Jordan to Jerusalem... and back-cost and time

Hi Everyone,
I know this is a common query and please be assured that I have scoured the TT branch and read a lot of the posts about this. But I find some of the info confusing and am worried some of it may be a little out of date.
So I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on how to travel from Jordan to Israel and back. I have two weeks and wanted to see Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, in addition to some of Jordan's main sites (ie Petra, of course). I fly in and out of Amman.
I'm almost tempted to go right off to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv after arriving in Amman. But is there a better and easier depature point from Jordan? And is it possible to return directly from Tel Aviv, if, say, I went there after Jerusalem?
What are the fees in dollars I'll have to pay for entry/exit? I'm under the impression it's a bus to the border on each side, then crossing involving taxis - any idea roughly how much this will cost?
And, of course, I'm aware of the hold ups at the border but am wondering, reasonably, how much time I should allot to such a trip either way.
Apologize for yet another post on this, but would appreciate any help.
Thanks in advance!

No problem.. Glad to help (hopefully).

The general consensus is that that the easiest, most relaxed border crossing between Jordan and Israel is the southern one between Aqaba and Eilat.

Since Eilat is conveniently connected to both Jerusalem and TA by regular buses, I suggest you fly into Amman and do a day trip to Jerash. From there you could visit Madaba and take a shared taxi along the King's Highway to Wadi Musa (Petra), followed by a visit to Wadi Rum.

When leaving Jordan just outside Aqaba you'll walk through immigration and pay an 8JD exit fee. You'll then walk to the Israeli side and enter Israel (no fee). It only took me a few minutes to cross. From there take a taxi to the bus station in central Eilat.

Once in the north you can take the Bridge back to Jordan (if you need another entrance visa for Jordan you'll have to get it at the Consulate while in TA). I've not done that so can't help there.

There is a 105NIS exit fee when leaving Israel.

Good luck.

Hey,
Thanks a lot for that. Do you happen to know how long it takes to reach Jerusalem or Tel Aviv from Eilat? And would the bridge back to Jordan be more easily reached from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem?
I'm under the impression my tourist visa I get at the airport in Amman will be good enough to get me back into Jordan, or do I need to specify a double-entry visa?
Thanks again. I really appreciate it.

Actually the above is a good option but I would do it differently... I would stay in Jordan 4 days and then go to Israel stay 6 days then return via Aqaba - stay 4 days. I've allowed 8 days in Jordan because of the arrival times and departure times (which are unknown and if they are late means you lose maybe one day or so) if your dates are fixed. It also includes travel times between borders etc. Here is how much it will cost : JETT Bus to border 9jd. Exit Tax 8jd. Bus between no mans land 3jd, Shared taxi (sherut) to Damascus Gate, Jerusalem 11 Euro. Around 35 Euro total. When returning you will take the bus from TLV to Eilat approx 15 Euro (4 hours) then a taxi to the border approx 7 Euro. Entry into Jordan via Aqaba is a FREE visa. Exit tax is around $36 Taxi to centre approx 10 Euro. Otherwise negotiate with the driver to take you direct to either Petra or Wadi Rum. So if you leave TLV around 0800 - you can be in Wadi Rum for around 2-2.30pm. Enough time to take a 2-3 hour jeep ride and do an overnight camp in the desert with breakfast and evening meal and set off early morning with the minibus to Petra - arriving around 0900. One or two days in Petra cost 50jd or 55jd 2 days. From Petra take the JETT bus to Amman.

Hope this is useful - exit tax at Allenby is much higher $41.

Oh, cool. That sounds really good, too. Which border crossing are you referring to for entering Israel? And would this be from Amman?
I thought maybe staying a day in Amman then heading to Israel, just because I really want to see Jerusalem and TLV. Then I'll have be able to see Petra and whatever else time allows in Israel - I guess the Dead Sea would be a must.
Thanks again, guys. That's really helpful.

Either way will work; just which you feel more comfortable doing.

The Bridge is closer to Jerusalem than TA, but it's easy to reach from either (or the reverse). I don't know about the double entry visa thing.

If you use Mesha's itinerary you can ask the bus driver (bus from Jerusalem / TA to Eilat) to let you out at a bus stop near the border crossing saving you a trip to central Eilat and the associated taxi fare. Don't do this though if you have luggage as it requires about a 1k or so walk.

