A few months ago, my friend and I went on a trip to Jordan. We decided not to buy a tour, but to travel on our own. Having stayed at one of the hotels in Aqaba, we decided to visit Petra, the main attraction of Jordan.

Since it is very hot in Jordan, and there is practically no vegetation in Petra itself, try to guess so as to arrive there either as early as possible in the morning or in the late afternoon. We came for one day, and, frankly, regretted it. It would be better to arrive the day before and stay at a hotel near Petra, and go on a tour in the morning.

So, you can get to Aqaba in Petra in the following ways.

By car

In Aqaba, there are many companies offering rental services. To rent a car, you need to have an international driving license and a credit card with sufficient funds in your account. As a rule, 200-300 dollars are blocked as a deposit, for expensive cars this amount can be up to 500 dollars.

It must be borne in mind that it is forbidden to drive a rented car outside Jordan.

The difficulty of self-driving is that the traffic in the country is left-handed, so you need to get used to the road conditions. However, if you are at fault in the event of an accident, then you will have to pay the costs. Therefore, carefully weigh the pros and cons before renting a car.

The road to Petra takes about 2 hours along the Desert Highway. You can make a small detour, but take the more colorful Royal Road through the Kerak fortress and the Wadi Mujib canyon. This is one of the oldest roads in the world, it was mentioned in the Old Testament. If you drive along the Royal Road, then you will spend almost 3 hours on the way.

It is very convenient for tourists that all the signs are written not only in Arabic, but also in English. There are also special tourist maps, pointers, so you won’t get lost along the way.

By train

In Jordan, the railway communication is very poorly developed, the only track connects Amman. If I'm not mistaken, trains don't even run on it now.

By plane

The only air route is Amman-Aqaba.

By bus

In general, public transport in Jordan is represented by several types of vehicles:

regular buses from the Jett company. Buses are quite comfortable, they have air conditioning. Departure to Petra at 06.30 am, the journey will take 3 hours;

small minibuses designed for 15-20 passengers. The disadvantage of such minibuses is that they do not have air conditioning, and in the conditions of the Jordanian 45-50-degree heat, this plays a big role. Such transport travels irregularly;

I have been thinking about a trip to Jordan for a long time. But she did not want to be limited only to Petra. I wanted to see the country.

After all, Jordan is a country of two seas and two wonders of the world!

Preparations started early. I can say that the information, in fact, is not so much. Many forums are dedicated only to a trip from Egypt or Israel to Petra for a couple of days. Having studied a bunch of materials, I did not find, for example, whether Russians need to pay a duty when leaving the country. In my search, I even came across Arkhan Kochneva, whom I bombarded with questions. Thank you so much for answering almost everything.

So, in order.

Jordan is a country. where Russians get visas on arrival. This procedure takes no more than five minutes. The cost of a visa is 40 dinars. As of March 2015, the rate was extortionate, for one dinar they asked for 101 rubles. In April, it was still already 75. This was already pleasing, but still a little expensive. And in general, having traveled around the country, I can say that I still don’t understand where such prices come from? With such a service? If you arrive in Aqaba and depart from it, then you are exempt from duty on entry and, most importantly, even on exit. Aqaba airport is very small, the landing was not very good, we circled for a very long time, we already thought that we were producing fuel)))

Even during planning, I decided to rush to Petra immediately upon arrival. Since we arrived at 3 a.m., the price tags of taxi drivers went through the roof. But, 15 minutes of diligent bargaining, learned 10 words in Arabic, a smile from the head did their job and the trip cost us 40% cheaper. According to the forecast, it should be 18 degrees in Petra at this time, so we decided not to take warm clothes. Immediately upon leaving the airport, a stunning view of Eilat at night opens up. The Israelis, apparently, unlike the Arabs, do not save electricity)) It is a 10-minute drive to the border with Israel. For about 90 kilometers we were driving along the excellent and illuminated Royal Road, but suddenly a sharp desert wind came up and SUCH FOG descended that we could not even see our hood. Even the driver freaked out. I had to stop and wait for dawn. After 40 minutes, although it dawned, the situation did not improve, and our driver decided to go anyway. It started to SNOW in 15 minutes! We were definitely not ready for this ... With grief in half, we nevertheless arrived in Petra. It was dank, the snow ended and ... it started to rain. We were so cold and tired that we decided to just fall asleep. Although we knew that we had to go to Petra as early as possible, fatigue took its toll. Waking up for dinner, we put on all the clothes that we had bought in Istanbul the day before and trudged to Petra. The vidocq was still the same!!! All three sweatshirts that I was wearing had different sleeve lengths))) In short, like real nesting dolls, they went to such a long-awaited photo shoot)))

Posted By website on 02/24/2017

Jordan - Red Sea - prices for excursions for tourists

Where to go, what to see while relaxing on the Red Sea in Jordan? Top World Famous Tourist Attractions Jordan, overview by financial layouts. How to save on expensive excursions in Jordan.

