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

Petra is the reason to consider this trip: a city cut into rose-colored rock, reached after a long overland journey and ferry crossing from Sharm El Sheikh. The Treasury of Al Khazneh, Roman Theater, and 13 tombs along the King Wall give you a strong first look at one of the world’s great archaeological sites.

I like that the price of $329 includes nearly everything you need for the day: hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, ferry tickets, Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, an on-site guide, and lunch. I also like the direct route by ferry, which lets you reach Petra without arranging separate border, transport, and admission details yourself.

The catch is the clock. This is not a relaxed day trip. You should prepare for roughly 20 to 23 hours from pickup to return, with much of that time spent on buses, border procedures, and the ferry. Petra is worth serious effort, but only if you have the stamina and a free following day.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the main event: See Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the King Wall tombs, and other carved structures in one packed visit.
• Expect a 20 to 23-hour day: The early start and late return are the biggest practical issues.
• The ferry cuts across the Gulf of Aqaba: You travel from Sharm El Sheikh to Taba, then continue by boat to Jordan.
• Guiding can vary: Guides named Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin received especially warm praise, but transport commentary may be less consistent.
• Bring water and good shoes: Petra can be hot, and you will spend much of the sightseeing time on foot.
• The group may be large: One report described a group of about 48 people, with much of the commentary delivered in Russian.

Petra in one very long day from Sharm El Sheikh

This tour is built for one purpose: getting you from the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh to Petra and back without requiring an overnight stay. That makes it useful for a short holiday, but it also creates a demanding schedule.

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Sharm El Sheikh. From there, an air-conditioned vehicle takes you across the Sinai Peninsula toward Taba. The included transport matters here. You are not piecing together taxis, buses, border transfers, and boat tickets on your own, which is a large part of the tour’s value.

The exact timetable is not stated, and the total duration can vary. You should plan around a very early start and a late return. Reports place the full day at about 20 hours in one case and 23 hours in another. That difference may come from border processing, ferry timing, traffic, or group movement, so do not schedule an important dinner, flight, or early activity after this excursion.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and breaks are provided during the long transfer. Still, air conditioning does not make a 20-hour day short. I would treat the ride as part of the price you pay for seeing Petra from Egypt, not as a minor transfer between attractions.

Crossing from Taba to Jordan by ferry

At Taba, you board a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba. This is one of the more distinctive parts of the trip. Instead of staying on the road for the entire journey, you get a change of setting and a direct sea crossing into Jordan.

The ferry tickets are included, as is the entry visa to Jordan. That removes two costs and two pieces of planning that can otherwise complicate an international day trip. You still need to bring your passport or ID card, and you should keep it easy to reach throughout the journey.

The crossing is not the main sightseeing attraction, but it breaks up the long transfer. You move from the roads of Sinai to the water, then continue toward Petra by road. The route is practical rather than quick, and border procedures can add time. Keep your expectations realistic: the ferry is a useful connection, not a cruise or a leisurely boat outing.

The tour is offered with English and Russian language support. This is important to confirm at booking if clear English commentary is a priority for you. One report described the guide on the transport from Aqaba to Petra as speaking mostly Russian, even though many passengers did not understand it. The main on-site guide may provide a better experience, but language arrangements can vary.

Entering the gorge and reaching Petra

After the ferry and onward transport, you make your way to the area of Ma’an, where Petra is located. The approach leads you into the canyon and toward the ancient city’s carved stone buildings.

Petra was once a major city carved into pink and reddish rock. It was later described as forgotten by the outside world for more than 1,000 years, and its rediscovery helped make it one of the best-known archaeological sites on earth. Today it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Wonders of the World.

The most memorable moment is likely your first sight of Al Khazneh, commonly called the Treasury. Its carved facade appears among the stone walls of the gorge, giving the arrival a powerful sense of place. The name can mislead you: the building looks like a grand temple or tomb, but the point here is the facade and the wider setting, not a room filled with treasure.

The canyon itself is part of the experience. You are not simply stepping off a bus beside a single monument. Petra unfolds through rock walls, carved surfaces, open areas, and remains from different periods. That means the walk can feel rewarding at every turn, but it also means you should wear comfortable shoes and save energy.

Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, and the King Wall

The tour focuses on several of Petra’s best-known sights. Al Khazneh is the visual star, with its tall columns and detailed stonework cut directly into the cliff. Give yourself a moment to look beyond photographs. The scale of the facade, the color of the rock, and the narrow approach are what make it memorable.

The Roman Theater shows another side of Petra. It reflects the city’s later Roman influence and gives you a sense of how public life once worked here. You are seeing more than isolated ruins. The theater helps explain that Petra was a functioning city with public spaces, architecture, and a large population.

The King Wall contains 13 graves, each cut into the rock. These tombs are less famous than the Treasury, but they are valuable for showing the range of burial architecture in Petra. The carved fronts vary in shape and detail, and the wall helps you understand how much of the city is made up of tombs rather than ordinary homes.

The itinerary also refers to the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel. The wording is broad, so do not assume that every major corner of Petra or every high trail is included. This is a compact day visit, not an exhaustive exploration of the whole archaeological area.

That distinction matters. Petra is large, and you cannot see everything in a short stop after such a long journey. The tour gives you a solid introduction to the major sights, but serious archaeology fans may want an overnight stay or a longer visit on another trip.

