Ways to see Petra with a guide
There are two main options. You can walk in on your own and hire a licensed guide at the Petra Visitor Center, or you can book a tour or day trip that includes transport, a guide and sometimes the entrance ticket. The right choice depends on where you start. From Wadi Musa a guide at the Visitor Center is usually enough. From Amman, Aqaba or Wadi Rum a day trip handles the long drive.
The authority arranges licensed guides at the Visitor Center, in English and other languages. It asks visitors to stay on the main trails unless they are with a guide, and says a local guide is required on guided routes. That does not mean you need a guide for every meter of the Main Trail. Prices below are as of October 2026.
If you would rather have a car, a driver or your own guide, see the private Petra tours.
Our picks: tours compared
Day trips from Amman and Aqaba, plus a guide in Petra itself.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private day trip from Aqaba to Petra
An air-conditioned private car with an English-speaking driver, water and lunch in Petra, picked up at your hotel, the cruise port or the airport. Entry tickets are not included.
Check availability →
Private full-day Petra tour from Amman
Private transport from Amman or the airport with an English-speaking driver, water and Wi-Fi. Entry tickets, a local guide and lunch are only available as options.
Check availability →Private three-hour guided tour of Petra
Hotel pickup and a private guide in Petra, with some free time. The ticket (50 JOD per person on the tour page) and the ride back to your hotel are extra.
Check availability →Petra tours and day trips
Guided Petra visits, day trips from Amman and Aqaba, Wadi Rum jeep tours and combinations, with live prices and availability.
Guide fees at the Visitor Center
Listed prices for a guided route, 2026. The guide fee does not include the entrance ticket.
| Route | Time | Guide fee |
|---|---|---|
| Main Trail | About 2.5 hours | JOD 50 |
| Main Trail with the High Place | – | JOD 100 |
| Main Trail with the Monastery | – | JOD 100 |
| Theater to the High Place and back | 1.5 hours | JOD 35 |
| Royal Palace Tomb to Al-Khubtha | 2 to 2.5 hours | JOD 50 |
| Back route via Beida and the Monastery to the Basin Restaurant | 6 to 8 hours | JOD 150 |
Sources differ, check before you go. One authority page lists the Main Trail with the High Place at JOD 100, while a separate astronomy and archaeology trail product lists JOD 80 for a similar combination. They may not cover the same route. The side routes do not include the main route price. No per-person breakdown is listed, so ask whether the fee is per guide or per head.
Day trips from Amman
Petra is about three hours from Amman by car on the Desert Highway and about four on the King's Highway, each way. A day trip is therefore long, and most of it is spent on the road. A morning start is the norm.
If you only want transport, one operator lists a one-way bus from Amman to Petra from JOD 20, about four hours, leaving Abdali at 06:30 and 7th Circle at 07:00 and arriving at 10:30. That is one operator's offer, not a general fare. The authority also lists a morning JETT bus from Abdali at 06:30 and a return from Petra at 17:00.
When you compare day trips, check whether the Monastery is in the itinerary. A day trip does not guarantee it. Also check whether the entrance ticket, lunch and the guide are included, and what time you are back in Amman. More detail on routes and times is on Amman to Petra.
From Aqaba and the cruise port
Aqaba is about two hours from Petra by road. Cruise ships dock at the Aqaba Cruise Terminal. When the ship Aroya called on 25 September 2026 with about 3,400 passengers, eight excursion buses went to Petra and two to Wadi Rum, returning the same evening. That shows how shore excursions work: the operator runs a fixed schedule and brings you back to the ship.
If you book a private trip instead, build in a margin for the return drive. The authority does not publish a guaranteed connection to a ship's departure time. Ask what happens if you are late, and check whether the Petra entry applies as a day-visitor or overnight ticket. See Aqaba to Petra and the tickets page.
What to check before you book
The same questions apply to most Petra tours.
Entrance ticket
Is the Petra ticket included, and which category? A Jordan Pass covers entry but not the guide. See the Jordan Pass page.
Route and time
Does the tour reach the Treasury only, or also Qasr al-Bint, the Monastery or the High Place? Walking times are one way and exclude photo stops.
Hiking trails →Group size and language
Group size and minimums vary by operator. Confirm the guide's language and the meeting point before you pay.
Cancellation
Terms differ between listings. Read the cancellation rules on the booking page instead of assuming a free change.
Wadi Rum add-ons
Wadi Rum is about 107 kilometers (66 mi) from Petra, a drive of 1.5 to 2 hours. Some visitors add a jeep tour or a night in a camp. One camp operator lists a two-hour jeep tour at JOD 40 for a single person, JOD 25 each for two to four and JOD 20 each for five to eight. A tour plus overnight stay is JOD 50 for one person or JOD 35 each for two to four. These are one operator's prices, not a general rate. Read more on the Wadi Rum page.
Petra tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide in Petra?
Not for every part. The authority asks visitors to stay on the main trails unless accompanied by a guide, and a local guide is required on guided routes. Many visitors walk the Main Trail alone.
How much is a guide in Petra?
The authority lists JOD 50 for the Main Trail and JOD 100 for routes that add the High Place or the Monastery, as of 2026. The entrance ticket is separate.
Is a day trip from Amman worth it?
It works if you only have one day, but the drive is three to four hours each way. Staying a night in Wadi Musa gives you more time at the site.
Does a day trip include the Monastery?
Not always. The Monastery needs an extra climb of about 800 steps, so check the itinerary. See the Monastery for timing.
Can I visit Petra from a cruise ship?
Yes, shore excursions run from Aqaba, and the port is about two hours from Petra. Ask the operator how the return to the ship is handled.