In this post we are going to share with you some tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan. As you may know, they are not that well-known destinations and it can be scary to travel on your own. Three friends made this trip and we can assure you that it can be done perfectly. So, don't think twice. In any case, yes you have to plan it well. If you want you can consult the itinerary of our trip to Jordan and Israel, but now we are going to make you Some recommendations to make your trip perfect.
In this article you will find the contents that we detail in this index:
Tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan
We start with the list of tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan. Subsequently, we will tell you about the particularities that each country has. Come on!
✔ When to travel to Israel and Jordan?
We travel to beginnings of November and the weather in Israel was perfect. Even with heat in Tel Aviv with almost 30 degrees, ideal for taking a bath in the Mediterranean Sea. Likewise in the south, next to the Red Sea the temperature was pleasant and on top of that the Red Sea is hot. Apparently in summer it is unbearable. However, in certain parts of Jordan, such as in Petra, we were a bit cold (9 degrees in the morning). Also, just when we returned to Israel again there were floods in Petra. At the same time, visiting Petra in 40 degree weather must be horrendous with all the walking you have to do. Therefore, The conclusion is that November is a good time to travel to Israel and Jordan.
✔ Enjoy local food
Both Israeli and Jordanian food have amazed us. you will get tired of hummus, falafel, pita bread and baba ganoush. Jordan is somewhat cheaper than Israel to eat, but don't expect to eat for €1 either. In Jordan you must try the Fatah and the Maqluba. In both Israel and Jordan you must try shawarma and pomegranate juice.
✔ Take out travel insurance. Tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan
from our list of tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan, perhaps this is the most obvious, since we would give it for any international trip. We always reserve it with IATI. It is hired easily and quickly online. Besides, you have a 5% discount for being our reader. Luckily we didn't have to use it. For this type of trip we recommend IATI Mochilero. You can check it yourself the price of travel insurance depending on the number of days and the coverage you want from our discount link.
✔ Payments and currency exchange
The Israeli currency is New Shekel and the Jordanian dinar. We exchanged money at Tel Aviv airport, we also paid by card and withdrew money from ATMs in both countries thanks to cards such as Revolut or N26. They are free cards with no maintenance fees.
The good thing about these cards is that They do not charge you a commission to withdraw money from any ATM in the world.. In addition, they do not have annual fees associated with them, nor do they charge you commissions when paying in another currency, neither online nor in stores.
✔ How to get from Israel to Jordan and vice versa
Since we wanted to visit the Red Sea and the Wadi Rum desert, We decided to cross into Jordan along the southern border of Israel (Eilat) and Jordan (Aqaba). This border is called Yitzhak Rabin / Wadi Araba. According to our information, it was quite safe to park next to the border in an esplanade. We left our car there for 4 nights and went to see Jordan. Upon returning everything was in its place. We had read that there is usually a long line to cross the border. Even so, we crossed at 16:00 p.m. and there were barely 10 people, so it went very quickly. To go out You have to pay a tax that at the time was about €25 to change.
To enter Jordan you will not be questioned. Of course, at the same border crossing the Israeli official will ask you if you want change to Jordanian dinar to pay for the taxi to the hotel. And so we did, since there is no ATM on the way out.
IMPORTANT: One of the most important tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan, if you are going to cross the border, is that Check the opening hours and days of the border you have chosen. Please note that the hours during Shabbat (Fridays and Saturdays) are shorter. In addition, there are certain holidays during the year it closes.
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Tips for traveling to Israel
Having mentioned the tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan, we focus on those specific to Israel. First, as you may know, Israel is a country that lives in conflict for various reasons. In this country three religions coexist: Judaism, Islam and ultra-Orthodox Judaism. It is true that others are practiced, but we are talking about majorities. Therefore, the population is divided. Besides, There is also the conflict with the Palestinian territories. However, we do not want to go into detail due to the difficulty involved in explaining all of this. Only We want to give you a background so that you understand the extreme security that exists when entering Israel, as well as once inside the country.
Below, we detail the most important tips so that your free trip to Israel and Jordan goes perfectly.
1. You must arrive at the airport at least 2 and a half hours in advance
We fly from Gran Canaria to Madrid and from Madrid to Tel Aviv direct. At the counter check in The Israeli police were already waiting to question us.. Why are you traveling to Israel? Who are you traveling with? How long have you known your friends? Do you know someone in Israel? What route are you going to do? Is your suitcase yours? Has someone manipulated her? I see in your passport that you have been to Mauritania, why? And a long etcetera. The interrogation can last half an hour. To this we must add the time in line if there were more people before.
