Desert Eco Tours - Tour's General Info

Wadi Rum Jordan: combined tour of Israel, Jordan and Egypt

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Video of camel tour in the sand stone area of Sinai
The combined tours to Israel, Jordan and Egypt are a great way to see the highlights of three countries in one tour. Here is some information that will hopefully clarify many questions before going on the trip. For any additional question, please just contact us again.

You will soon find out the differences between the 3 countries on your own, but just when looking at the countries' GDPs you will see great differences that reflect the situation in the countries. Israel is an OECD member and considered a 'developed' country, similar in many ways to other 'western' countries, (and then again very different). In general, people are much more educated in Israel than in Jordan and Egypt and the standard of living is much higher than in Jordan and Egypt. Egypt is a developing country by all means, with a high illiteracy rate, poverty, and the problems connected to this. Jordan is doing better, but its situation is complex as well. All three countries offer an incredible variety of beautiful landscapes, amazing people, cultural and religious riches and differences and this is probable what brought you into the region.
Visitors to developing countries such as Egypt (Sinai) and Jordan should take into consideration that the mentality and service they can expect is very different to what they are used to in western countries. Please have realistic expectations and accept these differences are part of the cultural experience.

Some points relevant for all 3 countries:

Payment:we charge a deposit of 25% of the tour price when we receive your booking. The remaining sum is charged usually when we meet you in Eilat and this can be couple of days after having started your tour. In many cases guests end their Israel tour at the border crossing to Jordan. We usually secure the payment with the credit card company a day or 2 before you start your tour. When we meet you at the border crossing, we will do the final charge and we will need your credit card for this. You can use a different one than you gave us and you can also pay with several cards. Border taxes and visa fees, which are not included in our tour price, can be put on the card as well and we charge a small supplement, since our costs are higher than when we receive cash. There are border taxes and visa fees for both countries, Jordan and Egypt, and you can inform us that you want all of them to be added to your tour price.

Contact us:if you find anything not like you expected when you are on your tour, please don't hesitate to contacting us. We can usually take care of problems right away. You can always tell your guide that you want to get in touch with us and we will come back to you either on your own phone or via the guide. This is a common request, so again, please don’t hesitate.

Here are our direct numbers:
Office: We have a 24/7 answer on our office number: +972-8-6326477.
Erez, the owner of the company is also available: +972-52-2765753.
Ellen coordinates the combined tours: +972-52-4345685.

Contacting you: Please inform us how we can reach you. Please give us your mobile numbers if you use them and also inform us should you use a different email address when traveling. We recommend to have a working phone with you so that we can communicate with you when needed.

Partner offices:

In Jordan, you may here the name of our partner office "Why Jordan". They work exclusively with us.

This is the number in our office in Petra: +962-3-2155005. This number is good only during office hours. Out of office numbers you can call Hisham: +962-790945148; +962-779101283.

In Egypt, our man is Ehab. His number in Egypt: +20-1006068520.

Visa:Please enquire with us about the visa requirements to all three countries.

Giza pyramides: Egypt, Jordan, Israel tours

Israel Tour:

Tour add-ons of Israel and Egypt and Sinai
Our tour add-ons are a great and easy way to visit the more extraordinary attractions.
Take a short glance at these popular add-ons to see how a few extra hours can make a world of difference to your tour.

Our Israel tours are planned individually and we have agreed on an itinerary that is the framework for your tour. We are flexible and if you want to do changes while moving, then we will definitely try to accommodate. However, changing accommodation and other items while touring can often be more difficult. We recommend going over the general program once in the beginning with your guide and then again the evening before the next tour day so that you can discuss your schedule and options.

Meals: Breakfast is usually included with your accommodation. You will have lunch while you are on tour. Israeli breakfasts are usually large and may provide you for some time. Ask your guide about options for lunch. These can be very different depending on where you spend your travel day. Usually you can have a quick lunch somewhere on the way. In Israel good, fresh and cheap "street food" is available almost everywhere and a "Falafel: (chickpea balls in a pita with tehina and vegetables) or a "Shawarma" (chicken or lamb meat in a pita with vegetables and tehina) are definitely part of your Israel experience and available for some 15 – 25 Shekels. It is customary to invite your guide for lunch. Ask your guide about the dinner options or ask the Desert Eco Tours operations team when you reserve a hotel.
Holy Sites: In Jerusalem or when visiting holy sites you will have to dress modestly. This means that neither men or women can wear shorts and have to cover shoulders.

