Aqaba to Petra
Petra is about 125 km north of Aqaba, roughly two hours each way on the Desert Highway. There is no train and no useful public service for a port day.
- Four to five hours of driving on a port day, before any time inside Petra — and Petra itself needs several hours, with a 1.2 km walk through the Siq before you see the Treasury.
- No scheduled public transport makes this work on a cruise timetable.
Most ships also sell a coach excursion to Petra. However you travel, being back aboard before all-aboard is your own arrangement to make — we publish the journey, not your sailing. Your guide plays either way, and it is yours to keep.
This one we will call: take the ship's excursion. One road crosses the desert to Petra with no scheduled service on it, and it is a long way back. Your guide plays on their coach once you are there.
- 115–140 min Fixed-fare taxi or pre-booked private transfer from the port. Agree the fare and the return before setting off; there is no meter culture on this route.
1.9–2.3 hours each way
Plan your return against your ship's all-aboard time, which is on your daily programme. It is earlier than the departure time, and if you are coming back by tender the last tender leaves earlier still.
Open live transit directions — times on the day, in your own maps app.
Checked 2026-09-15. Sources: www.alongdustyroads.com/posts/how-t..., international.visitjordan.com/blog/....