This advice for traveling to Israel applies to any airline and any country of origin, since the interrogation is done by the police and not by the company or country of origin. If you do not check in your suitcase, you will be questioned at the boarding gate. Therefore, it also arrives sufficiently in advance.
When you arrive in Israel, instead of stamping your passport, they will give you an entry paper with your photo that you must keep safe until departure. In Israel they don't stamp your passport, to prevent them from letting you pass to other countries with whom they have conflict, such as Muslims.
2. Driving in Israel
To be able to explore the areas of the country we wanted at our leisure, we decided rent a car at the airport. Also, our flight schedules were not the best. After comparing companies, we decided on the rental company Sixt and everything went quite well. Of course, we took the comprehensive insurance. Anyway, in RentalCars You can compare all car rental companies based on dates and availability (including local ones). As we see it, driving in Israel is the same as driving in Europe, except that here you will meet camels crossing the road. Remember that you have to take off the international driving license and bring it along with the official license from your country.
In Israel you drive on the right and the steering wheel in vehicles is on the left. In general, there is not much traffic, except for small traffic jams to enter Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Much of its roads are in the middle of the desert, so driving is quite monotonous. Otherwise, everything went without problem. Yes, from time to time you will find a military tank or camel. As for parking, despite having comprehensive insurance, both in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem we leave the car in paid parking. It is a bit expensive, about €16 a day, but we didn't want any risks.
3. Leaving Israel with an Israeli car
Our company's insurance did not cover damages in the Palestinian territories, so we did not visit them. In the same way, You also don't have coverage outside the country, so to go to Jordan, we left it parked in Israel and then picked it up again. If you keep reading, we'll tell you how we did it. What's more, if you intend to cross into Jordan with a car with an Israeli license plate, you can. Another thing is that the car does not appear with some surprise the next morning. All this is due to the conflicts that we mentioned before.
4. Private airport transfers
Another option that may be worth it is to hire a transfer from Ben Gurion airport to Tel Aviv or from a transfer from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem. This way, On the days you are visiting the cities you are not paying for a rental car. In each link you can see the good reviews from other travelers, rates and making a reservation with free cancellation.
5. Shabbat, what is it. Tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan
Throughout Israel, from Friday night, when sunset, until Saturday night, Shabbat is celebrated. That is, you will find a large part of the shops, bars and restaurants closed. Even public transport services are reduced. Especially in Jerusalem, not so much in Tel Aviv. Therefore, it is important that you take this into account when designing your travel itinerary. We planned to go to Jordan right from Friday at noon and thus avoid missing part of the leisure in Israel.
6. Clothing (especially for women)
Israel in general, and Tel Aviv specifically, is quite modern. Therefore, you can dress however you like. However, in Jerusalem, if you are going to visit the wailing wall and the esplanade of the mosques, you must be covered in your legs and arms. In the same way, if you are going to venture to visit the ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Jerusalem (Mea Shearim), we recommend that you cover up and follow its rules, especially if you are a woman. Otherwise, you will feel very uncomfortable and so will they.
The posters that we show you are all over the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood. They are aimed at women and girls who walk in inappropriate clothing. According to them, you should wear a closed blouse, long arms, a long skirt (not pants) and no tight clothing.. We went in long pants and they looked at us badly. Many even turned their faces or took off their glasses so as not to see us. The radicalism of these gentlemen reaches such a point that they do not work or go to the military (like the rest of the Israelites). They simply dedicate themselves to the study of Torah.
Tips for traveling to Jordan
Once in Jordan, we decided to get around by taxi, since it was cheaper than renting a full-size car.. In addition, we were clear about the places we wanted to visit. Below we list our tips for traveling to Jordan.
1. Getting around by taxi in Jordan
As we said, getting around by taxi in Jordan is quite economical. And even more so if you go in a group. However, you must keep in mind that Transfer prices have to be haggled before getting in the taxi. Except the tours from the border to any other point, which are fixed prices. As soon as you leave the border, notice that there is a sign with all the rates. When we crossed, there were quite a few taxis waiting. Below we detail the prices we pay for our transfers in Jordan and that we haggle a lot. Therefore, they can serve as guidance on your journey.
