Day Tour to Petra from Aqaba

Posted By : Stephen_R
Petra spectacular, a bucket list essential, messy start with 30 min wait, guide OK but needs to be more lively to create an atmosphere and failed tell us of visitor centre and museum which were more informative than him, coach poor and very well worn, lunch poor and not worth the bother, just some fresh fruit and stodgy bread
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Posted On : 2020-02-08 02:22:23

Posted By : ron g
I booked the two day tour to Petra and Wadi Rum with Tourist Israel and was really happy with the experience. I found the customer support really helpful in answering my questions before the trip and the whole trip was really well organized. I enjoyed the guide, he was informative but funny and made us feel safe and well cared for. Thank you Tourist Israel for a great experience, I definitely would recommend this trip.
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Posted On : 2018-12-26 05:16:41

Posted By : Melodie M
Of all the 17 Countries that I have explored, Jordan certainly left it's mark. Our tour guide Nizar was very knowledgeable, well spoken, helpful and a great sense of humor kept us entertained. Great air-conditioned bus with a friendly driver.
Our Accommodation was authentic in the middle of the desert where the staff were friendly. Food always fantastic. Spectacular sunset views with the evening spent star gazing in the outdoor auditorium.
Wadi Rum Jeep safari were amazing, felt as though we really were on planet Mars.
Petra transports you back in time. First view of the Treasury was unforgettable. Always a friendly local to take a snapshot or offer a camel ride.
Afternoon at the Dead Sea was therapeutic, offering the best sunset.
Jordanians are extremely hospitable, friendly and I have and will keep encouraging friends and family to experience the 'Real Middle East'.
Israel on the otherhand was a disappointment. 4 bus changes the last one went up in smoke. We had seen almost every church in the country; one too many. Many of the once Holy places have now been covered with shrines of modern day idol worship. Disgusting.
View from Capernaum, Caesarea, Jaffa, Sea of Galilee were beautiful. Israeli's in general are very arrogant not to friendly apart from the resorts. Food was fantastic.
Red Canyon & Eilat were beautiful holiday spots. A total nightmare being interrogated by immigration whilst on Departure at Ben Gurion Airport just because my passport was stamped with a Jordanian stamp.
I have never been so grateful & happy to leave.

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Posted On : 2018-09-21 08:38:28

Posted By : James B
Where do I begin with this tour company!?

We did 2 trips with this company, both of which were an utter shambles, and we almost experienced the worst customer service we have ever experienced on vacation, ever.

The first trip was to Jerusalem, Bethlehem & the Dead Sea.

The trip was horrifically disorganised, and despite threatening in the itinerary that we would be left if we we're late, the trip left late! The driver was easily the rudest we have ever experienced. When there was a lady who missed the 2AM sunrise trip because she was late, and booked the next trip immediately, he told her she couldn't come despite there being space on the bus. She wanted to go to the Dead Sea, but when we got to Jeruselum (the first stop, despite the tour stating we do the Dead Sea first [although this was better for us this way]) the driver JUST LEFT HER IN JERUSALEM AND TOLD HER IT'S NOT HIS PROBLEM!!!! wow.

After completing the tour of Jerusalem, the guide took everyone who wanted to go to Bethlehem back to the bus, which was left in a different location that none of us had been to before. He then told the people that we're staying in Jerusalem to meet at the bus at 1:30/2:00PM, and gave a very loose explanation of where to meet. We did the Bethlehem trip, and got back at 1:35PM - the coach driver then LEFT EVERYONE HE WASN'T ALREADY THERE IN JERUSALEM AND THEY DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THE DEAD SEA!!! Despite me telling the driver that the guide said 1:30/2PM and he didn't explain very well where to meet, but the driver didn't seem to care. The next trip we did was Petra from Tel Aviv (We had already booked prior to coming).

Petra from Tel Aviv

This was a long day. We were told again that if we were late they would leave without us and to get there 15-30 minutes early. So we got to the location for 3:40AM to leave at 4AM. The coach left at 4:10AM for no apparent reason.