The final schedule is:

1. The cheapest and an unpredictable option is to travel with taxi drivers. For example, the most expensive long-distance excursion to the other side of Jordan - "3 in one" can be negotiated for $ 150 per car, i.e. for four for $38 per person, of course, without the cost of entrance tickets ($20-20-15 for one). At the same time, the following disadvantages come up: few of the taxi drivers will be sane calmly and it will be interesting to tell you something, especially in Russian, many who traveled noted that taxi drivers are polite with you only until the moment of departure, and then everything is unpredictable, they can just silently bring it, then wave your hand, they say go, figure out what and how yourself. In addition, due to the fact that the long-distance road taxi drivers have a tight schedule, therefore, everyone who traveled with them noted a rather tough cool attitude towards tourists. In general, this option can only be recommended to those who speak English very well.
2. Purchase of excursions in Aqaba. The second cheapest option is the following combination. . Near the bus terminus, crossing the road to the sea, immediately to the right of McDonald's, we see a travel agency booth with glass doors. We take the necessary ticket there, only necessarily with a Russian-speaking guide, the bus will pick you up at the hotel in Tala Bay, the price of the “3 in one” issue is $ 110 per person with entrance tickets; Petra - $ 105 per person with entrance tickets; in general, a little troublesome, but those who have traveled say that it is no worse than with Pegasus.
3. The next inexpensive option is tour packages of the agency, which is located on the corner at the yacht parking 250 meters from the Marina - Marina Plaza Hotel 4 or Radisson - Radisson Blu Tala Bay Resort 5 (as tourists say at Mahmoud– Mahmoud is one of the guides, the director of the agency also speaks Russian). We liked the second guide Issam even more, because. he is naturally very sociable, which he himself admits without hesitation. Whatever he told us, he answered our questions all the way, told and explained local rules and customs, laws and orders. . See photos for prices. This option is good because the agency is at hand, at least 5 minutes.
4. The fourth easiest and most expensive option is to purchase a tour at the hotel at Pegasus guides daily from 8-22, guides are always at the hotel. It is impossible not to see them. If you take from them immediately after the organizational meeting with the guides, then there will be small discounts of $ 10-20 per person. However, even with a discount, their prices are skyrocketing and will probably shock you even if you are not the first time abroad.

The prices for sightseeing tours at Pegasus in Tala Bay in Jordan are as follows:

– 195 $;
Wadi Rum - Wadi Rum - Wadi Rum (desert, grief, rocks, jeeping) - $ 118;
Three in one (Hot springs, Dead Sea, Jordan River) - $187 per person with entrance tickets.

About Tours

Petra - Petra - Nabataean kingdom

This is a caravan city, lost in the rocks between the Red and Dead Seas. For a long time it was the main transit point between Syria, Egypt and Arabia. It is half carved into the rocks, surrounded by winding gorges and is now recognized as one of the "7 wonders of the world." It is also one of the most expensive open-air museums in the world with an admission price of $72 (50 dinars) per person. World famous landmarks.

Wadi Rum Wadi Rum Wadi Rum.

These are Jordanian cliffs 1750 meters high, created by winds and weather, peaks and deserts, with a very characteristic color. The famous stone bridge. Drive through the desert in jeeps. Sunset in the deserts of Wadi Rum - Wadi Rum - Wadi Rum is one of the famous and spectacular.

Three in one.

This is a visit to the place where Jesus Christ was supposedly baptized. on the Jordan River (Bethany). Where, if desired, you can plunge into the river in special shirts. Takes about an hour.

As well as hot springs (Main in Jordan). Which are located at the bottom of a large canyon and are beautiful, memorable waterfalls (30 meter jets), one might say, thermal baths. It takes about 1.5-2 hours.

Dead Sea (in Jordan). During the tour, the Dead Sea is given more than 2 hours. Which is actually more than enough for most, because. the water is very peculiar, with a high content of minerals and salts. They swim on the equipped beach of a 5-star hotel, you can use the entire infrastructure of the hotel, including a shower, which will be required after swimming in the Dead Sea. In the same hotel, excursion groups have lunch (lunch is included in the price, except for water). If you live in Marina (Marina Plaza Hotel 4) or Radisson (Radisson Blu Tala Bay Resort 5) you will be pleasantly surprised by the level of real five-star cuisine.

Also, the Dead Sea is one of the lowest and most natural places on earth relative to sea level. The distance from Aqaba to the Dead Sea is about 200 km, so this excursion, which includes visiting three places located at the northern borders of Jordan, is the longest in time.

Boat trip in Tala Bay.

According to most vacationers, a rather boring pastime. And given the price of $ 35 (at Pegasus prices), it’s completely stupid. And it’s not even a fact that you will be taken to the flooded cargo ship.

