BootsnAll Travel Community

What's the best way to get from Jerusalem to petra? How long does it take.

Should i use a tour guide once in Petra or can I do this alone?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Jeanne

This is from Seat61:

Take a bus or taxi from Jerusalem to the Allenby Bridge border crossing with Jordan. Pass through customs and passport control. Take another bus or taxi into central Amman.

There are daily JETT buses from Amman to Petra (Wadi Musa is the name of the modern town next door).

JETT = Jordan Express Tourist Transport. Air-conditioned bus. Please check that the JETT bus from Amman to Petra is running, it has been reported that it may not be. JETT has no website, but their phone number is +962 6 562 2430 fax +962 6 560 5005. Bus fare about 3 JD Amman-Petra, 4 JD Amman-Aqaba.

Taxi = service taxis, usually 25-seater minibuses. The taxis leave when full and usually operate throughout the day. The fare is 3 JD, journey time about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Hiring a private taxi to take you to Petra will cost about 40-50 JD (£36-£46) after negotiation.



I have heard that Israel often gives 48hr visas when re-entering the country from Jordan. Seeing as how you dont want to go to Iraq, and cannot enter Saudi Arabia or Syria with an Israeli stamp on your passport, you would have to go thru Israel and Egypt if you wish to continue traveling overland.

I am heading to Petra for a day trip from Elat before ANZAC day with a few other friends. We have organised to cross the border in Elat and catch a bus up for the day. The advice we were given is to get a tour guide. Will let you know more after the trip 22-26 Apr 06.

While it is certainly possible to go from Jerusalem to Petra via the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, please note that to cross from Israel to Jordan at that point requires getting a Jordanian visa IN ADVANCE.

However, when crossing at the Yitzhak Rabin Border Terminal (Arava Crossing) near Eilat, you can get the required visa on the spot.

So, I suggest you either sign up for the Jerusalem to Petra Day-Trip offered by David's Tours in Jerusalem - write to dtours1@yahoo.com - they leave from Jerusalem about 2AM and return to Jerusalem the same night around 11PM.

OR - take the Egged #444 Express bus (at least 4 buses daily Sun-Thu, one or two on Friday, none on Saturday) from Jerusalem to Eilat. You go in the middle of the day, you can book in at the local youth hostel - click here Israel Youth Hostel Association and then on "Eilat" for info and enjoy the beach and other activities along North Beach, see the Underwater Observatory and such and prepare to cross to Jordan the next morning (the border crossing opens most days at 6:30AM).

Petra is a HUGE site and that's an understatement, so I recommend using a private guide or going in a group with a guide, so contact either Red Sea Sports or Desert Eco Tours (or write to erez@deserecotours.com) for group tour info.

FYI - border taxes are: on departing from Israel $15 and on departing from Jordan (back to Israel) $8. It's more from Israel, since we don't want you to leave!

Have a great time!

suzanne