- Wadi Araba border – Aqaba hotel = 11 dinars (fixed rate)
- Aqaba – Japanese Garden (Red Sea snorkel area) = 12 dinars round trip
- Aqaba – Wadi Rum Desert = 20 dinars one way
- Turn in jeep through the Wadi rum desert 4 hours = 50 dinars between 3 (same price for 1, 2, 3 or 4 people)
- Wadi rum – Petra = 35 dinars one way
- Petra – Wadi Araba border = 35 dinars one way
How to get a taxi in Jordan?
We asked at the hotels, either before arriving by email or once at the hotel. So we were testing prices. For the Petra – Áqaba route we recommend our friend Omar. You can contact him, he can surely help you for any other area as well. He has WhatsApp.
We have friends who decided to rent a car because they spent more days in Jordan. If this is your case, take the opportunity to consult the comparator RentalCars the prices of all the companies car rental in Jordan.
2. Bargaining in Jordan and Muslim neighborhoods in Israel
In Jordan you have to bargain for practically everything, but especially taxis. If you are going to buy a souvenir, too. Likewise, there are even restaurants and food stalls where you can haggle if the price doesn't seem reasonable to you. This tip can be included in the advice for traveling to Israel and Jordan, since in any Muslim neighborhood in Israel you must also haggle.
3. Security in Jordan. Tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan
Jordan seemed like a fairly safe country to us, with police checkpoints on the road every now and then. Apparently the police are not corrupt. However, since we weren't driving, we couldn't tell you.
4. Jordanian southern border crossing fees: Wadi Araba
At the Wadi Araba border crossing, If you spend 4 nights in Jordan, you will not be charged departure tax. BUT, if you stay for 3 nights and prove that you have visited Petra (save your ticket), they will charge you JOD 10. If you stay two nights and visit Petra, they will charge you JOD 40. Finally, if you stay less than two nights and do not visit Petra either, They will charge you 60 JOD.
We hope that our tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan have been useful to you. Definitely, If you organize yourself well, this can be the trip of your life.. We recommend it 100% and we would repeat it if it weren't for the fact that we still have a lot of world to discover 🙂 Leave us a comment with your questions, they may be common to others and so we will be helping each other.
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
Hello!! Thank you very much for all the information about the trip you made. I loved it! I plan to go with my husband in February, rent a car and do the itinerary mostly like you did, but since we also want to go to Egypt, the idea was to do Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Arad, Masada, Aqaba and the part of Jordan, then return to Aqaba and then go to Egypt. That way we wouldn't do the part of route 40 that you did at the beginning. Did we miss any "must-see" that was on that stretch? Thank you very much! Greetings
Hello paola!
We are glad that it has been helpful to you! I think you have already mentioned the essentials of Israel and that we visited, in Jordan I would not miss Wadi Rum and Petra, you did not mention them... I don't know which route 40 is haha
all the best
Hi there! Thank you very much in advance!
The taxi issue... did you easily get taxis at all the stops? Or do you have to plan in advance/arrange the taxi for each stage? I wouldn't like to stay in Wadi Rum for a long time 😉
Hello Peter! Lots of nothing!!
The Wadi Rum taxi, as we say, we agreed with the guys from the Oasis Bedouin Camp, because in the desert there are no stops like that hehe. In fact it was not a taxi, it was a kind of all-terrain vehicle, the one we show in the photos 🙂 I don't know if nowadays there is another way to organize it, it worked well for us that way!
To enjoy!
Hi there. First of all, thank you very much for so much relevant information.
In April (from the 5th to the 10th) my partner and I will take a trip to Isreal-Jordan.
I would like to know if :
The southern border of Israel (Wadi Araba) is open on Friday, because it is Shabbat and it takes a long time to cross the border towards Jordan.
Do you think taxi driver Omar could pick us up in Jerusalem and take us to Petra?
What is the price for a taxi from Aqaba to Petra?
Thank you very much
Hi Armando!!
Thank you very much for your comment, this trip requires a lot of planning as you can see hehe and we love that.
I send you the link to the official website of the Yitzhak Rabin border with the times to cross from Israel to Jordan. It is only in English but in the operating hours part it is clearly seen (as Shakira says hehe):
https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/land-border-crossings/yitzhak-rabin/about/
I don't remember the crossing process being very long, however, to re-enter Israel it was a little more tedious because they ask you quite a few things and, for example, they searched my suitcase.
