Private pickup directly at Aqaba cruise terminal with name board and vehicle identification
Petra Shore Excursion Aqaba: Walk the Siq and see the Treasury on a single day from Aqaba cruise port. Private planning and local support included.
Continue planning with our shore excursions, and consult the official Jordan Tourism Board for current destination information.
You step off the cruise ship with one precious day in port. You want Petra, not a rushed drive-by. Our Petra Shore Excursion respects that time is finite and memories are forever. We collect you at the Aqaba cruise terminal, whisk you through the desert highway in a private vehicle, and place you inside the Siq before the midday heat. A licensed guide walks with you to the Treasury, the Street of Facades, and the Theater. You eat lunch inside the site, take your photos without being herded, and return to the ship with a comfortable buffer before all-aboard. No stress, no missed ship, no regrets. This is the shore excursion other passengers will envy when they hear your stories at dinner.
This full-day Petra shore excursion is designed for cruise passengers with a single day in Aqaba port. Your private guide meets you at the cruise terminal, drives you 2 hours along the scenic Wadi Araba highway to Petra, and leads you through the Siq to the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Theater, and the Royal Tombs. Lunch is served at the Basin Restaurant inside the site. After a full afternoon of exploration, you return to Aqaba with a comfortable buffer before your ships all-aboard time. The excursion is timed precisely to your ships schedule, with GPS tracking and a dedicated operations team monitoring your return.
Key details for planning this private journey experience.
Private pickup directly at Aqaba cruise terminal with name board and vehicle identification
Scenic 2-hour drive through the Wadi Araba desert with commentary on geology and history
Walk the full 0.75-mile Siq canyon with your guide explaining Nabataean engineering
First view of the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) from the canyon exit: the iconic Petra moment
Guided exploration of the Street of Facades, the Theater, and the Royal Tombs
Lunch at the Basin Restaurant inside Petra (included, with vegetarian options)
Free time for photography, souvenir shopping, or independent wandering
Return to Aqaba with guaranteed arrival 90 minutes before ship all-aboard time
Real-time GPS tracking and operations team monitoring your return journey
A simple view of what is covered in this journey and what should be planned separately.
Your guide holds a Jordan Journey name board at the cruise terminal exit. The vehicle (a Toyota HiAce minivan or luxury sedan, based on group size) is parked at the designated cruise-ship pickup zone.
The Wadi Araba highway stretches north through desert plains and mountain passes. Your guide provides a 20-minute briefing on Petra history, the Nabataean civilization, and what you will see.
Your guide purchases tickets and arranges your entry.
Your guide points out the water channels, carved niches, and the remains of the original paving stones.
This is the iconic Petra photograph. Your guide allows 20 minutes for photos from multiple angles.
Your guide explains how the Nabataeans and Romans shared this space.
Your guide provides context for each.
Buffet with grilled chicken, rice, salads, fresh bread, and fruit. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.
Options: visit the Petra Museum at the Visitor Center (small, air-conditioned, excellent artifacts), shop for souvenirs at the licensed gift shop, or simply sit and absorb the atmosphere.
You are back with 90 minutes to spare before typical all-aboard times.
The itinerary is designed around a ship that docks at 07:00 and departs at 18:00. For ships with different schedules, your guide adjusts pickup and return times accordingly. Ships that depart later than 19:00 allow additional time inside Petra.
Everything important for planning, comfort, access, timing, and on-the-ground expectations.
Your shore excursion is managed by a dedicated Cruise Operations Team separate from our regular tour operations. This team monitors every ships schedule, weather conditions, and road status. Your vehicle is tracked by GPS, and the operations team receives automatic alerts if the vehicle is delayed. In the extremely rare event of a delay (traffic, road closure, mechanical issue), the operations team contacts your ship directly and arranges either an escort to ensure on-time arrival or, in extreme cases, overnight accommodation in Aqaba and transport to the ships next port. In 14 years of operations, we have never had a passenger miss a ship.
