Crossing to Jordan from Israel at the Arava Border Crossing (Itzhak Rabin Crossing) in Eilat is a simple process, yet, it raises many questions among our travelers. We’ve prepared this guide to ease your tension and help you understand the process.
The Arava Rabin Border Crossing is just a few kilometers north of Eilat. Our driver will pick you from your hotel or address in Eilat and transfer you to the border crossing. When you arrive at the border you’ll meet your border assistant and be given a sticker. You’ll have two border assistants during this process, one on the Israeli side and another on the Jordanian side.
As you enter the border area, your border assistant will collect the border fee from you, which is currently $65 per person. It’s best to come with this in US Dollars (or Israeli Shekels) in cash, to save time. This fee covers the exit from Israel, and the entry back into Israel after your tour. If you have not pre-arranged a visa for Jordan and you plan to stay in Jordan less than 2 nights, a visa fee of $60 will also apply. The assistant will guide you to the Israeli customs control, where you will receive your exit stamp. The border process is pretty smooth, but like any border, there are times when there can be a wait, so come prepared and be patient. Our assistant will be there to support you in case of any questions or concerns.
Our assistant will accompany you up to the last point in Israel which is the exit from the duty free store at the border terminal. After exiting the store, there is a short walk (200 meters or so), from the Israeli to Jordanian terminal. As you leave Israel, the assistant will call his Jordanian colleague to tell him that you are on your way over.
Our Jordanian border assistant will meet you at the entrance to Jordan, and guide you through the Jordanian side. Again, there might be a short wait while he arranges bureaucratic matters. The assistant will then guide you through passport control, and then out of the terminal to begin your tour.
The process of crossing from Israel to Jordan via the Arava (Rabin) Crossing, usually takes no longer than one hour, but delays do happen from time to time. For this reason, we build extra time into the tours to make sure that you still get the same amount of time in Petra. And for those who have nightmares from crossing into Jordan from Israel years ago, don’t worry, the process has greatly improved over the years and long delays are a thing of the past.
Once you cross the border you’ll head straight to Petra for your tour of the site. More details about our tours from Eilat to Petra can be found here. Our tours to Petra depart daily from Eilat and include the full border assistance service described here. There is also an option to begin your tour in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
