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

Petra is the reason to book this trip. You cross from Egypt to Jordan by ferry, then reach a city carved into pink rock, where Al Khazneh, the Treasury, appears at the end of the gorge. That first view alone gives the long journey a clear purpose.

I like that the price includes the major costs: ferry tickets, Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, transport, lunch, and guides. I also like that the tour covers Petra’s best-known sights in one organized outing, with air-conditioned transport between Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Aqaba, and the archaeological site.

The catch is simple: this is an extremely long day. You may be away from your hotel for 20 to 23 hours, and one group included about 48 people, with English and Russian used on the trip. If you want a relaxed visit, this is not it.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra is the main event: See Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the King Wall’s 13 graves, and other carved structures.
• The route uses a ferry: You travel from Sharm El Sheikh through the Sinai Peninsula to Taba, then cross the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan.
• Plan for a 20 to 23-hour day: The road and ferry time take much longer than the visit itself.
• The package covers the costly essentials: Transport, ferry tickets, Jordan visa, Petra entry, lunch, hotel transfers, and an on-site guide are included.
• Guiding can vary: Names associated with the tour include Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin, with especially warm praise for their care and local explanations.
• Bring water and sensible footwear: Petra can be hot, and you will spend the main part of the day walking outdoors.

Why Petra is worth such a demanding day

Petra is not a quick photo stop. The ancient city spreads through a gorge and surrounding rock valleys, with buildings cut straight into rose-colored stone. It was once a major center of trade and later became known for being forgotten by much of the outside world for more than 1,000 years.

That setting gives Petra its power. You are not simply looking at a freestanding monument in a modern town. You move through rock walls and arrive at facades that seem to grow out of the cliffs. The site is both an archaeological wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is also listed among the New Wonders of the World.

This tour makes sense if Petra has been on your list but you are staying in Sharm El Sheikh. Reaching it independently would mean arranging several border and transport details yourself. Here, the main logistics are bundled into one booking, which is useful when your time in the region is limited.

The trade-off is comfort. A full day at Petra would still require plenty of walking, but this outing adds a long road journey, border procedures, a ferry crossing, and the return trip. You need to treat the journey as part of the experience, not as a small transfer before the sightseeing begins.

From Sharm El Sheikh to Taba by air-conditioned transport

Pickup begins at your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. The exact departure time is not stated, but the trip starts early and returns very late. You travel across the Sinai Peninsula in an air-conditioned vehicle toward Taba, close to the Gulf of Aqaba.

The air conditioning matters. This is a long ride, and the climate can be hot, especially once you reach Petra. The transport includes breaks along the way, but you should still carry water and avoid assuming that every refreshment need will be handled for you.

The road portion is not the glamorous part of the trip, but it gives you a practical advantage. You do not need to arrange separate taxis, buses, or transfers between the hotel, border area, ferry, and Petra. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which makes the start and finish much easier.

One important point is group size. A group of roughly 48 people has been reported on one departure, so this may feel more like a full coach excursion than a private outing. That can keep the cost manageable, but it also means waiting for people and less personal attention during explanations.

Crossing the Gulf of Aqaba by ferry

At Taba, you board a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to Jordan. This is a memorable change of pace after the road journey, but it also adds another stage to an already long itinerary.

The ferry tickets are included, along with the entry visa to Jordan. That is a meaningful part of the $329 price, since international transport and border arrangements can otherwise become separate costs. You should still bring your passport or ID card, as required for the trip.

Once you arrive in Jordan, the tour continues toward Petra. The route takes you to the gorge of Ma’an, the wider area where the ancient city is located. There can be waiting time during transport and border procedures, so patience helps.

The crossing also explains why this outing takes nearly a full day and night. You are not flying directly from Sharm El Sheikh to Petra. You are combining a long coach ride, a ferry, and another overland transfer. One person specifically felt that flying would have been preferable, while others considered the journey worthwhile because of what came at the end.

Entering Petra and seeing Al Khazneh

The first major sight is Al Khazneh, usually called the Treasury. It is Petra’s most famous facade, carved into the pink sandstone and framed by the narrow gorge leading into the site.

This is the moment many people picture when they think of Petra, but the setting makes it more impressive than a photograph suggests. The rock walls and the sudden appearance of the carved building give the approach a sense of discovery. Your guide helps place the monument within the wider city rather than treating it as a single isolated stop.

Expect other people around the main viewing area, especially on a tightly scheduled day tour. You may have limited time to linger, frame photos, or simply stand and take in the stonework. Still, this is the sight you will want to protect your energy for.

The tour description calls Al Khazneh the Treasure Palace, but the familiar name is the Treasury. It is worth listening carefully here, since a good guide can explain what you are seeing and point out details that are easy to miss in the carved facade.

Roman Theater, temple remains, and the King Wall

Petra is much larger than the Treasury. The route also includes the Roman Theater, the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel, and the King Wall with its 13 graves.

The Roman Theater gives you a different view of the site. Instead of a single decorated facade, you see a large structure cut into the rock for public gatherings. It helps show how Petra combined natural stone with monumental construction.

The King Wall is another strong stop. Its 13 graves are carved into the rock face, creating a long band of tomb facades. The scale and variety of these carvings make it clear that Petra was not built around one building alone.