9 to 10 hours door-to-door, from Aqaba Port pickup to port drop-off. The drive each way is approximately 2 hours (125 miles). Inside Petra, you have 4.5 to 5 hours of exploration time. The itinerary is designed for ships docking at 07:00 and departing at 18:00. For ships with different schedules, the itinerary is adjusted proportionally: earlier pickup for early docking, later return for late departure.
Minimum 1 passenger (private tour, no single supplement). Maximum 15 passengers per vehicle (Toyota HiAce minivan). For groups larger than 15, multiple vehicles are deployed. For cruise ship groups of 40+, a luxury coach with onboard restroom is used. All vehicles are less than 5 years old, air-conditioned, and equipped with first aid kits and bottled water.
Moderate. Total walking: approximately 4 to 5 miles on uneven stone surfaces with some sand. The Siq is 0.75 miles of flat but uneven ground. The main trail beyond the Treasury is mostly flat with gentle slopes. There are no mandatory climbs. Travelers with limited mobility can use a horse-drawn carriage from the entrance to the Treasury (approximately $20) and remain in the flatter areas. The Theater requires climbing approximately 30 stone steps (optional). Rest areas with seating are available throughout the site.
| Group Size | Standard Shore Tour | Premium Shore Tour | Private Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 pax | From $245/person | From $345/person | From $495/person |
| 3-6 pax | From $195/person | From $275/person | From $395/person |
| 7-10 pax | From $165/person | From $225/person | From $295/person |
| 11-15 pax | From $145/person | From $195/person | From $245/person |
Standard Shore Tour: shared guide (you may be joined by other cruise passengers), Toyota HiAce minivan or sedan, standard lunch at Basin Restaurant, standard port pickup/drop-off. Premium Shore Tour: private guide (your group only), luxury minivan or SUV, upgraded lunch with additional courses, cold towels and refreshments in the vehicle, complimentary souvenir photo book. Private Luxury: premium vehicle (Mercedes or BMW), private guide, gourmet packed lunch from a 5-star hotel, onboard WiFi, and a 15-minute massage voucher at the Dead Sea (redeemable on a future visit). Children 5-11 receive 30% discount. Children under 5 are free (no meal included; parents provide snacks). Prices reflect 2026 rates.
Available whenever your cruise ship docks in Aqaba. The excursion is offered year-round, seven days a week. Best months: March through May and September through November, when temperatures are 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit and walking conditions are ideal. June through August is hotter (85-105 degrees Fahrenheit) but manageable with early starts and frequent hydration breaks. December through February is mild (50-65 degrees Fahrenheit) and uncrowded. Book at least 7 days in advance to secure your preferred vehicle category. For large cruise groups (40+ passengers), book 21 days in advance.
Full payment is required at booking (shore excursions operate on a strict schedule and cannot be held without payment). Cancellations more than 14 days before receive a 90% refund (10% processing fee). Cancellations 7-14 days before receive a 50% refund. Cancellations less than 7 days are non-refundable but transferable to another passenger on the same cruise. In the event your ship changes port or cancels the Aqaba stop, a full credit valid for 24 months is issued (no cash refund). If your ship arrives late and the excursion cannot proceed, a 75% refund is issued and a shortened alternative tour is offered. No-shows are charged in full. Travel insurance covering shore excursion cancellation is strongly recommended.
This excursion is accessible to travelers with limited mobility with advance notice. The Petra Visitor Center provides wheelchairs for rental ($25/day). The Siq is wheelchair-navigable with assistance (the surface is uneven stone). Horse-drawn carriages can transport wheelchair users to the Treasury area. Accessible restrooms are available at the Visitor Center and Basin Restaurant. The vehicle can accommodate folding wheelchairs. For travelers with significant mobility limitations, a shortened itinerary (Siq + Treasury + Basin Restaurant, 3 hours inside Petra) is recommended. Please disclose all accessibility needs at booking so we can confirm arrangements and assign an appropriate guide.
