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

Petra rewards the long road. This cross-border day trip takes you from Sharm El Sheikh across the Sinai Peninsula, over the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry, and into one of the world’s great archaeological sites. I like that Petra entrance fees, the Jordan entry visa, ferry tickets, lunch, and transport are included. I also like the chance to see Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, and the 13 graves along the King Wall in one carefully arranged outing. The catch is the schedule: this is not a gentle day trip, but a 20 to 23-hour journey with a great deal of time spent on the move.

You should book this for the destination, not for a relaxed pace. Guides such as Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin have earned warm praise for their help and clear explanations, but one transport guide was criticized for speaking mainly Russian. Group sizes can reach about 48 people, so the experience may feel more like a coordinated expedition than a quiet private visit.

The Petra trip in five quick points

• The day can last 20 to 23 hours: Expect an early start, a long return, and very little spare time at the end.
• The route crosses three travel stages: You go by air-conditioned vehicle through Sinai, ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba, then continue by road toward Petra.
• Al Khazneh is the headline sight: The famous Treasury is carved into pink stone and is the moment many people have been waiting for.
• Three major Petra areas are covered: You visit the Treasury, Roman Theater, and the 13 graves at the King Wall, along with temple and citadel remains.
• The $329 price includes the costly pieces: Transport, ferry passage, Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, guide, lunch, and hotel transfers are bundled together.
• Water and sturdy shoes matter: Petra may be hot, and the walking portion comes after a long journey.

Why Petra is worth such a punishing day

Petra is not a quick photo stop. It is an ancient city cut into towering pink rock, with façades, theaters, tombs, temples, and other remains spread through a dramatic gorge and canyon. The sheer contrast between the ordinary mechanics of getting there and the carved stone city at the end gives the trip its force.

I like this tour because it removes several complicated pieces from your hands. Crossing from Egypt into Jordan can involve transport changes and border arrangements, but this package includes the ferry, Jordan entry visa, hotel pickup and drop-off, and the Petra entrance fee. You still need your passport or ID card, but the main expenses are handled in one booking.

The other strong point is focus. You are not spending the day moving between unrelated attractions. The whole effort is aimed at Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Wonders of the World. If Petra is high on your list, that concentration helps justify the exhausting timetable.

Still, the timing deserves serious attention. One person reported a 20-hour day, while another described a 23-hour day. Those figures tell you more than the label day tour. You may leave before sunrise, reach the site after a long journey, and arrive back at your hotel very late. Plan nothing important for the following morning.

From Sharm El Sheikh to Taba by air-conditioned vehicle

The first part begins with pickup at your Sharm El Sheikh hotel. From there, the group travels across the Sinai Peninsula toward Taba in an air-conditioned vehicle. The air conditioning matters because this is a long road section, and the vehicle is also your main place to rest between stops.

The journey is practical rather than scenic in the usual sightseeing sense. You are covering serious ground to reach a different country, not stopping at a string of Egyptian attractions. The supplied details note breaks along the way, which helps, but you should still bring water and wear clothes that remain comfortable after many hours of sitting.

This is where the group format becomes noticeable. One tour had roughly 48 people, with many Russian speakers. The tour is offered in English and Russian, and the language balance can affect how much information you receive during shared transport. Several guides were praised for being friendly and helpful, but one passenger found the guide traveling between Aqaba and Petra weak and said most of the commentary was in Russian.

My advice is simple: treat the vehicle ride as transport first and guiding second. The strongest guide experience appears to come once you reach Petra, where Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin received especially positive comments. If clear English commentary matters greatly to you, ask about the language arrangement before booking.

Crossing the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry

At Taba, you board a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. This is the part that gives the trip its unusual character. You are not flying directly into Jordan or taking a short land transfer. Instead, the day includes a proper sea crossing before the road continues toward Petra.

The ferry also breaks up the long bus journey. You can leave the vehicle, change your surroundings, and cross the water before entering the next stage of the trip. Ferry tickets are included, which makes the arrangement easier and protects you from having to purchase this part separately.

