How to Get From Petra to Wadi Rum – The Best Way & The Cheapest Option

The essential travel route of a quality Jordan trip includes stops in Petra and Wadi Rum. But how does transport from Petra to Wadi Rum work? What can travellers expect from the infrastructure of the gem of the Middle East?

We have scouted and tried several transportation options that link the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum Reserve. In this article, we are exploring all the options you can contemplate from the most comfortable to the most budget-friendly.

3 Ways to get from Petra to Wadi Rum:

By taxi: Enjoy a quick transfer from Petra Visitor Center to Wadi Rum Village (40 JD) with Wadi Tribe.

By JETT Bus: Get comfy in a tourist bus departing from Petra Visitor Center (15 JD).

By mini bus: Local mini bus are your cheapest option. They depart from Wadi Musa Bus Station (8 JD).

1. Take care of Transfers, hotels and Tours – all with Wadi Tribe.
2. Petra to Wadi Rum by Rental Car – Full Flexibility
   1. Jordan Car Rental
   2. Petra to Wadi Rum by Rental Car
   3. Important note about driving to Wadi Rum
3. Petra to Wadi Rum by Private Taxi – Worry-Free Transfers
   1. Taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum
4. Petra to Wadi Rum by Bus – A Few Options 
   1. Jett Bus to Wadi Rum Visitor Center – The FlixBus of Jordan
   2. Local Buses from Wadi Musa Bus Station – The Mini Buses of Jordan
5. Best place to stay in Wadi Rum
6. Frequently Asked Questions – From Petra to Wadi Rum
   1. How do I get Wadi Rum from Petra?
   2. How much is a taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum?
   3. Can you do Petra and Wadi Rum in one day?
   4. Is Wadi Rum worth visiting?
   5. Can you visit Petra from Wadi Rum?

Petra to Wadi Rum by Rental Car – Full Flexibility

Planning a multiple-day adventure in Jordan and arriving by plane? You might wanna opt for a rental car straight at the airport! Rates are reasonable and driving in Jordan is way more chill than you might think. 

Besides, many tourists already make the same journey from Petra to Wadi Rum on the modern desert highway.

Jordan Car Rental

Car rentals in Jordan generally work the same way they work in any other place that has car rentals. You can get a rental car at any international airport and major city.

As you will most likely arrive to Jordan via Jordan’s biggest international airport, Queen Alia International Airport, we have scouted some of the lowest available rates on rental platforms.

If you book 1-2 months in advance in high season, which runs through European winter, you can get rental cars for as little as 15€/ $16 per day. This already includes full insurance. Even if you don’t catch the best offers in advance, you can expect to find a rental car for a fair price.

Petra to Wadi Rum by Rental Car

A rented car offers flexibility while you head south towards Jordan’s highlights. Google Maps works just fine in Jordan and is a solid bet on your journey from Wadi Musa (Petra’s nearest town) to Wadi Rum.

If you pick the Petra Visitor Centre as your starting point and end your trip at Wadi Rum Visitor Center, you can expect to be on the road for a little under two hours. The modern desert highway is pretty straightforward to drive and shouldn’t pose any major obstacles.

Please be aware that you can’t enter the Wadi Rum Reserve with your car. You will have to leave your car at Wadi Rum Rest House just like any other tourist. More on that later!

Important note about driving to Wadi Rum

Driving to Wadi Rum as a tourist is a convenient option, but not without its quirks. Traffic in major cities can get quite hectic – especially around peak hours. The modern desert highway, however, is relatively quiet, especially as you head south towards Wadi Rum.

Jordanians drive on the right side of the road. Traffic rules largely comply with Western standards. Please make sure to check details though. 

Road signs are in Arabic. Signs for popular tourist destinations include English translations however. So, no need to worry.

Fuel is relatively inexpensive in Jordan and gas stations line the highways. You can expect to pay around 1,13€/liter or $4,28/gal. Moreover, there are no toll roads in Jordan. 

However, please be aware that there are occasional checkpoints along the highways. These are usually hassle free and security personell is friendly towards tourists.

Petra to Wadi Rum by Private Taxi – Worry-Free Transfers

If you would much rather not worry about anything and enjoy the views as you head south, we got you! The road south offers itself to some of the best scenic views of the country and the Dead Sea and is easily one of Jordan’s highlights. A private driver does, however, come at its price.

Taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum

Taxis in Jordan are plentiful. And trust us when we say that they know how to find tourists in need of a taxi. Leaving Petra, you will see a taxi rank outside of Petra Visitor Centre. 

One of the drivers will gladly offer himself for a private transfer to Wadi Rum Visitor Center. Make sure to know the accurate rate before hitching a taxi ride though.

The average price of a taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum is 40 JD (Jordanian Dinar) which boils down to 51€ or $56. In high season you might not be able to get this price spontaneously. 

For this reason, you might consider to pre arrange a private transfer to Wadi Rum Village. At Wadi Tribe, we guarantee taxi transfers from Petra to Wadi Rum at a fixed price of 40 JDs. Book now to make the best of your Wadi Rum transfer.

To cut down costs, you can also group with other travellers en voyage to Southern Jordan. Petra to Wadi Rum is a very popular option and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding other passengers in Wadi Musa. 

The taxi duration to Wadi Rum usually is about two hours. Drivers usually offer to communicate with your Desert Camp to ensure a smooth transfer. Also, having done this route plenty of times, they know exactly where to drop you off.

Petra to Wadi Rum by Bus – A Few Options 

Hitching a taxi is not part of everyone’s budget. For backpackers like us it was a no-go. For the trip between Petra and Wadi Rum we opted for the cheapest option: buses. Choose between organised long-distance buses with a fixed schedule and the public mini buses usually taken by locals.

Jett Bus to Wadi Rum Visitor Center – The FlixBus of Jordan

Jett Bus is the Jordan Express Tourist Transportation Company and the country’s equivalent to Europe’s FlixBus. Fares are fixed and routes are easily understood and catered towards tourists. 

While there is no direct Jett Bus connection between Petra and Wadi Rum, the journey is still relatively hassle free.

Starting from Wadi Musa Bus Station, you will first have to take a Jett Bus to Aqaba on the shores of the Red Sea. This will cost you 15 JD or 19€/ $21. After staying the night in Aqaba – which we highly recommend – you can board another bus to Wadi Rum Village for another 15 JD or 19€/ $21.

For a comfortable ride with in-app booking, assigned seats and plenty of views of the Dead Sea and the desert, choose Jett bus. The trip from Petra to Wadi Rum will cost you 30 JD or 38€/ 42$ which makes it a more budget friendly option than a solo taxi ride to the South.

Local Buses from Wadi Musa Bus Station – The Mini Buses of Jordan

The most budget friendly option are local buses though. A local minibus costs only a fraction of a private driver and is significantly more affordable than a Jett bus. 

Prices can vary of course, but luckily you can expected to be treated fairly as a tourist in Jordan. Head to the Wadi Musa bus terminal to catch your transport from there.

We paid 8 JD or 10€/ $11 per person for a local minibus from Wadi Musa. If you are unsure about how much to pay, ask the other passengers about the price or wait and see how much they pay once the fare is being collected. 

Local bus routes usually take longer as the make stops in small villages along the way. Therefore, plan to be on the road for around three hours.

Once in Aqaba, you will have to make your transfer at Aqaba bus station. Fares come at the same price for the second leg of the journey and buses and at Wadi Rum Rest House where you will be picked up by your hosts. 

Traveling with local transport options does not only come at the lowest cost, but also offers tons of local insight that you wouldn’t get any other way.

Best place to stay in Wadi Rum

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A post shared by Jeep Tours & Bedouin Tents in Wadi Rum (@waditribe)

Going from Petra to Wadi Rum, you will sooner rather than later look for a place to spend the night in the desert. Luckily, there is an abundance of affordable options. 

Generally, you will be choosing between the following two options: 

• Luxury Tent or Bubble: Luxury Tents and Bubbles are all over Instagram and make for amazing desert views and romantic nights. They are, however, not very budget-friendly and all but traditional. 
• Traditional Bedouin Camp: Traditional Bedouin camps offer traditional-style tents that allow you to absorb the local culture at a fair price. This is a comfortable and affordable option to rest before or after your tour of the Wadi Rum desert. 

If you are looking for cheap options to book, we will spare you some of the work: 

Check here for Luxury Tents and Bubbles.

Check here for Traditional Bedouin Tents.