What the guide adds to the visit

A guide can make a major difference at Petra. Without context, the carved facades are impressive but easy to treat as a sequence of photo stops. With clear explanations, the Roman Theater, tombs, temples, and Treasury become parts of a city rather than disconnected ruins.

The strongest personal praise went to guides called Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin. Mohammad was described as especially helpful, while Mayos was praised for being friendly and well informed. Alladin received credit for being thoughtful, helpful, and generous with explanations.

Those names give you useful expectations, but they do not guarantee your assigned guide. The tour uses on-site guiding, and staff can change. The main point is to listen for the guide’s explanation of what you are seeing and ask direct questions while you have the chance.

The transport guide is a separate concern. One report found the ride from Aqaba to Petra poorly explained and mostly in Russian. If your group is mixed, the quality of commentary may depend on which guide handles each part of the journey. I would value the guide at the archaeological site most, since that is where interpretation matters most.

Lunch after the ruins

Lunch is included at a local restaurant after your exploration of Petra. This is a welcome practical feature, especially after walking in warm conditions and starting before dawn.

The information does not specify the menu, restaurant, or dietary arrangements. If you have dietary restrictions, ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the meal can be changed. You should also carry water. One useful warning from the experience is that Petra can be hot, and water is especially important once you are inside the site.

Lunch also marks the shift from sightseeing to the return journey. Do not expect a long evening meal later. One account wished for a dinner stop during the return, so bring a small snack if you know you will need food during the long ride back.

The real cost of the $329 price

At $329 per person, this is an expensive day excursion by ordinary tour standards. Its value depends on what you compare it with.

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, ferry tickets, the Jordan entry visa, Petra entrance fees, an on-site guide, and lunch. If you arranged each part yourself, the separate costs and the risk of missing a connection could add up quickly. The tour also gives you a single point of contact for a complicated international route.

The weaker part of the value is time. You spend a large share of the day getting to Petra and returning to Sharm El Sheikh, then only a limited portion inside the site. You are paying for access and convenience, not for a leisurely Petra visit.

For someone with only a few days in Sharm El Sheikh, that tradeoff can make sense. You get to check off a major archaeological site without changing hotels or planning a multi-day Jordan trip. If you have more time, an overnight Petra itinerary would likely give you a calmer experience, but that is not what this tour offers.

The tour also includes reserve-and-pay-later booking, so you can hold a place without paying immediately. Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Those terms help reduce risk, particularly because the schedule is demanding and plans can change.

Group size, comfort, and the long return

The coach and ferry are air-conditioned, which is important for a day that crosses hot, dry areas. Breaks are provided along the route, but you should still expect long stretches of sitting.

Group size can affect the experience. One report described roughly 48 people, with most of the group speaking Russian. A large group may slow movement through border points, meal service, and meeting locations. It can also make it harder to hear the guide or stay close to the group in Petra.

On the other hand, the organization received strong praise overall. The transport arrangements, ferry connection, and multiple handoffs were described as well managed by several people. That matters on a journey with this many moving parts.

The return may feel harder than the outward trip. You have already walked through Petra, the excitement has passed, and you still face the road and ferry connection back to Sharm El Sheikh. Plan to sleep as soon as you return and avoid booking anything important for the next morning.

Who should book this Petra day tour

I would recommend this experience to you if Petra is a personal priority and you have limited time in Egypt. It suits people who can handle an early start, long vehicle transfers, a ferry, border formalities, and a late return in exchange for several hours at one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological sites.

It is also a good fit if you prefer having transport, admission, a visa, lunch, and guiding arranged together. The tour removes much of the practical work from a complicated Egypt to Jordan day trip.

I would think twice if you dislike long bus journeys, need a small group, or want to explore Petra at a slow pace. I would also check the language arrangement before paying if you need continuous English commentary, since one part of the route was reported to rely mainly on Russian.

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing, and plenty of water. A small snack, sun protection, and a phone charger would also be sensible, although only the first three items are specifically required. Keep valuables and documents with you during every transfer.

Final verdict on this $329 Petra trip

This tour earns its strong overall score because the payoff is enormous. Petra is genuinely extraordinary, and the included transport, ferry, visa, admission, guide, and lunch make a complicated journey manageable.

But the headline should be clear: this is a Petra visit wrapped inside an exhausting 20 to 23-hour travel day. The site is worth the effort for many people, yet the schedule is not a minor inconvenience.

Book it if you want a practical, all-in-one way to see Petra from Sharm El Sheikh and can accept a large group or variable guiding. Skip it if comfort, spare time, and a relaxed pace matter more than reaching the Treasury in a single day.

FAQ

How long does the Petra day tour take?

The tour can take about 20 to 23 hours from pickup in Sharm El Sheikh to return. The day includes road travel, the ferry, border procedures, sightseeing, lunch, and the return journey.

Where does the tour start?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. You travel across the Sinai Peninsula to Taba before taking the ferry to Jordan.

Is the ferry ticket included?

Yes. Ferry tickets across the Gulf of Aqaba are included in the tour price.

Is the Jordan entry visa included?

Yes. The entry visa to Jordan is included. You must bring your passport or ID card.

What Petra sights are included?

The tour includes Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, and the 13 graves along the King Wall. The itinerary also refers to 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?

The tour is listed as available in English and Russian. Language delivery can vary between parts of the journey, so confirm the arrangement if this is important to you.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and comfortable clothing. You should also carry plenty of water because Petra can be hot.