You'll have to talk to him about Omar. The man will be making a fortune and I imagine that he will work with other taxis for commission hehehe, so he will find availability for what you ask (another thing I don't know is if taxis can cross to Jerusalem because I didn't do it). Regarding the prices, they may have changed since we went, but as you can read in this article, we paid:
Aqaba – Wadi Rum Desert = 20 dinars one way
Wadi rum – Petra = 35 dinars one way
Total about 55 dinars approx. I repeat that these are the prices that we negotiated and it was a couple of years ago, they have probably gone up, but negotiate with him and also ask for prices at the accommodation where you stay in Aqaba to compare.
I hope I've helped.
Greetings and enjoy!
Hello! I have been a tireless traveler since I was 16 years old. I usually read travel blogs from people who travel independently and I have to tell you that this is one of the most interesting, clear and best organized blogs I have read. I am going to travel to Israel and Jordan in less than two months and I think I will follow all your instructions, although I will add something, since I am going more days! I wanted to thank you for the work and time dedicated to this guide. It's a great help.
Hello Albia!! Thank you very much for your words, they really motivate us a lot to be able to continue dedicating hours and hours to describe our trips to the millimeter, everything that we think can help 🙂 I hope you enjoy the countries a lot, they are wonderful! A hug!
Thank you very much for all your information. The truth is that it is appreciated and especially when one is going to travel to these countries of which we may have a wrong idea of what they really are like.
I tell you. I travel alone and I also want to go to Israel and Jordan. By going alone, I will go only from Friday (I arrive Friday night in Tel-Aviv) until the following Sunday (I leave at 6:00 am). In short 8 whole days there.
I think the Israel part is simpler and I would focus on the best-known points: Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Belem and some other place. I have been told that it is well connected by public transportation.
I'm worried about Jordan and it's what I want to be most attached to. there I would like to see Wadi Rum, Petra…. What route do you recommend I take while spending the night in Wadi Rum? (where to sleep? Where to book the excursions? How much time to spend at each place?...). I do NOT know the area and I do not know the time it takes to travel or to each place.
I can extend the entire stay a few more days, or even spend 2 nights in Jordan.
Thank you very much again for your information and support.
Hi Javier!
I don't know if you have seen our article with the entire itinerary that we did. In Jordan we stayed 4 nights, one in Aqaba next to the Red Sea (technical stopover to cross the border), one in Wadi Rum and 2 in Petra... We moved around Jordan by taxi haggling and it was great. Of course, paying for a taxi among three is not the same as paying for just one... In Wadi Rum, at the campsite where we stayed, they picked you up at the entrance to the desert and they themselves made the tourist stops in the desert in the 4×4, both the day we arrived to see the sunset and drink tea, and for the next day... Take a look at the article on our itinerary with the information on where we stayed, nights, taxi driver's phone number, etc.!
https://localguidegrancanaria.com/israel-y-jordania-por-libre/
In Petra you have to stay at least a whole day and, if it can be from 7 in the morning, the better. With what already forces you to stay two nights minimum + the one in Wadi Rum... Where were you thinking of crossing the border? If you go without a car, maybe you can hire some type of transfer from Jerusalem to Petra and then move around Jordan by taxi, haggling over prices. This way you could save the night in Aqaba, which is nothing special... but of course, I don't know the tours there are from Israel, we went on our own as we explained.
We hope we have helped 🙂
All the best
Good morning,
I'm considering doing the same trip practically using your blog as a guide :).
The fact is that we wanted to do it with a 2-year-old child and the part of the desert as well as the walks in Petra scare me a little.
The part about spending the night in the desert, do you think they can be prepared to accommodate such small children? And about the trip in general, do you think there is any part or thing to choose another destination?
Thank you very much for your help!!
Good morning Borja!
How cool, the trip was super enriching and a great experience.
Perhaps the most extreme part is Wadi Rum, since the issue of bathrooms (I don't remember there being hot water) and electricity was a bit limited hehe. There is no internet either. We don't know what requirements other than those of an adult a 2-year-old child may have (we don't have children)... that night there is Berber food and he will sleep on a mattress under a roof 🙂 As for Petra, the streets are dirt and It's a lot of KM if you want to visit everything, but we know that there are mules that take you to The Monastery. If I remember correctly, that day we walked more than 20 km to visit the entire city and still left parts behind. Otherwise, the way we did it was simple and totally recommended :)
All the best
Hello question;
I have tickets to travel Israel-Jordan in November if the covid allows it, and to move around Israel, like you, I want to rent a car, but I am traveling alone with my sister and I intend to go from Tel Aviv to Eilat at night to arrive early at the airport. crossing the border, so my question is, will it be safe to drive at dawn?
