A package tour to Petra bundles transport, accommodation, entrance arrangements, and guiding into a single booking, removing the logistics so you can concentrate on the site itself. Packages run from one-day escorted visits to week-long journeys across the whole country. This guide explains what a good Petra package includes, how the options differ, and how to choose well.
What a Package Tour to Petra Includes
A well-constructed package covers round-trip transport from Amman or Aqaba, a licensed guide inside Petra, hotel accommodation in Wadi Musa for multi-day formats, and some meals (typically breakfast, often lunch on touring days). Entrance is handled either through the package or via the Jordan Pass, which most operators recommend buying separately before arrival since it also waives the 40 JD visa fee for stays of three nights or more.
There is also far more to Petra than the archaeological site, and the better packages weave in the registered experiences around it: an evening at Petra Kitchen, where local chefs teach you to cook a Jordanian dinner you then share family-style; traditional Bedouin dinners; sunset buggy rides; silver-making workshops; and horseback trails through the surrounding hills. When comparing packages, ask which of these are included, since a tour that ends when the site gate closes leaves the best evenings in Wadi Musa on the table. The full list of registered experiences is on visitpetra.
Check the fine print on three things: how many hours the guide accompanies you (a main-trail tour is two to three hours; the site deserves far more), whether Petra by Night (30 JD, Sunday through Thursday evenings) can be added, and which optional extras inside the site (local guides for specific trails, club car shuttles) are excluded. Our guide to how much it costs to go to Petra it emises every on-site cost so you can read any package against it.
Transport and Accommodation Options
Packages from Amman use the Desert Highway (about three hours each way); from Aqaba the transfer is about two hours. Accommodation in Wadi Musa spans guesthouses from 25 to 50 JD, mid-range hotels from 60 to 120 JD, and luxury properties from 150 JD upward, and the hotel tier is usually the biggest price lever in any package. Staying overnight also secures the accommodated Petra rate (50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two, 60 JD for three) rather than the 90 JD day-visitor rate charged to those not spending a night in Jordan.
Guided vs Private Packages
Scheduled group packages are the most economical and run like clockwork in high season. Private packages assign you a driver and guide, letting you enter Petra at the 6:00 AM opening, linger where you choose, and add trails such as the Monastery or Al-Khubtha. Families, photographers, and travellers with specific interests (Nabataean hydraulics, Byzantine mosaics, hiking) get the most from the private format.
Sample Package Structures
One day from Amman or Aqaba: transport, main-trail guiding, lunch. The essential Petra.
Two days, one night: a full Petra day plus a second morning for the Monastery, with a Wadi Musa hotel between them. The most balanced format.
Petra plus Wadi Rum: the classic southern pairing, with a Bedouin camp night in the desert. See our guide to Petra and Wadi Rum tours from Amman.
Full Jordan itineraries: Eight to ten days adding the Dead Sea, Amman, Jerash, Ajloun, Madaba, Karak, the desert castles and Aqaba.
Tips for Booking Your Petra Package
Book with licensed Jordanian operators; ask for the guide-to-group ratio; confirm hotel names rather than star categories; and check cancellation terms for the season you are travelling. March to May and September to November sell out first, so reserve those dates early. If a package price looks unusually low, the difference is usually guide hours or hotel quality.
FAQs
What is typically included in a Petra tour package?
Transport, guiding on the main trail, accommodation on multi-day formats, and some meals. Entrance is included or arranged via the Jordan Pass; always confirm which.
How long should a Petra tour be?
Two days is the most satisfying standard format: the main trail on day one, the Monastery and viewpoints on day two. One day covers the essentials at a brisk pace.
Are guided Petra tours worth it?
Yes. The site is vast and its stories are not written on the stones; a licensed guide turns façades into a functioning Nabataean capital.
Can I book a Petra package from Amman or Aqaba?
Both. Amman offers the widest choice; Aqaba is closer (about two hours) and suits Red Sea and cruise travellers.
What should I bring on a Petra tour?
Sturdy shoes, sun protection, water, layers for cool mornings, and cash for tips and small purchases inside the site.
Ready to Plan Your Trip
A good package turns Petra from a logistics exercise into a pure experience. For everything to pair with it, browse our full guide to things to do in Jordan.