So, I'm thinking this will now not seem near as complicated once I'm there on the ground, with frequent transport that isn't hard to find...
So thanks!
Will I be refused entry to, say, Lebanon, if I don't get my passport stamped in Israel? Will they actually examine my Jordan stamps closely to try to figure it out?

In your OP you mentioned nothing about a trip to Lebanon.

Lebanon will deny entrance to anyone with evidence of a trip to Israel. Yes, they will examine your passport looking for that evidence; be it an Israeli stamp or one from a bordering country. If you visit Israel prior to visiting Lebanon, Syria or a handful of other select countries you should write off visiting them until you get a new passport.

Regarding Jordan / Israel logistics, yes, it will be easier once you get there. There will be other travelers and experienced people you can talk to.

Have fun.

Hi again. Yes, I know I never mentioned anything about Lebanon in the OP. I was thinking for another trip, another time... I've only got two weeks, so Israel and Jordan seem like they'll suffice without making me rush things.
Sorry for the tangent.
And thanks for the help.

That's alright.

Have fun on this trip and then get a new passport if you wish to see countries which deny entry to those with an Israeli stamp (or evidence of an Israeli visit).

If you develop new questions down the road you should start a new thread so more people will see it and hopefully answer.

Do you happen to know how long it takes to reach Jerusalem or Tel Aviv from Eilat?

By bus, five hours from Eilat to Jerusalem or Eilat to Tel Aviv. Timetables here.

Re post #3 - I was referring to the crossing called King Hussain (Allenby Bridge) - this is the nearest to Amman and Jerusalem which is both approx the same distance to the crossing. ie 50/60 minutes.

#9

Hi laketraveller,

So from Aqada to Eliat, will they (Israel) stamp on my passport? Or could I request them to stamp on the paper. If I am transiting in Dubai on my trip later on, will this be an issue?

#12
Even if Israel doesn't stamp your passport, Aqaba will. You will have an exit stamp from Jordan proving you crossed into Israel, which is as good (or bad) as a stamp from Israel.

But it's not a problem to enter Dubai with an Israeli stamp. See here.

Hi akrunner, What Shuffaluff said.

Once they stamp your passport on the Jordanian side at Aqaba it makes no difference whether the Israelis do or not.

Good luck.

I would also think it depends on what your passport looks like. If like mine, with 50 pages of stamps, finding matching in/out stamps would be tough. I did this a while back with my trip to Cuba. Banned by the US, but they didn't even notice the in/out from Mexico and the next year the in/out from Jamaica.

What countries does this really make a difference to? I've heard Lebanon and Syria for sure.

Not really craig.

There's no comparison with the veracity that anti-Israel countries have and the US ban on Cuba. The US knows its citizen's go to Cuba; there are even direct Miami to Havana flights. The anti-Israel countries absolutly demand there is no such contact. Fifty pages of stamps only means longer delays as they will inspect and identify each and every one.

If you Google the subject you will come up with a list of around eight to ten countries that deny entry if one has a stamp from Israel. Keep in mind there's a difference between having a non-Israeli passport with an Israeli stamp and having an Israeli passport.

Actually, it's worse. If the US finds you've been in Cuba, the fines are HUGE. I know a guy who got socked with 10k in fines. A really big deal. There may be direct flights, but normal citizens can't take them...unless you are part of a tour group and you don't spend any money there (economic embargo). Don't think that's changed since my trip several years ago.

This guy got busted because he had some Cuban money, air stubs and cigars. Cuban cigars are not sold in the US and US citizens are not allowed to import them....same with rum! Bummer, as Havana Club is really good.

Hi Shuffaluff,

Hmmm... Hopefully they wont check in Dubai. Cos I am just transiting. Technically, I am not entering UAE.

As for Cuban stamps, I just visited Cuba last Oct and I noticed they did not stamp on my passport (wanted the stamp!). But I guess Cuba and Israel are totally different cases.

Thanks all for your replies!

akrunner - Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE. I realize you're just transiting, but it's fine if they check your passport because they have no problems with an Israeli stamp.

Have fun.