Sites in Jerusalem:When you plan your Israel trip you should pay attention to the day of the week that you are going to spend in Jerusalem. Certain sites won't be open for visitors on certain days. The Temple Mount with the famous buildings of the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque is not open for visitors on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition, visiting hours are limited since non Muslim visitors are not allowed on the mountain for prayer times. The site is open for a couple of hours in the mornings and again for one hour around noon (opening hours vary and depend on season as well as on other factors). The buildings are currently not open for the visitor. It is well worth to see the Temple Mount as it is but please don't be disappointed that you won't be allowed to see the buildings from the inside. Due to the limited opening hours lines can be long and it may happen that you have to wait for quite some time – but the visit will reward you. Jewish sites are not open on the weekend (usually from Friday noon or early afternoon until either Saturday evening or Sunday morning). Especially in Jerusalem you have to account for the weekend. If you are interested in an emphasis on Jewish sites, we recommend avoiding the weekend. On the other hand spending Friday evening by the Kotel (the Wailing Wall) and spending time in the Jewish Quarter on Shabbat can be an unforgettable experience. Popular sites such as the City of David, the Western Wall Excavations, Yad Vashem and more are not open for the visitor. Visiting hours may be changed and sites may be closed for the visitors on a short notice by the authorities in Jerusalem.

Weekend: The Israeli weekend is on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday is a regular workday. On the weekends, public transport is limited or nonexistent. Kosher restaurants will be closed on Friday evenings and open late on Saturdays after the end of Shabbat.

Tips: It is customary to leave a tip for your guide. We recommend a minimum tip of 25$ per tour day but this depends also on the number travelers in your party.

Entrance fees: We don't include entrance fees in our tour price. This way we will not charge you for sites that you are not going to visit.

Tipping: well, tough point.It is customary to leave a tip for your guide and how much you want to leave is up to you.
Passport: your passport has to be valid for at least 6 months.

Jerusalem: Israel, Jordan, Egypt tour

Jordan tour:

Passports:Valid 4 months

Prices of tours to Jordan do not include Visa to Jordan ($60), handling, border taxes ($65) and tips to be paid in cash at the border ($125 in total). Since $125 is a large amount for a cash payment we are providing the option of paying by credit card at $131 per person. We need your complete and correct passport details latest 48 hours before the tour to assist you with the visa.
The visa is free of charge for travelers who spend 2 nights and more in Jordan.
Arriving to the border crossing:Travelers who are spending the night before their Jordan tour in Aqaba should arrive in Eilat latest by 6:30 pm. The border crossing closes at 8 pm and the crossing has to be completed until then. The hours between 4 pm and 6 pm should be avoided, this is when the border is very busy because of Jordanian workers crossing back to Aqaba.
Flights in Israel at the end of your tours: Travelers who are planning to fly out of Eilat to Tel Aviv at the end of their tour day should consult with us. In general, we recommend for those returning from Wadi Rum to book a flight not before 8:30 pm. Travelers who return from the day in Petra should book only the flight at 9 pm.
Guest on group tours to Petra:For guests who spend the night in Aqaba before joining our group tour in Petra: your pickup time the next morning for the Petra tour day is an estimate. Our group has to pass the border crossing, which is not in our hands. Therefore we cannot give an exact pickup time. During the Israeli week (Sunday to Thursday) the pickup time will be not before 7:45, and is more likely towards 8 or usually latest 8:30. On the weekend (Friday and Saturday), the pickup time is about an hour later.
Tipping:Tips are paid over the duration of the tour by the clients. Unlike in Western countries, tipping is more of a requirement than an option, but clients should tip wisely; we suggest not going over $10 per person a day, or on a small tours of 2 - 3 people not more than $15 per person a day. Either way not less than $6 per person a day and you may ask again for our advice. If you camp outdoors and your guide spends the night with you and prepares the meals as well as the campsite for you, then you should go over the suggested maximum.
It’s best to have small notes handy for tips. Tips may be given in Jordanian currency, dollars, Euro or Israeli Shekels and shared between jeep drivers on jeep tours, local guides in Petra and drivers if applicable. As for staff at hotels, camps and restaurants, tipping is at client discretion and is optional.
Taking food into Jordan: While it is not officially permitted to take any food or drink into Jordan, a small snack tucked into your bag doesn't typically present problem and may come in handy owing to the late lunch. Most of our tour participants do bring along a small snack (or the breakfast box prepared in the hotel) and the Jordanian border authorities seem to have no issue with that.
The staff with you:During your tour in Jordan you will be aided by various members of staff. In Eilat you will be picked up by the Desert Eco tours Eilat staff, who will take you to the border and assist you in crossing to the Jordanian side and here our Jordanian colleagues will welcome you into Jordan. In Jordan you may have different guides since they specialize in different areas. Please enquire if you want more information.
In Wadi Rum we use the services of local desert Bedouin with their jeeps. The local Bedouins we work with are selected by us and work with us regularly, these are local guides who are born and raised in Wadi Rum. They grew up in the wilds of Wadi Rum long before tourism came to the area and Petra was a popular destination. During your jeep tour the guide will prepare a picnic lunch in the desert and although their English is not always fluent, their sincere hospitality makes up for it. These Bedouin offer an interesting insight into their ancient culture and beliefs and are worth making an extra effort to chat with.
In Petra, on the first day of the tour we will join the daily tour from Eilat or, for those booking a private tour, we'll meet our private tour guide inside the border crossing. The guided tour in Petra is about 4 hours duration. The guide takes you right through the whole route of the site up to the restaurant. You will take in all the main sites on the way and receive briefings from your guide along the route. At the restaurant clients take lunch and the guide heads back to the entrance using the shuttle service provided for guides only (bear in mind they do the route daily). From here many clients choose to enjoy the walk back to the entrance of Petra at a more leisurely pace, perhaps taking in the Royal tombs and spending more time at sites for photos etc. Other clients choose to walk the steep ascent to The Monastery (Jabel el Dir), or the High place of sacrifice. Check with your guide before he departs on which option is best for you according to your interests etc. When you leave Petra you will walk to our office near the entrance of the site. Our colleagues in Jordan are “Why Jordan” they’ll be waiting for you to take you on to your hotel and assist you with anything you require.
Additional days:In the Arava or Mo’av Canyons (3 days tour or more) our staff of local guides and jeep drivers head the tours, prepare the meals and cater for all the groups needs.
Hiking days:the equipment needed depends much on the time of the year and the area where you hike.It is best to inquire what clothing we recommend specifically for your tour.