Diving

Diving is available, both in Aqaba and in Tala Bay, but Egypt definitely outperforms the deep-water Gulf of Jordan in terms of coral diversity.

What you need to take with you on a tour in Jordan:

Headwear, comfortable shoes, for swimming in the Dead Sea swimsuit, towels, soap; photo, video equipment, an olympic jacket just in case if you eat not in the hot season (it can be cool in the canyons and) as well as sunscreen.

It must be remembered that it will be extremely problematic to return the money for the paid excursion.

About visas to Jordan - about trips to Israel - sightseeing tour Jordan-Israel.

Currently, only Pegasus flies to the Red Sea in Jordan. He, according to the guide, has an agreement with the Jordanian government, upon arrival of the charter at the Jordanian airport in Aqaba, there is no need to pay for a visa, they take pictures of the retina, put a special stamp in the passport and that's it. But if you arrive in Jordan through the airport in Amman, you will have to pay for a visa there. At the same time, it is possible to leave the country, in this case on an excursion to Israel, but to enter back is not, the guides say that you will have to pay for a visa. Therefore, there is no traditional excursion for the Red Sea - to Jerusalem in Israel, the guides, namely, with a free visa, explain its absence. Since you are leaving, you will leave, at least that’s what the Pegasus guides say at the first (and last) meeting, but it will be problematic to call in, and fly back to the Russian Federation not from Aqaba, but from Tel Aviv. The visa itself in Jordan costs $80 if you get it yourself. If you fly with Pegasus, then it's free.

Jordan - Panoramic views near Petra Jordan - Panoramic views near Petra
Petra - temples in the rocks Petra - temples in the rocks Petra - burials in the rocks
Petra - burials in the rocks

Excursions in Aqaba

City of Petra

Inhabited already in prehistoric times, the caravan city of Petra was located between the Red and Dead Seas and was an important crossroads for trade caravan routes between Arabia, Egypt and Syria.

Petra is a city half built, half carved into the rock, surrounded by mountains with meandering gorges. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and is currently one of the existing 7 wonders of the world. Here, oriental traditions of architecture are intertwined with Hellenistic ones. This is the place that is worth seeing, as it will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.

Transfer to Petra

Transfer to Petra with an English-speaking guide (on the bus to collect guests). The price includes insurance service. Self-paid entrance ticket 50 JOD and meals.

Dinner in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is an amazing place, timeless and practically untouched by civilization. Only weather and winds "worked" here, creating monumental skyscrapers.

Some peaks in the labyrinth of Wadi Rum monolithic rocks reach 1750 m in height, and only experienced climbers can climb them. You are given the opportunity to ride in jeeps and see the most beautiful sunset in the desert. Then you will have dinner in the Bedouin desert and the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditional life of the Bedouin.

QUAD Safari

QUAD Safari - an opportunity to enjoy a trip on 4-wheeled ATVs through the desert along the coast of Talabey Bay.

Driving an ATV is allowed from the age of 17 (children under 12 are not allowed to tour for safety reasons).

3 in 1: Hot Springs, Jordan River Trip, Dead Sea

Bethany is a sacred place for all Christians on the Jordan River, where Jesus Christ was baptized. Mine - hot springs that are located at the bottom of a large canyon. The springs look like picturesque waterfalls. Thirty-meter hot jets make a natural hydromassage of the head and the whole body. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on planet Earth. The water in it is filled with useful substances, minerals and salts. Relax in the magnificent hotel Holliday Inn Resort & Spa on the shores of the Dead Sea.

3 in 1: Hot Springs, Jordan River Trip, Dead Sea (Economy Package)

Diving

Under the full supervision of a professional instructor, you will have the opportunity to see sea turtles, dolphins and other underwater inhabitants of the Red Sea. Dives take place on the most beautiful reefs of the coast, rich in corals and fish. Diving in the waters of the Red Sea is a great opportunity to get new, incomparable sensations and emotions!

Sea trip and snorkeling

We invite you to make an exciting trip on a modern yacht, which has everything you need for a great holiday.

You can relax, as well as snorkel and watch the magnificent underwater world. The price includes soft drinks.

Israel (1 day)

The Holy City of Jerusalem is a special city unlike any other city in the world. The Wailing Wall, which has survived from the time of the Second Temple, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Anointing Stone are holy places for Christians around the world. You will see Via Dolorosa and Calvary, where Christ was crucified, the Garden of Gethsemane - the garden of biblical times and of course the Church of all nations.

