If you’re looking to travel to Petra from Israel independently, our guide to all your options is just what you need!
Of course, having all the logistics taken care of for you is a big advantage (and a big time-saver) with one of our recommended and budget-friendly tours, but for those of you seeking to explore the Hashemite Kingdom on your own, it can certainly be done.
Can I get a Jordanian visa at the border crossing?
Yes…and no.
First things first, crossing the border from Israel into Jordan can be done from one of the three open border crossings: the border crossing at Eilat (otherwise known as the Wadi Arava Crossing) and Beit Shean (also known as the Jordan River Crossing, and which is located further north) issue Jordanian visas on the spot. The central of the three crossings, the Allenby Bridge Crossing, will only let you through with a pre-issued Jordanian visa.
Be aware that if you’re crossing into Jordan from Eilat (Wadi Arava) on your own, officially you’re going to have to get a pre-issued visa from your local Jordanian embassy (some travelers suggest that a visa for individuals is available, and it does look as though you may well be able to catch a lucky break – however, official channels still seem to contradict this). If you’re part of a group however, visas will be given on the spot.
With somewhat confusing information, perhaps it’s reason to consider booking a tour to Jordan…
Can I get around easily in Jordan?
We’re not going to lie and say everything is easy peasy, although, again, it is doable and there are a number of ways to get around if you’ve got the patience and an extremely tight budget.
But for those of you looking to explore Jordan in a quick 2 or 3 days, the logistics and overall ease of a purpose-built tour wins hands-down in our opinion.
First of all, once you’ve gone through the border crossings – which can take hours, depending on the time of day, and your patience – it can get a bit tricky to find decent public transportation, so a (not cheap) taxi could be your best bet to get to your next destination.
Note you can do some parts of Jordan by bus. From Amman to Petra for instance take the daily Jett bus at 6.30am (as an indication of what to expect, private taxis from Amman to Petra cost around $75). From Petra to Aqaba there are several local minibuses in the morning (except on Fridays).
Another factor to take into consideration – you can take a taxi or bus from Amman to Petra as we mention above – however, the entrance fee to get in to Petra is quite expensive (currently $70 if you’re staying overnight in Jordan or $130 if you’re visiting Petra for the day). When you take this into consideration, one of these Petra tours looks like pretty excellent value.
Can I drive in Jordan?
Yes, of course. And the roads are in fairly decent condition, and easily navigable, with many signs in English. The chaos on the roads that looks like it ends up in countless accidents isn’t actually too chaotic and just…works! Renting a car can be a bit of a task – there are hundreds of rental companies in Amman for example, although most are poorly run. Try someone like Reliable, who have a good reputation in Amman.
Can I take a private driver in Jordan?
Taking a private car and driver is a fairly cheap option, much cheaper than you thought! Although your driver is not permitted to actually “guide” you, they can take you wherever you want, enabling you to spend time in places where you really want to be. Probably the best place to find a driver is at your hotel, as they’ll probably have knowledge of any available local drivers.
How good/bad is the public transportation?
If you’ve been used to traveling on Israeli buses and trains, the public transportation in Jordan – although very cheap – is probably going to disappoint.
For starters, you can get to most sites, but the buses available are geared towards locals only, and it could be a struggle language-wise to get where you need to go. Timetables are also not in use, and buses typically only set off when full.
Your best bet is to use a service like Jett, which actually has daily timetabled services from Amman to Aqaba, Petra and a couple of other sites. Another decent option for inter-city routes are shared taxis, or “serveeces”.
Regular yellow and green taxis are great value in cities like Amman, but prove more expensive an option when going beyond a city’s borders.
Should I buy the Jordan Pass?
If you’ve not heard of the Jordan Pass, read this. To cut a long story short, it can save you money on many entrance fees to sites across Jordan and also includes your Jordanian visa fee, so can be worth purchasing, especially if you plan on spending 3 nights or more in Jordan and a day or more in Petra…
Where can I stay in Jordan on a budget?
There are some great options out there, you just have to dig them out from the sand sometimes! For example, when in Petra try the Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp. For other options in Jordan, see our budget-friendly accommodation recommendations and our guide to the best desert camps in Wadi Rum.
Is Jordan safe for solo travelers?
In a nutshell, yes! Solo women travelers will find it harder to get around and should be wary. You might want to read this for an idea of what to expect.