra rewards the long road. This 22-hour day trip links Sharm El Sheikh with Jordan’s Rose City by road and ferry, giving you a chance to see one of the world’s great archaeological sites without arranging hotels, border transfers, entrance tickets, or lunch yourself. I especially like the direct ferry crossing and the capable Jordanian guides, including Kareem, Karim, Ahmed, and Imad, who have earned warm praise for looking after groups.

I also like the way the tour puts the main sights of Petra into one guided route: the Siq, Al-Khazneh, Roman theater, royal tombs, Colonnaded Street, and Qasr al-Bent. The drawback is plain: this is a very long and tiring day, with border and ferry waits that can eat into your time and patience.

Key points before you book

• Leave just before midnight: Pickup from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel begins late at night, and you return around midnight the following day.
• Two ferry crossings take about 2 hours 20 minutes each: The boat ride is an interesting part of the journey, but schedules and port procedures can cause delays.
• Petra includes a three-hour guided visit: You see the Siq, Treasury, Roman theater, royal tombs, Colonnaded Street, and Qasr al-Bent.
• The tour costs $381 per person: That covers transport, ferry tickets, Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, guide, and lunch.
• Bring your passport and send a passport copy: The local partner needs the copy no later than two days before departure.
• Wear proper walking shoes: Petra involves a lot of walking, with an optional camel or horse ride toward the Siq.

Why this Petra trip is such a big undertaking

Petra is not a quick side trip from Sharm El Sheikh. You leave shortly before midnight, drive to Taba, cross into the region around Aqaba, take a ferry, continue to Petra, tour the site, eat lunch, and repeat much of the journey in reverse.

That sounds exhausting because it is. Still, Petra is one of those places where the effort makes sense. The rose-colored cliffs, carved tombs, and narrow Siq are unlike anything in Egypt. If Petra has been on your must-see list for years, this tour offers a practical way to reach it during a Sharm El Sheikh holiday.

The price of $381 is high compared with an ordinary Egypt day trip. But the cost includes several items that would be difficult to organize separately: hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, both ferry tickets, Jordan’s entry visa, Petra admission, a three-hour English-speaking guide, and lunch. You are paying for a long chain of connections to be handled for you.

The value depends on your priorities. If you want a relaxed Jordan holiday, this is not the right format. If you have only one day available and want to see Petra from Sharm, it is a reasonable all-in-one solution.

The midnight pickup and the road to Taba

The journey begins with hotel pickup in Sharm El Sheikh just before midnight. You travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle toward Taba, near the Egyptian border.

This overnight departure saves you from using a hotel night in Jordan, but it also means you begin the tour tired. Try to sleep during the road sections and keep your evening before departure quiet. A small bag with water, snacks, a passport, and a light layer will be more useful than a large suitcase.

The Taba stop is listed as about 20 minutes, but border procedures are not controlled by the tour company. This is where the timetable can become loose. Border checks, immigration queues, and instructions about where to wait may take longer than expected.

One important practical point is that your passport is required. You must also send a copy of it to the local partner at least two days before the trip. Do not leave this until the last evening.

The tour includes a Jordan entry visa, which removes one major piece of paperwork. If the ferry is urgently cancelled, or if your date does not match the ferry schedule, the trip may use the Arava border instead. That route change is worth knowing in advance because the journey will not look exactly as described.

The ferry crossing from Egypt to Jordan

The ferry takes roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes each way. For many people, this is more than a transfer. It gives the trip a clear sense of crossing from Egypt into Jordan, and it breaks up the long road journey.

The ferry is also one reason you should not expect a perfectly timed day. You may wait at the port, wait for boarding instructions, or spend time in immigration before continuing. Recent experiences have praised the overall coordination but also pointed out long waits at the border and confusion around the ferry and immigration process.

Keep your documents close and listen carefully for instructions. It is sensible to carry water and a little money for drinks and personal purchases. Lunch is included later, but drinks are not included with the meal.

The return ferry follows the Petra visit. When the boat and border schedule runs well, the crossing gives you a welcome chance to sit down. When it does not, the last part of the day can feel especially long.

Aqaba is a useful pause, not a full city tour

After reaching Jordan, you travel through Aqaba, with a short stop of about 20 minutes. This is not enough time for a full visit to the city, but it gives you a brief look at Jordan’s Red Sea gateway before the inland drive to Petra.

The tour description also allows for a short stop connected with the port and onward travel. Treat Aqaba as a transition point rather than a main attraction. Petra is the reason for the day, and the schedule gives you little spare time for extra sightseeing.

This tight timing explains why the tour works best for someone who wants one major Jordan highlight. You will not have much room to wander around Aqaba, shop at leisure, or change plans.

Entering Petra through the Siq

The Petra visit is the heart of the experience. The route begins with the Siq, a natural crack in the sandstone that forms the famous approach to the ancient city.

You can walk toward the Siq or choose an animal ride, described as a camel option in the tour details. One experience also refers to a horse-riding option, including a particularly kind guide named Imad. Since the available ride may depend on local arrangements, ask your guide exactly what is offered and what it costs before agreeing to anything.

I would choose carefully here. Walking lets you set your own pace and notice the changing colors and shapes of the rock. An animal ride may help if you have difficulty with the approach, but it can also introduce questions about price and handling. Local operators may quote high prices for short rides or small souvenirs, so agree on the cost first and do not feel pressured to buy.

The Siq is more than a route to the Treasury. Its narrow walls build the suspense gradually. You see carved details and occasional openings before the canyon finally reveals Petra’s most famous facade.

Al-Khazneh and Petra’s major monuments

At the end of the Siq, Al-Khazneh appears between the cliffs. It is the view most people associate with Petra, and the first sight can be genuinely powerful even after you have seen hundreds of photographs.