Do not confuse the ferry with a leisurely cruise. The point is to get you across the Gulf of Aqaba, not to provide a long sightseeing voyage. Your overall schedule remains tight, and delays or border procedures can make an already long day feel longer.

You need your passport or ID card for the trip. The Jordan entry visa is included, but you should check that your travel document is valid and suitable for the crossing before you reserve. The package handles the listed visa cost, not the basic responsibility of carrying the correct identification.

Entering Petra through the gorge of Ma’an

After crossing into Jordan, the group continues toward the gorge of Ma’an, where Petra is located. The destination begins to feel worthwhile as the setting changes from road travel to a carved-stone archaeological site. Petra’s buildings are not freestanding monuments shipped into place. They are cut directly into the pink rock, which gives the city its distinctive scale and character.

Your visit centers on several major sights. Al Khazneh, usually called the Treasury, is the best-known façade and the place most likely to dominate your first impressions. Its carved surface and tall rock setting explain why Petra appears on so many lists of the world’s great sites.

The name Treasury can mislead you if you expect a building filled with rooms and displays. Here, the visual impact comes from the façade carved into the rock. You are there to study the stonework, proportions, and setting, not to browse an indoor collection.

The gorge and canyon also make the visit feel different from a conventional museum stop. You move through an ancient city with dramatic rock walls around you, then encounter carved façades and architectural remains at different points. Because the tour covers a large archaeological area in limited time, listen closely to your guide and keep track of the group.

Roman Theater, King Wall, and the citadel remains

The Roman Theater is another key stop. It gives the Petra visit a different mood from the Treasury, showing how the city included large public architecture as well as tomb façades. The theater is one of the clearest reminders that Petra was a functioning urban center, not simply a collection of isolated carvings.

The King Wall adds another important layer. The tour includes the 13 graves associated with this famous section, giving you a chance to compare different carved tomb designs rather than seeing only the iconic Treasury. If you enjoy architectural detail, this may be one of the most rewarding parts of the route.

You also see temple remains and the Treasures of the Citadel, according to the tour description. These stops help broaden the visit beyond the most photographed façade. Petra’s appeal comes from the number of surviving structures and the way they sit together across the gorge, not from one monument alone.

The schedule will not allow unlimited time at every feature. This is a highlights visit, designed to give you a strong first look at Petra in one day from Sharm El Sheikh. If you want long periods for photography, careful study, or wandering without a group, this format may feel too compressed.

Lunch after the archaeological visit

After exploring Petra, you have lunch at a local restaurant before beginning the return journey. This is useful timing. You have already completed the main walking and sightseeing, and a proper meal gives you a chance to sit down before another long stretch of transport.

Lunch is included, which adds practical value to the $329 price. You are not left to find food in an unfamiliar place while watching the clock. It also keeps the group moving, since a shared meal is easier to coordinate than a collection of separate food stops.

Bring extra water for Petra itself. One particularly useful piece of advice is to carry plenty because the site can be hot, and the meal comes after your exploration. Water is not a luxury on this outing. It is one of the few small preparations that can make the walking feel far easier.

You should also wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. The tour does not call for formal clothing, and the long day makes soft, practical clothing the sensible choice. Shoes matter more than appearance once you are walking through the canyon and around the archaeological remains.

The return journey and the real cost of the schedule

After lunch, you retrace the route toward the ferry and then continue back to Sharm El Sheikh. The return can be the hardest part, not because anything is wrong with the tour, but because the main excitement is over and your body has already spent hours traveling and walking.

The organized transport is a major benefit here. Air-conditioned vehicles and ferry tickets mean you are not solving the return route yourself. There are also breaks during the journey, according to the practical details provided, though you should not expect the ride to feel short.

One person suggested that flying would be preferable to so much time on a coach. That is a fair criticism. A flight-based excursion might leave more time for Petra, but this specific experience is built around road transport and the ferry. You are paying for the convenience of a coordinated crossing, not for the fastest possible arrival.