Hello isbael!!
In general, Israel seemed to us to be a very safe country in that something could happen to you in the early morning with your car. However, in general I do not recommend driving so many kilometers at dawn. There are very monotonous and deserted parts of the road... you can fall asleep and I think you should be 100% alert, also to see the signs (you know that in each country they vary a little) and if you have daylight it is better. There are also some camels out there...hehe. But sure as far as someone can do something to you, I think it is. Anyway, we are not experts on Israel, after all we have only traveled once 🙂 we hope you can travel !!!!! We are also planning to go to Turkey on those dates, we are praying!!
Hello girls, thank you very much for these posts, we have been organizing a trip to Jordan-Israel since the end of November and we must have visited about 200 times to consult things 😛
Well, I am writing to you because we are finalizing the details of the transportation, for which we have contacted Omar, who asks us for 350 dinars for the following trips through Jordan:
Day 1
– Airport – Madaba – Mount Nebo
– Mt. Nebo – Hotel Amman
– Hotel Amman – Jerash
Day 2
– Amman – Petra, stopping to visit the Dead Sea and Mujib Reserve
Day 4
– Petra – Wadi Rum
Day 5
– Wadi Run – Border
We are aware that we should not accept the first price, or in other words, that we should always haggle, but what do you think could be a fair price for these routes?
Thank you very much again!
Hello Joaquim!
Rule #1, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AGAINST EVERYTHING! It is in their culture to give high prices and be haggled over. Never accept the first price they give you hahahaha you have to train because if not they will rip you off. We do not know the rates that the routes you mention may cost, because we did not do them, we cannot help you... However, the sum of all the trips we took amounts to 163 dinars. What I can think of that you can tell him is that it seems very expensive to you and that he breaks down the fares per trip and so you compare them with the ones we agree with, for example, Petra-Wadi Rum and Wadi Rum – border (which border are you going to? that of Aqaba?). This way you can know how far you can go by haggling. But the normal thing is to always haggle at least half, especially if you are asking him so far in advance and reserving all the routes with him...
Omar is going to make gold hehe, good luck and let us know!
A hug,
Ruth
Thank you Ruth!
It is clear, in Arab countries haggling is the way of functioning. Although, the truth is, I don't know how they can live like this, all day spending energy negotiating even the price of salt hahaha
Well, in the end we managed to lower the price a little, so we think we will do the Jordan part with it. It is clear that with a private car it might be cheaper, but it would not be nearly as comfortable.
About Omar, I wanted to ask you: what kind of taxi driver is he? I mean, does he just take you places or does he also explain things to you?
And another thing, we have been looking at Iati's eastern insurance through your link. The thing is that there are several packs available (basic, standard, star, backpacker...), which one did you choose? We have always gone with an agency and we are very green with this topic haha
Nothing, thank you very much again.
Joaquim
P.S. yes, we are going to the Aqaba – Elat border border :)
Hello Joaquim!
Let's see, I'll tell you. Omar only took us a couple of trips within Wadi Musa and limited himself to transporting us. If you ask him, he will tell you things, but he is not a guide. The transfer back to Aqaba was done for us by another taxi driver although we hired him. I don't know if he was his friend or his employee. I remember that even in the middle of the trip to Aqaba they changed taxis for us with others coming from Aqaba to Petra so that the taxis would not make the entire trip to and from their base (Petra or Aqaba). These things are going to happen to you, don't be scared.
I think Omar has several taxis in Petra (Wadi Musa), the rest he will have gotten you through contacts. So if you want to save money, I would hire and haggle for taxis in each town, it will be much cheaper and you won't be tied to it so much. THERE ARE TAXIS EVERYWHERE! Jordan is very touristy. What's more, if you don't like him or see a gesture that you don't like, then you will have already committed to everything with him... I don't know, I don't see the need to have everything tied up beforehand. I would improvise a little more, but I understand that if you are used to traveling with an agency, everything creates uncertainty for you. It's easier than you think... Well, but that's just a personal opinion after having made the trip, so everyone's experience may be different. You could ask the hotel where you are staying for the first trip to Jordan, for example, and so on. It's like we did.