Approximate cost of excursions

Excursion	Price* per adult	Price* per child 5-11.99 years old
Petra	115$	55$
Transfer to Petra	42$	42$
Wadi Rum + dinner	65$	45$
QUAD Safari (SNGL, DBL)	35$	—
"3 in 1" Hot Springs + Jordan River + Dead Sea	130$	105$
"3 in 1" Hot springs + Jordan River + Dead Sea (Economy package)	90$	80$
Diving	60$	—
Sea trip + snorkeling	35$	18$
Israel (1 day)	250$	250$
Souvenir market + Dead Sea cosmetics**	0	0

* Prices are for group tours.
** You can check the departure time of the buses and sign up with the PEGAS Touristik hotel guide.

TOURIST ANSWERS:

Petra is located in the center of Jordan. You can get there from anywhere in the country by taxi. But this is a rather expensive mode of transport, even if you know how to bargain. You can also cooperate with someone and ride the same taxi, dividing the costs equally. I traveled from Aqaba to Petra by minibus - departs from the bus station in the center. There is no schedule, as the salon filled up - so let's go. Drive about 3 hours to the town of Wadi Musa - a town not far from Petra, which lives only thanks to its proximity to this attraction. During the journey, the locals constantly treated me to strawberries, then cherries, then some kind of buns. Taxi price: they ask for 40 dinars, but you can bargain for 30 dinars. I took a minibus for 5 dinars.

Helpful answer?

Many tourists travel around Jordan, exploring the historical north of the country and its central part, with absolutely no desire to go to Aqaba. A completely justified desire (about Aqaba), given the specifics of the resort in terms of prices and a paid beach. However, getting from Amman to Petra and seeing the famous Al-Khazneh and Wadi Rum is quite realistic and not much more expensive than from Aqaba. Unless the path itself is still more tiring due to the duration (260 km). There are several options. The easiest is an independent trip Amman Wadi Musa from the city bus station. On the plus side, it's the cheapest option out there. The downside of this path is that the bus follows without stops, and therefore you will not be able to see the famous Al-Karak fortress (on the way), where Johann Burckhardt, who discovered Petra for us, found out about the mystical city of the Nabataeans and managed to make a pilgrimage there with the goal of sacrifices to the prophet on Mount Jabel Harun. The second way is to use the services of numerous Amman travel agencies that organize so-called weekend tours for locals. The bus leaves on Friday and Saturday at 6 am, follows the route Amman-Petra-Wadi Ram-Aqaba and returns to the capital late at night. The “secret” of such a tour is that metropolitan residents go to Aqaba to stock up on alcohol (Aqaba is a Duty-free zone), and the check of buses at the exit is not as thorough as, for example, private transport. The cost of such a trip is approximately 60 dollars. The third option is a "pooling up" taxi. Precisely a pooling, because the Jordanian carriers want to get 80-100 dinars one way, which, you see, is quite expensive. On the plus side, the taxi will stop at Al-Karak and one or two other fortresses worth seeing. In this case, you can spend the night in one of the many hotels in Wadi Musa (a town / village on a mountain a stone's throw from Petra), and the next day take the Amman bus, which I mentioned in the first option. The bus fee is purely symbolic, 7 or 8 dinars. Well, of course, there is the option of private transport if you have a friend who will kindly agree to do this hellish journey, even if you pay for fuel for the car. The point here is this. The shortest road is the Desert Highway, which is absolutely flawless during the daytime. It's catastrophic when the sun goes down: the magnificent track is almost completely unlit, which, as I learned, is absolutely commonplace everywhere in the Kingdom outside of Amman. That is, about 2 km you drive on a lighted road, and then 5-7 km in pitch darkness. Is it worth saying that the number of accidents on the highway increases sharply after dark? It is for this reason that most drivers try to get back to Amman before dark, which is quite problematic if you try to pack both Petra and Wadi Rum on the same day. Of course, if Aqaba is included in your travel plans, then it is worth taking a trip to the city of the Nabataeans and the picturesque red desert from there, because Petra is only an hour and a half drive from the resort town.

Helpful answer?

There are two ways to get to Petra: along the modern highway or along the picturesque "royal road". You can use the buses of travel companies arranging such trips to this place from Amman and Aqaba. Departures are daily in the early morning. This is the best time to travel.

You can also get there by taxi or bus. Traveling by minibus from Amman takes about 3 hours and costs 5 JD. It is worth agreeing on a trip with the driver in advance, since the departure time (usually 8 am) may change. A taxi is more comfortable, but it also costs more. From the same Amman, a round-trip trip with a wait will cost 75-80 dinars. You can, however, always bargain about the price before the trip. Even if you don’t haggle, then you should agree on the cost before leaving, otherwise there is a high probability of significantly overpaying upon returning from Petra.

Those who decide to get to the ghost town on their own by car along the "royal road" should know that it will take at least 5 hours from Amman. The road will pass through the Siq gorge, and for a kilometer it will meander between sheer cliffs of impressive height. In some areas, the valley will narrow to 3 meters. But the surrounding unique view is worth such a trip.