2025 Petra Tour from Sharm by Cruise: An Honest Review

So, you’re chilling in Sharm El Sheikh, right, and you see these posters for a day trip to Petra. It sounds almost too good to be true, you know? Like, you can just pop over to another country and see one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, then be back for a late dinner. I mean, I was pretty curious. Frankly, the idea of crossing the Red Sea by boat to get to the ‘Lost City’ of Petra had a certain ring to it. It’s obviously a long day, there’s no getting around that, but the question is, like, is it really worth doing? Well, I went on one to get the real story. This is pretty much my experience with the whole thing, from the very early morning start to the sleepy boat ride back.

The Morning Cruise: Sailing from Sharm to Aqaba

Alright, so the day kicks off seriously early. We’re talking about a pickup from your hotel when it’s still completely dark outside, sort of before the birds are even awake. Honestly, you’re a bit sleepy and questioning your choices at this point. Still, once you get to the port in Sharm, things start to feel a little more real. You actually see the cruise boat, which is usually a fairly big ferry, not like a luxury liner, but definitely comfortable enough for the few hours you’re on it. The process of getting on board is, more or less, quite organized. You just show your passport and ticket, and then you’re on. Finding a seat is usually easy, you know, and I’d recommend grabbing one by a window.

As the boat pulls away from the dock, that’s kind of when the good part begins. You get this incredible view of the Sinai mountains in the very early morning light, which is honestly stunning. The air feels fresh and clean over the water. A lot of these tours offer some sort of basic breakfast on board, like coffee and a croissant or something similar, which is just enough to get you going. The trip across the Gulf of Aqaba typically takes a couple of hours. It’s actually a pretty smooth and pleasant ride for the most part. It’s a great time to just relax, maybe read a little bit, or just watch the deep blue water go by. You can almost feel the anticipation building up among all the other people on the boat; everyone is there for the same amazing reason.

Arriving in Jordan and the Road to Petra

So, you finally see the coast of Jordan appearing, and that’s the city of Aqaba. Getting off the boat and going through passport control in Jordan is, you know, surprisingly straightforward. The tour companies have basically done this thousands of times, so they have a system down. A tour representative usually meets you right after you get through the formalities. Then, you’re guided to these air-conditioned coaches that are waiting to take you to Petra. It’s a relief to sit down in the cool air after being in the sun. The coach ride is actually a big part of the experience in its own way. You’ll be on the road for about two hours, more or less.

This is when you get your first real feel for Jordan. The scenery changes so dramatically. You leave the city of Aqaba behind and head into the desert. Frankly, the landscape is just mind-blowing. You drive past these vast, sandy plains and then into the mountains. You’ll likely see some parts of the famous Wadi Rum desert, which just looks like another planet, really. The tour guide on the bus typically uses this time to give you a lot of background information. They’ll talk about the history of Jordan, the Bedouin people who live in the area, and, of course, the ancient Nabataeans who built Petra. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s genuinely interesting and sets the stage for what you are about to see.

Walking the Siq: Your First Glimpse of the Lost City

Okay, so after the bus ride, you finally arrive at the visitor center in Wadi Musa, the modern town next to Petra. This is where you’ll get your tickets sorted by the guide and have a quick bathroom break. From there, it’s all on foot. The walk to the main entrance of Petra is just a little bit of a trek, maybe about fifteen minutes. You walk past some of the first tombs, like the Obelisk Tomb, and you think, ‘Wow, this is pretty neat.’ But honestly, you have no idea what’s coming next. The real magic, you know, starts when you enter the Siq. The Siq is this narrow, winding gorge, carved out by water over millions of years, that acts as the main entrance to the city.

Walking through the Siq is an experience I don’t think I’ll ever forget. It’s a bit more than a kilometer long, and the rock walls tower over you on both sides, sometimes nearly blocking out the sky. They are this incredible swirl of red, pink, and orange sandstone. Your guide will probably point out old channels for carrying water and some small carvings along the way. The path gets darker and narrower in spots, and you just keep walking, building up this incredible sense of suspense. You can hear your own footsteps echoing. Then, it happens. You see a sliver of light up ahead, and through a crack in the canyon walls, you get your very first peek at the Treasury.

“I literally just stopped and gasped,” a woman walking next to me said. “You see it in pictures, but… wow. Just, wow. It’s so much more, you know?”

That pretty much sums it up perfectly. It is a completely breathtaking moment, at the end of the day.

The Treasury and Beyond: What You’ll Actually See

When you step out of the Siq and into the open, the Treasury, or Al-Khazneh, is right there in front of you. It is just immense and so intricately carved. It’s one of those sights that’s so famous, you sort of wonder if it will live up to the hype. I can tell you, it absolutely does. You’ll spend a good amount of time here just taking it all in, getting pictures from every possible angle. It’s usually quite crowded here, with people, camels, and vendors all around, but it sort of adds to the lively atmosphere. Your guide will share all the stories about it—how it was probably a king’s tomb, not a treasury, and point out details you would totally miss on your own.

After you’ve had your fill of the Treasury, the ancient city opens up before you. You’ll walk down what’s called the Street of Facades, which is basically a whole row of massive tombs carved into the rock face. They are a bit less decorated than the Treasury but are still very impressive. A little further down the path, you come across a massive Roman-style Amphitheater, also carved directly out of the mountain. It could seat thousands of people. It’s a good moment to just sit on one of the stone steps and think about the history that happened right there. On a day tour like this, you basically have a limited amount of time. You’ll cover these main highlights, but you probably won’t have time to make the huge hike up to the Monastery, which is another famous building high up in the mountains. Your guide keeps the group moving at a steady pace to make sure you see the essentials.

Lunch, Souvenirs, and the Journey Back

By this point in the day, you’ve done a lot of walking, and you’re definitely ready for a break. The tour usually includes lunch at one of the restaurants inside the Petra site. It’s typically a buffet-style meal with a really nice selection of Jordanian and Middle Eastern food. You’ll find things like hummus, different salads, grilled chicken or lamb, and lots of rice. Honestly, the food is surprisingly good and very welcome after all the exploring. It’s a nice chance to just sit down in the shade, relax your feet, and chat with other people from your tour group about what you’ve seen.

After lunch, there’s usually a little bit of free time. This is your chance to do some souvenir shopping if you want to. There are lots of stalls run by local Bedouins selling things like silver jewelry, colorful scarves, and little bottles filled with patterned sand. A little friendly bargaining is kind of expected, you know. Then, it’s time to start the long walk back. You go back the same way you came, through the Street of Facades and back into the amazing Siq. Seeing it all for a second time is almost as good as the first. The walk back to the bus can feel pretty long, especially since you are a bit tired. The coach ride back to Aqaba is much quieter; a lot of people just nap. You get back on the boat as the sun is starting to set, and the cruise back to Sharm is very peaceful. You’re exhausted, but, like, in a really good way.

Some Quick Takeaways

• Wear Comfortable Shoes: Seriously, this is a must. You will be walking a lot, often on uneven, sandy ground. Good walking shoes or sneakers are your best friends on this trip.
• Bring Sun Protection: The sun in the desert is very strong, even on a cooler day. You’ll want a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for sure.
• Carry Some Cash: You’ll need some Jordanian Dinar or even US Dollars/Euros for things like drinks, souvenirs, or maybe tipping your guide if you felt they did a great job.
• Manage Your Energy: It is a very long day. Just pace yourself. Drink plenty of water, which is usually provided on the bus, and don’t try to rush everything. Enjoy the moments.

Read our full review: [2025 Petra Tour from Sharm by Cruise Full Review and Details]

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