For those who are camping outside (not in the Bedouin camp) – sheet, pillow case, towel, insect repellent, water bottle, flash-light, small back pack for the day, comfortable shoes or sandals for walking (spare pair for streams of Mo’av Canyons), swimsuit, hat, sunscreen, coats and very warm clothes in winter months.
The winter can be very cold in the desert especially on the high areas. You should be prepared with very warm clothes, especially if you plan to stay in the Bedouin camp or if camping and hiking is part of your trip.

Contact us: If you wish to contact our office there is cell reception almost everywhere in Jordan, you can simply call us from your cell phone. In addition you may call us from our Petra office or, if you prefer, tell your guide that you would like us to call you. He’ll inform the Petra office and we’ll call either your cell phone, or the cell phone of the drive/guide escorting you.
In Jordan, you may here the name of our partner office "Why Jordan". They work exclusively with us.

This is the number in our office in Petra: +962-3-2155005. This number is good only during office hours. Out of office numbers you can call Hisham: +962-790945148; +962-779101283.

Additional points:

Petra – while a short horse ride near the entrance is included in the entrance fee we strongly advise you against using them. Unfortunately the horses' handlers are constantly demanding very high 'tips' at the end of each ride and we have received extremely negative feedback from people using these horse's, mostly because of the aggressive manner in which 'tips' are demanded. Remaining with the guide for the brief walk to the Siq is a far better option and you get to hear more about the sites along the way. For those who have difficulty walking the whole route of Petra, carriages for two are available from the entrance to the treasury and back again at the end of the day. This costs about $30 return journey, paid directly to the handler. Unfortunately as with the horses, we have received a lot of complaints about the behavior of the handlers. Some guests have paid for a return journey only to be left to walk back when the carriage has not shown up at the end of the day. Please be advised that the issue of the animal handlers in Petra is entirely out of our hands and therefore we cannot accept any responsibility for the services they provide. Unfortunately, based on a lot of experience, we must advise you to avoid using them if you possibly can. We hope that very soon we will be able to update this page without these negative points but for now, we cannot stress strongly enough our stance against using the horse and carriage services in Petra.

Insurance, clients need to personally arrange full health and travel insurance prior to taking the tour.