Al-Khazneh, often called the Treasury, has stood for more than 2,000 years. Your guide can explain the Nabataean kingdom and the purpose of the carved buildings, helping you see Petra as a living center of trade and architecture rather than simply a photogenic wall.

The guided route also includes the Roman theater, royal tombs, Roman Colonnaded Street, and Qasr al-Bent. Each adds a different piece to the site. The theater shows the scale of public life. The royal tombs reveal how the cliffs were used for monumental burial spaces. The Colonnaded Street and Qasr al-Bent help show how Petra functioned as a city, with public and religious buildings beyond the Treasury.

The scheduled guided visit lasts three hours. That is enough for a strong introduction, especially with an English-speaking guide, but it is not enough to see every corner of Petra at a slow pace. You will need to stay with the group and manage your time.

The site involves a lot of walking. Good shoes are essential, and water matters. The day includes road travel, ferry terminals, borders, and uneven ground, so comfortable clothing will serve you better than anything smart or bulky.

Guides can make or break the day

The strongest part of this experience is often the human organization on the Jordan side. Kareem and Karim have been praised for clear explanations, enthusiasm, and professional care. Ahmed has also been singled out for making the Jordan portion run well.

That matters at Petra. A good guide helps you understand what you are seeing, keeps the group moving without rushing every view, and explains how to handle the approach, the monuments, and optional rides. Without that help, the site can become a long walk between dramatic facades.

The guide named Imad deserves a special note for the horse-riding experience. He was described as attentive with both rider and horse, and even shared tea with a local family in the mountains. That sort of personal touch can turn a transport option into a memorable encounter.

The Egyptian portion appears less consistent. Some departures have had excellent coordination from pickup onward, while others have involved unclear instructions, long waits, or no English-speaking guide during the return journey. You may need to pay close attention at the Egyptian port and transport stops, especially when it is time to rejoin the vehicle.

Lunch in Petra, with a few limits

Lunch at a local restaurant is included after the Petra visit. This is welcome because the day is long and there are limited opportunities to arrange a proper meal independently.

The meal has been described as tasty and suitable for a mixed group, but the setup may not feel highly organized. You may need to identify the restaurant arrangement yourself and help yourself once seated. Drinks are not included, so plan to pay separately for them.

Vegetarian choices may be limited. One vegetarian diner found that the meal offered little beyond salads. If you do not eat meat, tell the guide early and bring a snack as backup. Do not assume the included lunch will meet every dietary need.

The meal is best viewed as practical fuel rather than a major culinary stop. It gives you a seat, food, and a pause before the return journey.

Comfort, safety, and the long return

The coaches and vehicles are air-conditioned, and several trips have been described as comfortable and clean. That is important on a route with so many hours on the road.

Still, comfort does not remove the fatigue. The total duration is about 22 hours, and the return to Sharm El Sheikh is expected around midnight. After Petra, ferry procedures and border waits can feel harder because you have already spent most of the day walking and sitting.

There have also been concerns about driving safety, including a report of a driver using a phone while driving. I would not ignore that. If you see unsafe driving, raise it with the guide or local coordinator. Most transport feedback is positive, but a long day makes careful driving especially important.

Families with small children and people with special needs should ask detailed questions before booking. The tour is marked wheelchair accessible, but border crossings, ferry terminals, walking at Petra, and optional animal rides may still require advance coordination. Accessibility on paper does not automatically mean every stage will be easy.

Who should book this Petra day trip?

I would recommend it to you if:

• Petra is a personal priority during your Sharm El Sheikh stay.
• You have only one day available for Jordan.
• You prefer one organized booking to separate transport, tickets, visa arrangements, and guides.
• You can handle a night departure, long road sections, ferry waits, and substantial walking.
• You value a guided introduction to Petra more than free time.

I would hesitate if you want a calm pace, dislike border crossings, are traveling with very young children, or need carefully managed special assistance. A longer Jordan trip would give you more time and less pressure, though it would also cost more and require another hotel arrangement.

The tour earns its strong overall rating mainly because Petra itself is extraordinary and the best guides add real value. Kareem, Karim, Ahmed, Wazy, and Imad are names worth noting when you receive your guide details. The weak points are mainly logistics: waiting, unclear instructions at some stages, limited meal choices, and the sheer length of the day.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if seeing Petra from Sharm El Sheikh matters more to you than having an easy day. At $381, it is expensive, but the package covers nearly every major cost and removes much of the difficult planning.

Go with realistic expectations. You are not buying a leisurely excursion. You are buying access to Petra through a demanding chain of roads, ports, ferries, borders, and one remarkable archaeological site. Pack light, protect your sleep, wear strong shoes, bring water and your passport, and be patient when the timetable slips. For the right person, the long journey is a fair price for finally seeing the Treasury at the end of the Siq.

FAQ

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

The total duration is about 22 hours. Pickup begins just before midnight, and the return to your Sharm El Sheikh hotel is expected around midnight the following day.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at hotels in Sharm El Sheikh are included.

How long is each ferry crossing?

Each ferry journey takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes.

What is included in the price?

The $381 price includes hotel transfers, air-conditioned transportation, ferry tickets, Petra entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, a three-hour guided Petra tour, lunch, and the Jordan entry visa.

Do I need my passport?

Yes. You must bring your passport. You also need to provide a passport copy to the local partner no later than two days before the tour.

Is lunch included?

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

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live tour guide language is English.

Can I ride a camel or horse at Petra?

The tour information includes a choice of walking or riding a camel toward the Siq, and an experience with a horse-riding option has also been described. Ask the guide about the available option and price before riding.

What happens if the ferry is cancelled?

If the ferry is urgently cancelled, or if the booking falls on a day without the scheduled ferry, the trip may travel into Jordan through the Arava border instead.