How can I get to Petra from Israel?

Question

I will be visiting Israel for a week and undertstand that Petra is nearby. How would I cross over to Jordan? What is the nearest city in Israel to Petra, Jordan and is it difficult to drive over?

Answer 1

I have actually done this trip several times, several ways. The easiest way I have found is this:

Go to the Jordanian Embassy in Tel Aviv to get a tourist visa. Make sure you take a passpor size photo and some a Jordanian Dinars or Israeli Shekles (sorry I don't recall the exact amount). After you get the visa you can then use Allenby/King Hussein Bridge which is close to Jerusalem. This saves the hassle of having to go north to the Jordan River crossing or all the way to Eilat.
Once you arrive in Jordan there will be taxis and busses that can take you to Amman, and from there you can take a bus to Petra but it takes forever. I prefer renting a car at the border and driving. I ususally go up to Amman and jump on King's Highway south to Aqaba and then there are signs to guide you to Petra/Wadi Musa. If you do this, be very careful driving; the road often seems empty and it is tempting to go very fast. However, you never know when a bedouin will suddenly appear and you certainly don't want to hit an animal or God forbid a person. So watch your speed and pay attention!!
On your way back you can again use Allenby crossing and in Israel there are taxis or shayrutim (shared taxis) to Jerusalem. Shayrutim are much cheaper and recommendable.
From Jerusalem, the border crossing is about an hours drive. After you cross the border and rent the car, it will take you approximately three hours to get to Petra. This does not inlclude the time it takes to cross the border, which varies depending on traffic and the mood of the border patrols on both sides. In my experienc it takes anywhere from an hour to three hours. Also, going back to Israel is usually a bit more difficult. If there are tons of people and you have extra cash, the VIP service can be worth in on your way back.
One more thing, it is possible but difficult to drive a private car across the border, and you are not allowed to do this with rental cars.
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

P.S. I know a couple of great people over there, so if you want information about having a real Petra experience, away from the tourists, let me know and I'll help you out!

Answer 2

You cross over the Jordanian-Israeli border at the Jordan river, continue travel to Amman, then get a "Jet Bus" tour down to Petra.

It could be difficult to cross the border depending upon your citizenship. Expect very thorough secruity at a minimum.

Answer 3

the best thing will be to go to eilat and from there take a tour to petra, you can buy the tour either in israel or through your travel agent at home.
sometimes the travel agents overseas can arrange for you to cross into jordan at the allenby bridge, near jerusalem and jericho, which makes it easier and demands less travelling.
another possiblity is flying to jordan, visiting petra and then going into israel and flying out of israel.

Answer 4

We spent the night in a beautiful hotel in Eilat overlooking the Red Sea, crossed the border the next day and stayed in another beautiful 5-star hotel right at the entrance to Petra -- Movenpick.
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Answer 5

ok, right here's my suggestion. overlook the Cairo kit or flights. you would possibly want to make sure that you do your Petra excursion (even if its kit or no longer) at a level once you are able to go away on to Cairo. then you've 2 selections. Head from Petra by utilizing land to Aqaba and pass decrease back into Israel, take a short cab for the length of city and receive your mainland Egyptian visa (major TO HAVE only before TIME!! do no longer plan on getting it once you enter Sinai!!) you should have arrived early interior the morning so once you purchased the visa from Egyptian consulate in Eilat, go via Taba border into Sinai Egypt and then take a Delta bus to Cairo (only round the nook from the position you enter Egypt, be careful, they have minibus drivers who're scamming for larger expenses in a lot less save, at nighttime, buses) only pass round inquiring for the Taba bus station. (back, formerly the better because buses are not 24 hours and also you're forced to take an intense priced minibus even if this is the middle of the nighttime). Your 2d option is the take a ferry from Aqaba Jordan to Nuweiba Egypt. the advantages is you would possibly want to save $15 USD for the Israeli get top of entry to fee and probable a even as by utilizing bypassing Israel... besides the undeniable fact that i'm no longer certain how effortless this is to get your mainland Egyptian visa from there and also you'd be dropped slightly extra south of Taba in a quite quiet portion of Sinai (in spite of the actual incontrovertible truth that that element of 365 days shoudl be busier). no longer quite reported till human beings favor to stay away from Israel alltogether (for inspite of reason). both way you would possibly want to be in Cairo in 6-8 hours tops. Spend some days and easily go back to Taba, pass into Israel, take a 4 hour Egged bus from Eilat decrease back to Jerusalem (or 5 hrs to Tel Aviv). it is rushing slightly, yet you are able to quite locate plenty to do in Cairo. remember, the pyramids are there, nice eating, museums, custom and so on. in case you do not have time for complete Egypt Cairo is quite worth some hours on a bus. be certain you've a minimum of two days there nonetheless or this is going to likely be in worry-free words quite a tease.

Answer 6

You can hitchhike, take a bus or drive.