The wording used for some of the other sites is not fully precise, so do not expect a detailed, stop-by-stop schedule with exact time allocations. What you can count on is a guided visit to Petra’s main sights, with explanations on site and time to see the key structures.

Wear shoes that you can walk in comfortably. The tour specifically advises comfortable footwear and clothing, and that advice matters here. You will be outdoors, walking over archaeological ground, and dealing with heat if conditions are warm.

Guides named Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin

The guiding is one of the strongest parts of this experience, but it may vary by departure and by section of the journey. Guides named Mohammad, Mayos, and Alladin have been associated with different groups.

Mohammad received especially strong praise for his energy and care. Mayos was described as friendly and well informed about Petra. Alladin was singled out for being thoughtful, helpful, and able to explain what the group was seeing.

There is one warning to keep in mind. The guide on the transport from Aqaba to Petra was described as speaking mostly Russian, even though much of the group did not understand Russian. The tour lists English and Russian as its languages, so you should confirm that your preferred language will be supported clearly before booking.

This matters more in a large group. With about 48 people, it is harder to ask questions or stay close to the guide. If you want the most from the visit, keep near the guide when walking and listen for meeting points. A good guide can turn a set of impressive facades into a more understandable visit, but you may need to take some responsibility for staying with the group.

Lunch after the archaeological visit

Lunch at a local restaurant is included after the Petra visit. It gives you a chance to sit down after walking and to eat before the return journey.

The meal is a useful practical inclusion, though no menu or restaurant details are provided. I would not book this tour based on the food. Think of lunch as part of the day’s support, not as a separate culinary experience.

You should bring water for Petra itself. One person specifically advised carrying plenty, since the site can be hot. The included lunch does not remove the need to prepare for the walking portion earlier in the day.

The timing of lunch may also affect how much free time you have at the archaeological site. Because the entire outing is tightly scheduled, you are unlikely to have the freedom of a multi-day Petra visit. The advantage is that you see the major sights without arranging another hotel night in Jordan.

Is $329 a fair price?

At $329 per person, this is expensive compared with a local Petra visit, but the comparison is not quite fair. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, the ferry, the Jordan entry visa, Petra admission, an on-site guide, and lunch.

Those inclusions remove several large planning tasks. You do not have to arrange a cross-border transfer, buy the ferry ticket, work out Petra admission, or find your own way back to Sharm El Sheikh. For someone with a limited holiday schedule, that convenience carries real value.

The price is less appealing if you dislike long group excursions or want plenty of time at Petra. One departure had around 48 people, and the full day lasted up to 23 hours. Paying more for a flight-based or smaller-group option might be worthwhile if such an alternative is available to you, though that is not part of this tour.

I see this as a bucket-list transport package, not a leisurely cultural day. You are paying to make Petra possible from Sharm El Sheikh in one organized outing. If that is your priority, the cost is easier to justify.

Who should book this Petra day trip?

I would choose this tour if you:

• Have limited time in Sharm El Sheikh but strongly want to see Petra.
• Accept that the day may last 20 to 23 hours.
• Prefer having transport, ferry tickets, entry fees, and hotel transfers handled together.
• Can manage a long day of road travel and outdoor walking.
• Are comfortable joining a potentially large group.
• Want a guided introduction to Petra’s main sights rather than an unstructured visit.

I would think twice if you need a normal night’s sleep, dislike border crossings, or want a quiet, flexible visit. Petra deserves more time than this schedule allows, and the return journey may feel especially tiring after walking through the site.

Book only if you have a free day afterward. One person was glad to have no plans after returning, and that is good advice. Do not schedule an important flight, excursion, or long drive immediately after this trip.

What to bring and how to prepare

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing, and plenty of water. These are not minor details. The trip is long, Petra can be hot, and the walking is a central part of the day.

Keep your belongings easy to reach during transfers and ferry travel. You may also want small amounts of spending money for personal purchases, although the tour price already covers the listed inclusions.

You may encounter shops around Petra. One strong piece of practical advice is to keep your wits about you and bargain firmly if you decide to buy something. You do not need to purchase anything to enjoy the archaeological site.

The tour allows you to reserve and pay later, which helps if your plans are still shifting. Cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Those terms are useful, but the main decision remains your tolerance for the very long schedule.

Should you book this Petra tour?

Book it if seeing Petra from Sharm El Sheikh matters more to you than comfort, free time, or a small group. The Treasury, Roman Theater, and King Wall provide a powerful payoff after the ferry and coach journey, and the included costs make the arrangement much simpler than managing the route alone.

Do not book it expecting a relaxed day. The 20 to 23-hour schedule is the biggest fact to understand, and the group may be large. If you prepare with water, good shoes, a free following day, and realistic expectations, this is a practical way to reach one of the world’s great archaeological sites from Egypt.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The full outing can last about 20 to 23 hours, including the road journey, ferry crossing, Petra visit, lunch, and return to Sharm El Sheikh.

What transport is used?

You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel to Taba and onward after crossing by ferry to Jordan. Ferry tickets are included.

Is the Jordan entry visa included?

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

What Petra sights are included?

The visit includes Al Khazneh, the Roman Theater, the King Wall with its 13 graves, and other listed sites including the Temple and Treasures of the Citadel.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included after exploring Petra.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and Russian. Guide language can vary during different parts of the journey, so confirm your preferred language before booking.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing, and plenty of water. You can reserve and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.