The long return also explains why this tour suits some people much better than others. If you have only one chance to see Petra and can tolerate a very long day, the route may be a smart compromise. If you are protecting your sleep, traveling with small children, or planning early activities the next morning, the schedule is a serious drawback.

What $329 buys you

At $329 per person, this is an expensive day trip. The value depends on how much you would otherwise have to arrange separately. The price includes:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Air-conditioned transportation
• Ferry tickets
• Jordan entry visa
• Petra entrance fees
• An on-site guide
• Lunch

That is a substantial bundle for an international excursion. The ferry and border arrangements are not minor details, and the Petra admission fee, transport, meal, and guide would quickly add up if organized independently.

The price is easier to justify if you value simplicity. You pay one listed amount and receive the core pieces needed for the crossing and site visit. The value is weaker if you mainly want a relaxed trip or dislike spending most of a day in transit.

The overall rating is 4.4 from 52 ratings, which fits the experience well. The praise centers on Petra itself, the successful organization, and individual guides who made the long day easier. The main complaints concern duration, group size, uneven guiding during transport, and the lack of an evening dinner stop.

The booking terms also offer some flexibility: you can reserve and pay later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Keep those conditions in mind when planning, but the more important decision is whether your schedule can absorb the tour.

Guides, group size, and language

A good guide can change the feel of this outing. Mohammad was praised as an excellent guide, Mayos was described as friendly and well informed, and Alladin received strong credit for being thoughtful and helpful. Those comments suggest that the on-site part can be warm and personal even when the overall group is large.

The group size remains the weak point. About 48 people is a lot for an archaeological site. You may spend time waiting for others, and it can be harder to hear every explanation or take photographs without people around you.

Language is another variable. The tour is offered in English and Russian, but the balance may not be even on every departure. One person found that the guide on the Aqaba to Petra transfer spoke mostly Russian, even though many passengers could not understand it. If you need consistent English commentary, make that a pre-booking question.

Who should book this Petra day tour?

I would recommend it to a determined first-time Petra visitor staying in Sharm El Sheikh. It works especially well if you have free time after the tour, can handle an early start and late finish, and want a guided arrangement rather than a complicated independent crossing.

It is also a good match for someone who values seeing a major world site over having a comfortable timetable. Petra is the reason to accept the long road, and the Treasury, Roman Theater, King Wall graves, and citadel remains give you more than a single photo stop.

I would hesitate if you need a small group, steady English explanations, or a leisurely pace. The large group and mixed-language guiding can reduce the pleasure, and the reported 20 to 23-hour schedule is too demanding for some people. A separate stay in Jordan would be a better format for travelers who want more time at Petra, but that is not what this excursion offers.

FAQ

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

The full experience can last about 20 to 23 hours, including the road journeys, ferry crossing, Petra visit, lunch, and return to your hotel.

What transportation is included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and ferry tickets across the Gulf of Aqaba are included.

Is the Jordan entry visa included?

Yes. The Jordan entry visa is included in the tour price.

Is the Petra entrance fee included?

Yes. Petra entrance fees are included.

What sights are visited in Petra?

The tour includes Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the 13 graves along the King Wall, and temple and citadel remains.

Is lunch included?

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

Which languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and Russian. The balance of languages may vary within the group.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes, and plenty of water for the Petra visit.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Petra is a must-see and you accept that the journey will be as memorable for its length as for its destination. The included ferry, visa, entrance fee, transport, guide, lunch, and hotel transfers make the $329 easier to defend, especially for a first visit from Sharm El Sheikh.

Skip it if a 20 to 23-hour day sounds miserable, if you need a small group, or if you want guaranteed steady English commentary throughout the journey. For the right person, this is a demanding but powerful way to reach Petra. The ancient pink-stone city is worth the effort, but you should go in rested, well hydrated, and ready for a very late return.