Minimum age: 5 years. Children 5-11 receive 30% discount. Children under 5 are free (no meal included; parents provide snacks). Maximum group size: 15 per vehicle; larger groups use multiple vehicles. Departure: daily, year-round, whenever cruise ships dock. Ship schedule compatibility: designed for ships docking 06:00-08:00 and departing 17:00-20:00. For ships with different schedules, the itinerary is adjusted. Late ship arrivals: guide waits up to 2 hours free of charge; beyond 2 hours, a shortened tour is offered. Passport requirement: original passport or ship-issued ID card required. No Jordan Pass needed (entry fee included). Travel insurance: mandatory.
Useful labels that help compare this journey with other Jordan Journey experiences.
Clear answers before you reserve your journey.
Our Cruise Operations Team monitors your ships schedule in real time via AIS (Automatic Identification System) maritime tracking. If your ship arrives late, your guide adjusts the pickup time and the itinerary is compressed to fit the available window. If your ship leaves earlier than scheduled, the return time is moved forward and the Petra visit is shortened proportionally. In extreme cases (ship arrives more than 3 hours late), a shortened Petra visit (Siq + Treasury only, 2 hours) is offered at a pro-rata refund, or a full credit for a future visit. We have never had a passenger miss a ship.
Your guide meets you at the Aqaba Port Main Gate, the primary exit point for cruise passengers. They hold a large Jordan Journey name board with your name and the tour name. The vehicle is parked in the designated cruise pickup zone (a 2-minute walk from the gate). If you cannot locate your guide, call the 24/7 operations number provided in your confirmation email (+962-XXX-XXXX). The operations team will direct you to your guide immediately.
Most cruise passengers receive a Jordanian visa on arrival at Aqaba Port (free for many nationalities, or approximately $60 for others). Your cruise line typically arranges the visa for shore excursion participants. Confirm with your cruise line before departure. If your cruise line does not arrange visas, Jordan Journey can provide a visa support letter upon request (submit passport details at least 14 days before the excursion). The visa process at Aqaba Port takes 10-15 minutes.
Yes. Horse-drawn carriages are available at the Petra entrance for the ride to the Treasury (approximately $20-25 per carriage, seating 2-3 passengers). This is recommended for travelers with limited mobility or those who want to conserve energy. The carriage ride covers the 0.75-mile Siq and drops you at the Treasury. After exploring, you can walk back or hire another carriage. Horseback riding is also available from local Bedouin handlers (tip-based, typically $5-10).
Your guide provides a clear rendezvous time and location (usually the Basin Restaurant at 14:00). If you are delayed, the guide waits up to 30 minutes. If you are significantly delayed, the guide contacts you via the provided phone number or WhatsApp. The operations team adjusts the return schedule to ensure you still reach the ship on time. If you choose to stay inside Petra longer than planned, you may miss the group return and will need to arrange your own taxi back to Aqaba (approximately $90-120, not reimbursed).
Yes, lunch is included at the Basin Restaurant inside Petra. The standard lunch is a buffet with grilled chicken, rice, salads, fresh bread, and fruit. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available with advance notice (specify at booking). The Premium and Luxury packages include upgraded menus. Alcoholic beverages are not served at the Basin Restaurant but can be purchased at the Petra Guest House Hotel nearby (not included). If you have severe allergies, please inform us at booking.
Yes. There are licensed souvenir shops near the Visitor Center and at the Basin Restaurant area. Items include Petra-themed jewelry, sand art, refrigerator magnets, books, and traditional Jordanian handicrafts. Prices range from $5 to $50. The guide can recommend reputable vendors. Bargaining is acceptable but not aggressive. Credit cards are accepted at the larger shops; cash is preferred at smaller stalls.
Shore excursions run in all weather conditions. Petra is accessible in light rain (the Siq provides natural shelter). In the rare event of a flash flood warning or severe weather, the excursion is modified to visit covered sites (Petra Museum, Aqaba Fort, or Madaba mosaics) with a pro-rata refund for the missed Petra portion. Mechanical breakdowns are handled by dispatching a replacement vehicle within 60 minutes. If the excursion cannot proceed at all, a full refund is issued within 48 hours.