I don't recommend the rental car, they drive that way, there are police checkpoints every now and then, parking in Wadi musa is crazy, getting to Wadi rum if it's not a 4×4 you still need a transfer, we don't know the roads, the car's comprehensive insurance, etc... come on, it's not even worth it and I doubt it's cheaper. However, in Israel yes, since everything is more expensive and the roads are very good.
Regarding travel insurance, when we travel we usually take the standard one, since if you look at the comparison it makes, it covers much more health expenses abroad. We have never had to use it either, luckily. It is true that there are countries where healthcare is very expensive like the US, I don't think that is the case in Jordan, but hey, the costs of stay in case you have to extend the trip for medical reasons are also higher. The same with the theft and damage of luggage and flight delay. They also advance funds if you have had to use the policy for some reason... The rest seems excessive to me, nothing so serious has to happen... So it's either standard or basic.
By the way, do you already have the Revolut card? Super recommended to withdraw cash from any ATM in Israel and Jordan without commission.
Well, I don't think I'm missing anything. Any other questions you have, we are in contact.
WHAT A GREAT TRIP!
Ruth
Good morning!
On Monday we are going to make the same trip as you, but instead of 10 days we are going for 14.
I found your trip very interesting, but I have a question:
In the Wadi Rum desert, did you contract the 4×4 trip with the same hotel? (Oasis bedouin cano) or on your own?
Thank you
Hello Aida! What a great trip, I'm sure you will be able to take advantage and enjoy the destination more by having 3 more days.
We contacted the Oasis Bedouin Camp through the booking platform, we told them to send us a taxi to the Aqaba hotel and that same taxi picked us up and dropped us off at the "gate of the desert." Right there we changed cars to 4×4, left our suitcases at the campsite and went on a tour. Since we only had the afternoon that day, we finished the tour in the morning. We discuss everything through booking before and once there. We hope we have helped you. Enjoy it!
Hello!! Thank you very much for the post. It is very complete. I will soon travel to Jordan and spend two nights there. They will charge me 40JOD upon departure as you say. I have a doubt if that is the visa or the visa is separate. And if with 2 nights visiting Petra you know if there is any kind of discount.
On the other hand, regarding the taxi, do you know if there is a possibility of telling the driver to try to find some more passengers to complete the car? Is it usually done at the border?
Thank you very much!
Hello Jordi! We are glad that the post is helpful to you 🙂
At first I don't remember having to pay for a visa, you pay a fee to leave Israel at the southern border. Read our advice post carefully and in section «4. Southern border crossing fees Jordan: Wadi Araba» all the conditions are announced in English…
On the other hand, since there were 3 of us, we never shared a taxi, we can't tell you... but surely if you ask the people who are leaving the border and you meet someone who doesn't care, you can share. If not, it occurs to me that you can ask the taxi driver that we know, Omar, maybe he can match it with a taxi that has to take people from Petra to the border and, therefore, that same taxi has to return to Petra and he can take advantage of that return trip with you, which would be cheaper.
We hope we have helped you!
Enjoy a lot!
Hello! We are Alex and Eli and we are going to visit Israel and Jordan this September and we wanted to ask you a couple of questions. When arriving in Jordan, to book the route through the Wadi Rum desert and spend the night, can it be done on the fly, contracted the day before?
And the other question is if there is public transportation to go from Petra to Amman, since we arrived in Israel through Jerusalem but returned to Spain through Amman. Thank you very much in advance and best regards!
Hello Alex and Eli! Thank you very much for your comments! And congratulations for choosing these destinations, it's a great trip! The route through the desert can be hired on the fly, we contract it verbally with our Oasis Bedouin Camp campsite. We sent them a message through Booking, but we already had the night reserved. I wouldn't risk there being no availability, since there aren't many campsites. I mean, it's not like there are hotels that have 1000 beds available around. Each campsite has about 10 cabins and… Therefore, I would recommend having the night already reserved. Another thing is to do the 4×4 tour on the day of arrival or the next day as there is more flexibility.
