Petra Tour from Sharm by Cruise: A 2025 Real-Life Review

So, you are sitting by the pool in Sharm el Sheikh, and, you know, you see all the pictures for these big day trips. The one that really grabs your attention is, pretty much, always Petra. To be honest, you start thinking, “Is it actually possible to go all the way to Jordan and back in just one day?” It seems like a bit of a massive undertaking, right? Well, I had that exact same thought process, and honestly, I decided to just go for it. This is basically my rundown of the 2025 Petra tour from Sharm by cruise, a day that, quite frankly, is a really long one but, at the end of the day, completely worth the small amount of sleep you’ll get. I mean, it is a bit of an intense schedule, yet the payoff is something you really just can’t put a price on.

Setting Off Before Sunrise – The Cruise to Aqaba

Okay, the day literally starts when it is still dark outside, like, really dark. A coach, you know, picks you up from your hotel at a time that feels sort of wrong, maybe around 2 AM. You pretty much just fall onto the bus and try to get a little more rest. As a matter of fact, the ride to the port in Taba is just a bit of a blur of darkness and sleepy feelings. Getting onto the cruise ship is, in a way, the first real sign that this huge thing is actually happening. You can read about so many trip details online, but the real feeling is something different. We found a spot on the deck, and, well, the air over the Gulf of Aqaba was cool and kind of salty. Honestly, watching the sun start to peek over the mountains of Saudi Arabia in the distance was totally amazing. It paints the whole sky in these, like, soft pink and orange colors, and frankly, you feel like you are on a real escapade, far from the everyday world. The ship itself is, basically, comfortable enough, with places to get coffee and just sit, which is a good thing because it’s a couple of hours on the water.

Landing in Jordan and the Road to Wadi Musa

So, you see the port of Aqaba getting closer, and you know you’re about to step into a completely new country. The process of getting through immigration was, pretty much, handled by the tour company, which was a huge relief, honestly. We just handed over our passports and, you know, they did all the stuff. After that, we boarded another coach, this time a Jordanian one. The drive from Aqaba to Wadi Musa, which is the town right next to Petra, is actually a really big part of the whole day. Unlike Sinai, the landscape here is just, like, wider and more open. You see these massive, wind-carved rock formations and the, sort of, famous desert scenery of Wadi Rum in the distance. Our guide on the bus was really great; he started giving us all this background information on Nabataean history and stuff. You could arguably get some good background info beforehand. Still, having someone explain things as you see them really adds a lot. The two-hour drive actually goes by pretty fast because you are just sort of looking out the window the entire time, trying to take it all in.

The Siq – Walking Through a Crack in Time

Alright, so once you get your tickets and go through the entrance, the walk to the main part of Petra begins, and it starts with the Siq. The Siq is, basically, this amazing natural canyon, a slim crack in the rock that winds for over a kilometer. At first, you know, it’s quite open, but it gets narrower and narrower. The walls of the canyon are, like, incredibly high, almost touching in some places, which blocks out most of the direct sunlight. The stone is not just one color; you see these, sort of, amazing swirls of red, pink, orange, and purple in the rock. It honestly feels like you are walking through a piece of art made by nature. You can see some truly amazing pictures online but it doesn’t compare. Our guide, at this point, pointed out some of the smaller carvings and ancient water channels along the walls, which is something you would probably miss on your own. There’s this, like, feeling of expectation that builds with every twist and turn of the canyon. You know something big is coming, you just don’t know when.

The First Look at the Treasury – A Moment You Won’t Forget

And then, you know, it happens. Through the very last, dark sliver of the Siq, you see it. Your first look at Al-Khazneh, or the Treasury, is just, like, a total ‘wow’ moment, seriously. The sun hits its front, making the pinkish rock glow, and the detail in the carving is just, well, unbelievable. It’s so much bigger and more grand than you can ever get from a picture or a movie. You just, sort of, stop walking and stand there for a minute, completely in awe. It’s one of those views that really sticks with you. There are, of course, people and camels all around, which actually adds to the whole, you know, atmosphere of the place. It feels like a scene from a thousand years ago. Frankly, you can find a lot of different historical facts about the Treasury, but that feeling of seeing it for the first time is purely emotional. It’s a very personal moment, even when you’re surrounded by other people who are pretty much feeling the exact same thing. It is, basically, the reason you decided to do this whole long day in the first place.

Exploring the Lost City – Beyond the Treasury

After you, like, manage to pull yourself away from the Treasury, you realize that Petra is just so much bigger. The canyon opens up into a much wider valley, and, honestly, you see tombs and structures carved into the cliffs everywhere you look. This is the Street of Facades, and then further down, you get to a massive Roman-style theater, also carved right out of the rock. It’s a bit overwhelming, just how much there is to see. The guided tour, basically, takes you through these main areas, and then you typically get some free time to explore on your own. This is where you might want to look into the many different paths you can take. For those who feel energetic, the hike up to the Monastery is, apparently, incredible, though it is a really tough climb with lots of steps. Even if you don’t do that, just wandering among the Royal Tombs or checking out the remains of the Great Temple gives you a real sense of the scale of this ancient city. You just have to remember to keep an eye on the time, as it’s really easy to get lost in exploring all the different corners.

Practical Tips for Your Day in Petra

So, to be honest, a day trip like this requires a little bit of planning on your part to be comfortable. It’s almost certain that you’ll be doing a huge amount of walking on uneven ground, so the number one thing is, basically, to wear your most comfortable shoes. Seriously, don’t try to look fashionable. After shoes, it is really the sun you need to think about. You can look at different packing guides for this trip, but the core items are always the same. Here are a few things that, frankly, made a big difference for us:

• Water: Well, they usually give you a bottle, but you should probably buy more inside. The Jordanian desert is incredibly dry, and staying hydrated is really, really important.
• Sun Protection: A wide-brimmed hat is, like, a must-have. So is sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses. You will, for sure, be grateful for them.
• Cash: I mean, it’s a good idea to have some small denominations of Jordanian Dinar for things like extra drinks, souvenirs, or if you decide you want to pay for a camel or donkey ride for a short distance.
• Energy: You know, just be ready for a very long and physically demanding day. It’s so worth it, but you should, sort of, pace yourself. Don’t try to see absolutely everything in your free time; instead, just soak in the parts you are most interested in.

Oh, and one last thing, you will probably be approached by local Bedouins selling things or offering rides. A simple, polite “no, thank you” or “La, shukran” is usually enough if you are not interested. They are, you know, just trying to make a living in a place that is, pretty much, their home.