The journey seemed fine but we were then told that we were 1.5hrs late to meet the rest of the group. Once we got to the border we were gutted to see the same terribly rude driver from the first trip greet us (the one that left everyone).

Once through the first border patrol we met one of our guide. Getting through the border was absolute carnage, despite our trip being the only people actually going through border patrol. We were waiting for an hour for seemingly no reason, and despite the the one tour guide we had met being quite funny, we also learnt quickly his rude side when he was shouting at people for no reason.

Once through the border into Jordan, we sat on the bus for half an hour whilst the tour operators talk about the fact that they have overbooked, and have left no space for the other tour guide, or the police escort. So in the end we left with the first tour guide, no police escort and no second tour guide (who apparently was the main tour guide).

Finally we set off, yet everyone was frustrated to find that 1 hour into the 2 hour journey to Petra we stopped again. This time at a place where they wanted us to spend money on souvenirs. One man kicked off big time, and was fuming about all the delays and having to wait again to get there. The tour guide had a very loud argument with him in front of the whole group and we were all left somewhat shell shocked.

From then we drove another 1.5hrs to Petra, and had to wait around again in the sun. At this point - the 4 hours in Petra promised on the itinerary had dropped down to 3 hours due to delays. I asked the guide if we skipped the food could we get an extra hour in there? He responded with if you are late they will leave you in Jordan - so we didn't risk it.

By the time the guide sorted out the foreign speaking tourists with their foreign speaking guides, we were down to only 2.5 hours in Petra. With the 2.5km walk up and down, we were only able to see the Treasury, and have a brief wander around which was clearly an expansive area - which we missed the majority of.

Once we returned to the top to have lunch, I was surprised to find the food was pretty good. But we then spent an extra 1.5 hours at the restaurant because 1 person didn't feel comfortable paying cash to the man asking for the full amount of money for the tour, and another group were so displeased with the trip that they didn't want to stay over night in Petra (They booked the 2 day tour). This caused absolute chaos, and the tour guide lost all decorum and started screaming at people, and when asked why he was being so rude to people - he responded with 'If my customer is unhappy, I am happy'.

We then eventually started the long journey back, stopping again at another souvenir shop on the way back, got through border patrol (quicker this time), but didn't get back to Tel Aviv until 2AM (the itinerary stated 11PM).

Petra was incredible, so it was worth it - but i deplore anyone considering taking a trip to Petra or anywhere in Israel; not to use this tour company.
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Posted On : 2018-08-08 04:21:23

Posted By : Jaime K
We took the day excursion from Jerusalem to Petra. Everything was fantastic going there, the tour itself was great, but after a long hard day of travel, to be put in a tour bus with no AC and no concern about not having AC was unacceptable. The driver had AC but the 8 or 9 customers did not. I have reached out to operator but no response... think twice if you are looking for comfortable ride
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Posted On : 2018-07-23 03:00:02

Posted By : bill19742015
This 3 day trip packed an incredible number of world class sites into its 3 days. The massive ruins of Roman Jaresh, Moses's Mt Nebo, lost Petra and the beauty of Wadi Rum in a desert camp. The food was good at the two hotels,. Aqaba proved a very pleasant city to spend a few hours. Tourist israel-Fun Time handled all the arrangements and transportation-we had a private tour that gave us more time at the sites-very well
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Posted On : 2018-04-19 20:41:22

Posted By : Daniel K
I booked a 1 day/2 night tour of Petra through Tourist Israel and was satisfied with the services they provided. It was very easy to book with them and all my emails were replied to promptly. When we arrived at the Israel/Jordan border a representative met us on both sides of the border to help facilitate. We were taken in a private car to our hotel and picked up the next morning by the bus. While there was a delay in being picked up, I contacted the Tourist Israel emergency phone number and they resolved the issue immediately. The tour itself was great, led by Mi'in who was full of jokes and interesting information about Petra. Our bus driver, Mr. Mohammad, was a better driver than most of the other cars on the road. I would definitely recommend Tourist Israel for this and any other tour they provide.
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Posted On : 2018-02-28 12:23:20