If you are heading out for a vacation to Israel and are looking for an option to extend your journey, try heading for Petra, Jordan.
This world’s heritage site and one of the new seven wonders of the word is near enough for a one day trip from the Tel Aviv area. The following are available alternatives when it comes to the transportation from Tel Aviv to Petra.
By Guided Tour
1-Day Petra Tour from Tel Aviv
A popular choice for those short on time is the Petra 1-Day Tour from Tel Aviv that includes flights from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport to Ramon Airport near Eilat. While some tours offer the flight as part of the package, others allow you to book the flight separately.
Once you land in Eilat, you will be transported to the Jordanian border, and then continue through the stunning desert landscape to Petra. After a guided tour of the Petra Archaeological Park, you’ll return to Ramon Airport for your flight back to Tel Aviv. This option is ideal if you’re looking for a quick but impactful visit to Petra.
Tour of Petra and Eilat from Tel Aviv
If you can spare more time, opt for Petra tours that take a little longer, and includes one night accommodation in Eilat. This trip also starts with a flight to Eilat, but before going to Petra you spend a day or night in Eilat to have free time in this Red Sea resort.
The following day you will be transfer from your hotel to Petra and have a full day touring before returning to Eilat for the return flight back to Tel Aviv. This is perfect if you haven’t studied Eilat prior to this, and you would like to include it together with Petra.
Multi-Day Tours to Jordan
For those with more time for their Jordan travel, there is a number of day-trip extensions from Petra that also visits other important sites in Jordan. These tours can involve Amman, Jerash, Madaba, Nebo and of course Petra they all are part of Jordan.
The other tours leave from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, and some may enter Jordan via the Sheikh Hussein border; their attractions include a variety. Such tours usually come with help at the border, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, informative guide, and lodging on the extended trips. The tours are very often, and it is possible to use voice translation to seven different languages.
By Bus Tour
However, if orchestrating your own trip seems unattainable on your budget, the cheapest mode of transportation starting with Tel Aviv is bus. These are morning tours which is extensive tour which includes transport past the Dead Sea, through the Aravah Valley to Jordan through the Aravah border from Eilat. After that, you will be free to discover this unique civilization before getting back to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem by bus.
Being cheaper than the previous option it has one drawback – it is a very long travel time compared to the guided tours that may include flights. However, it is a perfect choice for those, who travel and care about the money they spend.
Independent Travel
Nevertheless, probably the most important detail, and for this reason we’re discussing it last, is that believed by many people, Petra can be visited independently as well. First, you have to get to Eilat, bus or by plane, and still by taxi to the Aravah border. Before crossing the border, make sure you have your Jordanian visa in advance as it can’t be issued on arrival if you’re not a part of tourist group.
When you are in Jordan, taxis and local guides will be at the disposal to transport you to Petra. Independent travel costs to Petra will include transportation to Eilat, a visa fee ($30- $45), Israeli exit fee ($30-$100), transportation to Petra, an entrance fee to Petra Archaeological Park ($50-$90), Jordanian exit fee ($3.50-$10), and transportation back to the border and the flight of bus to Tel Aviv. However, if you want to travel on your own then it is becoming compulsory to ask your local Jordanian embassy for the latest visa requirements before travelling.
Petra can be reached from Tel Aviv in multiple ways – as a guided tour, by bus, or as an independent traveler. Whichever of the two options you’d be participating in, the trip to Petra holds an exciting discovery of one of the world’s most historical archaeological attraction sites.