I am giving this tour five stars exclusively because of how the Jordanian side operated. The Jordanian part of the trip was outstanding: an extremely professional guide, absolutely no hidden fees, everything transparent and clearly explained, free water throughout the journey, a calm and very careful driver, strict organization, safety, and a genuine sense of care. Truly top-level service. However, the overall experience was quite horrific, and I cannot recommend it to anyone. On the contrary, I feel compelled to advise people to stay away and choose a different option. The problem lies entirely in the organization of the tour itself. We chose this tour for two reasons. First, because it promised extensive sightseeing, including a significant amount of time in Petra — which is vast and deserves a thorough, unhurried visit. Second, because this is an Israeli company (Abraham Hostel / Abraham Tours), and Israel is known for its understanding of security. We expected safety and professionalism. Both expectations failed immediately due to poor planning. The core issue is the Allenby Bridge border crossing. We spent around four hours crossing the border into Jordan and almost three hours crossing back. This was at a border crossing that was filthy, overcrowded, badly maintained, foul-smelling, deeply uncomfortable, stressful, and frankly unsafe. On the Jordanian side, staff actually tried to help us and speed things up. On the Israeli side, we were locked inside a minibus, not allowed to use a toilet, with a visibly irritated driver, no communication, no care — just waiting. To be clear: we spent more total time at the border than in Petra itself, more than at all other stops combined. One location from the itinerary — the Crusader castle — was skipped entirely, though by that point it barely mattered. The only concern was not losing Petra altogether. Only later did we learn that this border crossing is not only extremely overloaded and unpleasant, but also closes at 6 PM and shuts down for Shabbat. As soon as we met the Jordanian team, we were told our time would be cut short and that we would have to return around midnight. As a result, we drove all the way through Jordan, arrived late, slept for about five hours, then woke up at 5:30 AM and rushed to Petra by 6:00. Yes, this had one advantage: we saw Petra at sunrise, empty of tourists. That was beautiful. But we paid for time — for six hours in Petra, calmly and properly. In reality, you get maybe three hours at best, and only if you are lucky with your guide (as we were). The rush happens because everyone is panicking about making it back to the border before it closes. At any moment, the Israeli side may shut down, and you simply won’t make it through. The emotional and physical toll was severe. The entire experience was exhausting, stressful, frightening, and deeply unpleasant. People returned barely functional — sleeping in minibuses, unable to eat properly, stiff necks, complete exhaustion. Again, the Jordanian side was wonderful: excellent food, warm hospitality, no tipping expectations at all. We wanted to tip the guide, but he disappeared quickly — clearly distressed by how much time we had lost. He made sure we were transported and left. We never saw him again, nor the Jordanian driver, though we truly wished we could thank them. On the Israeli side, things deteriorated further. We were driven to Jerusalem and then simply put into a regular taxi. The driver spent the entire ride pushing additional services, complaining about money, and generally behaving in a way that felt like a scam — exactly the kind of situation we had hoped to avoid by choosing an Israeli company. Later, when we described this experience to others, we were told we were essentially crazy for agreeing to this route. Over the past year alone, there have been terrorist attacks and killings of Israeli border guards at the Allenby crossing. It is one of the most tense and sensitive crossings in the region, heavily monitored because goods — and far more dangerous things — pass through it toward Palestinian territories. That is why inspections are slow and strict, and why no tourist fast-tracking exists. The next day, we crossed into Egypt via Eilat. The border control took 10 minutes. It was calm, clean, civilized. Israeli friends later told us that any sensible tour should use a 24/7 border crossing, especially since Petra is actually closer from there. This leads to an unavoidable conclusion: Abraham Hostel / Abraham Tours appears to be cutting costs. Transporting people through Jordan is cheap. Transporting them across Israel to Eilat is expensive. So they choose the nearest border, regardless of comfort, safety, stress levels, or the core promise of the tour. This comes at the cost of: • safety • physical well-being • psychological comfort • and, most importantly, the main experience — Petra itself Even worse, the day before the tour, we received instructions explaining how to get out of the Allenby crossing on our own if there were delays. That alone destroys any sense of security or support. You feel that you may simply be abandoned at a dangerous border crossing — for this price. We paid primarily for safety and six calm hours in Petra. Instead, we spent six hours at border control, were driven endlessly across Jordan, slept in vehicles, barely functioned physically, and saw far less of Petra than promised. I strongly recommend Jordanian tours directly — perhaps even flying to Oman and entering Jordan from there, or taking a tour from Eilat. Jordan itself felt safe, organized, and professional. But I urge everyone to stay away from Abraham Hostel / Abraham Tours for Petra trips, especially via the Allenby crossing. This route is unsafe, poorly planned, and does not deliver what is promised. We are not asking for a refund. We are grateful for the adventure and deeply thankful to the Jordanian team. But it is painful to realize that the people who truly cared for us were not the ones we paid — while the organizers simply ordered taxis and sent us through a dangerous, high-risk border crossing. Five stars for Jordan. A serious warning to everyone else.
Dear Ivan Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We truly appreciate feedback that addresses the experience honestly and in depth - and we are especially grateful that, despite everything, you still chose to give the tour five stars. This tour has been operating in its current format for over 10 years, in close and exclusive partnership with our Jordanian team. We are very glad to hear that your experience on the Jordanian side was so positive - our partners there truly provide outstanding service, and your kind words are well deserved. You are absolutely right that the border crossing is the most challenging part of this trip. This has been further affected by the circumstances of the past year, which we believe are temporary. Unfortunately, aside from the Egypt border - which is exceptional - none of the crossings to Jordan currently operate 24/7, unlike the situation prior to October 7th. Within these limitations, many of which are beyond our control, we do our best to coordinate closely on both sides, provide clear pre-tour information, and plan the schedule to maximize time in Jordan. We also open a dedicated WhatsApp group with both our Israeli and Jordanian operations teams to support travelers throughout the journey. Sadly, regulations do not allow staff to accompany the group through the border itself. Regarding the route: the choice to use the Allenby crossing is not a cost-saving decision, but rather an attempt to reduce overall driving time and allow more time in Jordan. Unfortunately, on your travel day, unusual delays prevented this from happening. We sincerely apologize for your experience with the taxi driver on the return to Tel Aviv. This does not reflect our service standards, and that driver will no longer work with us. Thank you again for your honest and respectful feedback. It helps us continue improving this complex tour, and we truly appreciate you sharing it with us.