For those of you who are spending the night in the Bedouin camp near Petra: you should bring your own towel and flashlight. Sheets and bedding are supplied by the camp.

We define ‘child’ as below age 12.

In hotels in Jordan one child may share the room with their parents, in exceptional circumstances and with prior arrangement, 2 children may share their parents room.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us at anytime, before or during your tour.

Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine Monastery

Egypt tour:

Passports:Valid 4 months ahead.

Border taxes:$65 per person and visa to Egypt- $42 p.p. (from 1st of Jully $65) both are charged upon departure in cash (unless visa obtained by client prior to arriving)

Tipping (like in Jordan): : Tips are paid over the duration of the tour by the clients. Unlike in Western countries, tipping is more of a requirement than an option, but clients should tip wisely; we suggest not going over $10 per person a day, or on a small tours of 2 - 3 people not more than $15 per person a day. Either way not less than $6 per person a day and you may ask again for our advice. Tips may be given in Egyptian currency, dollars, Euro or Israeli Shekels and they are shared between the guide and drivers on tours, or among the Bedouin handlers on camel tours. Generally the whole tip is given to the tour leader (guide) and he then shares it among the tour staff. As for staff at hotels, camps and restaurants, tipping is at client discretion, it’s entirely optional in these places.

Staff with you:During your tour in Egypt you will be aided by various members of staff; In Eilat you will be picked up by the Desert Eco tours Eilat staff, who will take you to the border and assist you in crossing to the Egyptian side. Here our Egyptian colleagues will welcome you and will assist you in crossing the Egyptian side of border (and assist you with the visa for those who need. He will be responsible for the smooth running of your tour (guide, transportation and meals). You will be able to contact them (or us) at any time during your tour.

For the drive from Taba to Cairo you will have a local driver. Your guide will wait for you in Cairo. Sometimes the border police at Taba put a 'guard escort' in the vehicle for the duration of the tour. This is particularly common when US or British citizens are among the group. These guards are in no way connected to the tour or the tour staff and they do not affect the tour in any way, it's standard practice and nothing to be concerned about, if your group is not issued a guard, that too is no cause for concern.

Travel between Eilat / Taba and Cairo:travel times are longer now than in the past. Our experience shows that it works best to have a transfer from the border to Sharm El Sheikh and then to continue with a flight to Cairo. In Cairo, a representative will wait for you on the airport and he will hold a sign with your name and then connect you to your guide or take you to the hotel for the night.

Luxor and Aswan:People also visiting Luxor and Aswan will have an additional guide to the Cairo guide. Also in Luxor you will be expected by a representative on the airport and then meet your guide or be taken to the hotel.

Tours include:all meals and entrance fees, except the mummy's room of the museum and going inside a Pyramid (optional). A short sail on a Felucca on the Nile is an additional $15 (this option we strongly recommend).

In the event you wish to contact us, there is cell reception in almost all of Egypt, simply call from your cell phone. In addition you may call us from the Egyptian guide’s phone, via his office and we will call you back directly to the guide's phone.

Additional points:

Developing country: Visitors to developing countries such as Egypt (Sinai) should take into consideration that the mentality and service they can expect is very different to what they are used to in western countries. Clients need to have realistic expectations and accept these differences are part of the cultural experience.

Insurance, clients need to personally arrange full health and travel insurance prior to taking the tour.

What to bring: insect repellent, water bottle, flash-light, small back pack for the day, comfortable shoes or sandals for walking, hat, sunscreen, coats and warm clothes in winter months.

For those who are camping – sheet and a sleeping bag (if bringing own)

In hotels in Egypt , 2 children may share the room with their parents, ‘child’ is under age 12.

If you have any questions, issues or requirements do not hesitate to contact us at anytime, either before or during your tour.

Phone numbers you may use:

Ehab- our man in Egypt (calling from Egypt): 01006068520. His number with the international dialing code for Egypt: +20-1006068520.

Desert Eco Tours numbers, calling from Egypt to Israel: +97286326477 (office) or +972522765753 (Erez)

Due to demand we still provide tour services to Egypt however owing to the current situation there we do not guarantee that they will run as listed, or at the same standard. Sudden changes to the tour itinerary are not uncommon and unexpected delays may occur. These particular tours are only for people who readily accept that their trip may be affected by factors outside of our control and recognize that we cannot to be held responsible for their quality or any unforeseen events during the course of the trip.

3 Countries General Info