We leave you a link to the Campsite that we reserved: https://www.booking.com/hotel/jo/oasisbedouincamp.en.html?aid=1619857&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1
Regarding your other question, there should be public transportation, but we didn't go to Amman, we don't know. In any case, you can haggle over a price with a local Petra taxi or try to contact a Petra tourist office and ask them the question. In our post "tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan" we left you the phone number of Omar, a taxi driver who took us to several places in Jordan. You can send him a WhatsApp and ask him the rate. Another option that occurs to me is to ask the Spanish embassy in Jordan, perhaps they can help you with that question. Doesn't information appear on the internet? Not in English either?
We hope our response is helpful.
Bon voyage!
Hello! Thank you very much for your information, I am very interested in the tour they did to Petra. I sent you an email and I hope you can answer it. What a wonderful trip you made!
Hello Vanessa! We are replying to your email, I hope our response is helpful to you! 🙂 Thank you for contacting us. All the best.
Thank you so much for all your help! I'm using all your information! I'll tell you how it went later. Best wishes.
Hello! One question, is the interrogation that the authorities ask you one at a time? I just want to go with my mother and she doesn't speak any English and I'm a little worried that they'll do it one at a time and she won't be able to communicate. Thank you very much in advance!
Hello!! Yes, it is one at a time, but I understand that this will happen to many people. Not everyone who travels to Israel and/or Jordan speaks English, so don't worry. They will surely let you intervene to translate or they will bring a translator. If you don't speak English, they can't force you :)
Thanks for your information! I am very interested in the tour they took to Petra. I sent you an email and I hope you can answer it.
I definitely need a visa and I'm thinking about buying the Jordan pass, I think it's the best.
Hello,
I want to make this trip with my partner on dates similar to the ones you went and I would greatly appreciate if I could have some contact so that you can guide me with the trip, since we want to make it free.
Hello Laura! Thank you very much for your comment. We recommend that you take a look at the itinerary we made, as well as the post with tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan. If you still have any questions, we will try to help you. Our email is [email protected]. A greeting.
Hello! Thank you very much for the information, the truth is that the blog is helping me a lot in planning the trip! Let's hope so, incredible experience!
I have another question, this time, regarding the desert excursion. You say that you contracted it with the camp, was it before you got there or the day you stayed? That day we will arrive from Jerusalem and I imagine that we will go with fairly tight time and it was to find out if there are established times to do the excursion and if they can be booked in advance. Are all tours 4 hours? Or are there shorter excursions?
Thank you!
Hello Elena! We are glad that she is helping you, really 🙂 It is best that you contact the camp you have chosen in advance. We did it like this and the same day we arrived, with our suitcases, we started the tour in the afternoon and watched the sunset (2 hours of tour). The next morning we saw the sunrise (brutal everything red) and visited what we missed (another 2 hours). If you have booked the Oasis Bedouin Camp or any other through Booking, there is usually a contact email. You tell them the days you are going to be there and what options you have so as not to miss the essentials of Wadi Rum. They will help you better because everything is a bit tailor-made, there are no set tour schedules. If you only have 2 hours, it is also possible, of course! Bring enough coat for the night hehe. We look forward to comments upon return, what envy!
Hi!
I am going to visit Israel and Jordan next April. My question is, did you get the Jordan Pass when visiting Petra? We are going to do an itinerary very similar to yours, that is, from Jordan we will visit Wadi Rum and Petra, so I don't know if it is worth buying it.
I have also read that if you get it you don't have to pay for a visa, is that true?
On the other hand, in other cases, I have read that without having the Jordan Pass, it is not necessary to pay a visa at the border with Aqaba.
Can you provide me with more information about this?
Thank you!!
Hello! We did not get the Jordan Pass because we did not know of its existence before traveling, so we cannot compare prices. To enter Wadi Rum you had to pay a symbolic price, I don't remember how much, nothing compared to the entrance to Petra which is very expensive. You can look at the prices on the internet (surely they are published) and see if it is worth it for you to buy it. It will depend on how many days you are going to spend in Petra and visiting other national parks or attractions in Jordan included in the Jordan Pass. I'm sorry I can't help you in this regard...
Regarding the Aqaba/Wadi Araba border crossing, when leaving Israel you must pay the Israeli state. However, if you spend at least 4 nights in Jordan, you will not be charged departure tax when you want to re-enter Israel. Regarding entry to Jordan, I don't remember having to pay for an entry visa, but because we stayed 4 nights in the country.
We hope we have been able to help you, what a trip envy! We would repeat it as is!