Petra and Wadi Rum from Cyprus: Flights, Transfers and a Three-Day Plan

Few trips from Cyprus feel as big as this one. In barely more than an hour you are in Jordan, and by the next morning you can be walking through the Siq towards the Treasury at Petra. A couple of hours further south, Wadi Rum's red sand and sandstone mountains are one of the great desert landscapes of the world. Three days is enough for both, if you plan carefully.

Flights to the Middle East are sometimes suspended at short notice, so check the airline and your government's travel advice before you book and again before you fly.

Why go

Petra is carved into rose-coloured cliffs, and most of it is still hidden until you are inside: a narrow canyon, then the Treasury, then tombs, a theatre and a long climb to the Monastery. Wadi Rum, listed by UNESCO in 2011 for both its natural and cultural value, is the opposite: wide open desert, rock arches, dunes and some of the darkest night skies you will ever see. Together they make a short trip you will remember for years.

The direct flight from Cyprus

From Larnaca: Royal Jordanian flies Larnaca–Amman, with a flight time of about 1 hour 20 minutes. The route has run all year; check the current days and times on the airline's site.

From Paphos: Royal Jordanian ran a summer service in 2026 and Ryanair flew earlier in the year, but there are no Paphos flights for winter 2026–27. Larnaca is the nearest confirmed alternative.

To Aqaba: Aqaba is closer to Wadi Rum, but there is no direct flight from Cyprus. Fly to Amman and travel south.

Time difference: Jordan doesn't change its clocks. It is on the same time as Cyprus in summer and one hour ahead in winter.

For the wider Jordan loop, including Amman, Aqaba and the Dead Sea, see our Jordan guide. Our spring trips from Cyprus explains why spring suits this trip so well.

From the airport to Petra and Wadi Rum

Flights land at Queen Alia International Airport, south of Amman and close to the Desert Highway, which runs south towards Petra.

• By car: Petra is about 209 km from the airport, roughly 2.5 hours. A hire car is the easiest way to do Petra and Wadi Rum together. Expect police checkpoints, keep your passport handy and avoid long drives after dark.
• By taxi: you can take a taxi from the airport straight to Petra, or to Amman's Southern Station for a minibus.
• JETT bus from Amman: one daily tourist bus leaves Abdali station at 06:30, calls at 7th Circle at 07:00 and reaches Petra at about 10:00–10:30. It returns from Petra at 17:00. Times change at weekends, on holidays and in Ramadan, so check with JETT.
• Public minibuses: from Amman's Southern Station between 09:00 and 16:00, returning from Petra between 06:00 and 13:00.
• Petra to Wadi Rum: about 107 km, 1.5 to 2 hours by car. Most desert camps can arrange a transfer.
• Wadi Rum to Aqaba: about 75 km, a little over an hour, if you want to end at the Red Sea.

What to see and do

Petra

• The Siq: the narrow, winding canyon that leads into the city, with walls rising high on both sides.
• The Treasury (Al-Khazneh): the famous carved façade at the end of the Siq. Arrive at opening time for the softest light and the fewest people.
• The Street of Façades and the Royal Tombs: rows of tombs cut into the cliffs beyond the Treasury.
• The Monastery (Ad-Deir): an even bigger façade, at the top of hundreds of rock-cut steps. Go in the cooler part of the day and take water. In 2026 the authority lists 4x4 transfers from the Nabataean Cultural Village to the Monastery trail, daily from 07:30 to 15:00.
• The High Place of Sacrifice: a steep path to an ancient altar with sweeping views.
• Petra by Night: the Siq and Treasury lit by candles on some evenings of the week. It needs its own ticket as well as a daytime one, and is not in the Jordan Pass.

Tickets (2026): for visitors staying overnight in Jordan, about JD 50 for one day, JD 55 for two and JD 60 for three. Multi-day tickets must be used on consecutive days. Children under 12 go free in daylight hours. Visitors who don't stay a night in Jordan pay much more, so don't plan Petra as a day trip from Cyprus.

Wadi Rum

• Jeep tours: the classic way to explore, with Bedouin drivers taking you to rock bridges, canyons and dunes. Half-day and full-day tours are common.
• Lawrence's Spring: a spring under a cliff near Rum Village, linked to T. E. Lawrence; most tours stop here.
• Desert camps: from simple Bedouin tents to comfortable domes, usually with dinner included.
• Sunset and stars: most tours finish on a rock or dune for sunset. After dinner, walk away from the camp lights to see the sky properly.

Book your camp and jeep tour together, and check what's included (meals, transfers, the length of the tour) before you pay.

The Jordan Pass

The Jordan Pass covers entry to more than 40 sites, including Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash, and waives the tourist visa fee. It comes in three versions:

• Jordan Wanderer: one day at Petra, about JD 70 (2026).
• Jordan Explorer: two consecutive days at Petra, about JD 75 (2026).
• Jordan Expert: three consecutive days at Petra, about JD 80 (2026).

To get the visa waiver you must buy the pass before you arrive. The Jordan Pass website says you must stay at least two nights; the UK government says three, so plan for three to be safe. The pass can be used within three months of purchase and lasts a month from the first scan. Buy it only on the official site.

Best time to go

• Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November): the best seasons for walking in Petra and sleeping in the desert.
• Summer: very hot in Petra and Wadi Rum; start at dawn if you go.
• Winter: cool to cold, especially at night in the desert camps and in Petra. Pack warm layers.

Where to stay

• Wadi Musa: the town right outside Petra's entrance, with places for every budget. Stay at least one night, ideally two.
• Wadi Rum: a camp inside the protected area. Most camps meet you at the visitor centre or Rum Village.
• Aqaba: for a night by the Red Sea if you have an extra day.
• Amman: for your last night if you have an early flight home.

A three-day plan

1. Day one: fly to Amman, pick up a hire car and drive the Desert Highway to Wadi Musa (about 2.5 hours). Early night.
2. Day two: Petra at opening time: the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Façades and the climb to the Monastery. Petra by Night if it runs that evening.
3. Day three: drive to Wadi Rum (1.5 to 2 hours) for an afternoon jeep tour, sunset and a night in a camp. Drive back north to the airport the next morning, allowing plenty of time.

With a fourth or fifth day, spend a second day in Petra for the High Place of Sacrifice, or add Aqaba and the Dead Sea; our Jordan guide has the full loop.

Practical tips for travellers from Cyprus

• Visa: British passport holders can buy a single-entry visa on arrival at the airport for JD 40, valid for three months, or have it waived with the Jordan Pass. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. If you live in Cyprus on another passport, check Jordan's rules for your nationality before you book.
• Travel advice: the UK government's advice (updated 27 October 2026) advises against all travel within 3 km of the border with Syria, which is far from Petra and Wadi Rum. It also warns of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures across the region and reports a shooting at a church in Karak Governorate on 23 October 2026. Read your own government's advice before you go.
• Money: the Jordanian dinar (JD). Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but carry cash for taxis, camps and tips.
• Insurance and phones: the EHIC doesn't apply in Jordan, so take travel insurance, and EU roaming doesn't apply either.
• Dress: dress modestly in towns and villages, covering shoulders and knees. Good walking shoes matter more than anything in Petra.

For more trips like this, see our half-term trips with kids, which includes Amman.