Ismail’s full day tour of Petra was an inspirational, informative, and entertaining Petra adventure! - I went to Petra with my family (spouse and 2 adult kids) in April 2025. I had been to Petra with friends previously (2023) and had a tour guide who was quite pleasant but didn’t speak English that well, so I did more research this time and found Ismail. My family is pretty athletic and adventurous, so we booked a full day (7 am to 7 pm) tour of Petra with Ismail. Ismail planned it perfectly for us. He is highly educated and speaks perfectly fluent English, so he was able to give us the in depth information about Petra’s history that I missed out the first time. Ismail’s other career as a water engineer meant he was able to describe the ancient water systems of Petra and other aspects of Petra’s extraordinary engineering and architecture in a way that I’m sure most other guides could not. Ismail also has a fantastic sense of humor and often had us laughing. Also, Ismail shared a lot of information about Jordan’s present cultural and people which really made the day special. Ismail took us to hidden viewpoints and trails, and we felt like we had Petra all to ourselves much of the time. I am sure we will be back to Jordan, and we will definitely contact Ismail again to show us other places. He truly made our visit to Petra a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Best Guide in Petra - A friend and I engaged Ismail’s services for our trip to Jordan. I can’t begin to describe what a great communicator Ismail. We asked him to recommend accommodations in Amman, Petra, and Wadi Rum + be our guide in Petra where he is from and where he lives + provide driving services - sometimes him, sometimes others if he is booked. Ismail’s flexibility and knowledge of Petra are astounding. I really appreciated his honest feedback & advice throughout the trip’s planning stages. His recommendation where to stay in Amman was perfect - both in terms of the hotel’s location and price point. The Wadi Rum camp that he recommended, the Wild Oryx Camp (check out my review), was probably the highlight of our Jordan trip aside from Ismail’s personal guiding tour he gave us in Petra. He specializes in knowing how to avoid the crowds; find a less traversed path to get to the Monastery; and his recounting of historical details, etc I found valuable. Most of all, Ismail’s generosity with his time with us and frankness in terms of advice (what to avoid; what to emphasize) made our overall Jordan experience magnificent. He speaks fluent English, too. The drivers he recommended were all top notch, with comfortable cars, excellent driving skills, and just being nice people. If you are looking to organize a personalized trip to Jordan without being a part of large tour groups, Ismail is your man.

Petra and more! - The Amman/Petra experience for five of us, which included several other stops, was over the top!! Ismail and our driver, Mohamed, were just delightful to be with for 3 days. Ismail's knowledge of the past was inexhaustible, and we had deep conversations of present-day life. Ismail also had a wonderful sense of humor. Mohamed's happy disposition and good driving skills added to our enjoyment of learning about Jordan's food, culture, and scenery. A wonderful trip!!! Thank you both so much.

Ismail and Petra - perfect tour guide for a perfect place! 11/10 - Ismail led us on a spectacular and unforgettable full day tour of Petra, packed with knowledge and great humor. We started at the visitors centre at around 8:45am. Around 8 hours later we left via the back door having seen all the main sights of Petra and a whole load of other details which we would never have known about without Ismail's deep insight and expertise. We couldn't recommend Ismail more highly. Petra would always be amazing but with Ismail's tour guiding he takes it to another level.

Fantastic experience! - A fantastic experience. We have always wanted to visit Petra and Ismail enhanced the experience enormously - very engaging informative and entertaining. The back route to the Monastery is well worth the extra time - stunning landscapes we would otherwise have missed. Strongly recommend this.

Excellent Petra guide - Ismail was a fantastic guide for Petra, and I highly recommend him to all future visitors. I’d been to Petra before, and seeing it with Ismaili was ten thousand times better! He adapted our route & itinerary based on our interests, schedule & level of fitness. He has a deep expertise in the history, the culture & the country which he shares readily with you in excellent English & with a fantastic sense of humor. We look forward to working with him again on our next visit!

Great experience with Ismail! - Exploring Petra with Ismail was an incredible experience. Over two days, he guided us through both famous and hidden trails, sharing his deep knowledge of Jordan’s history and culture. Born and raised in Petra, Ismail offers a unique, authentic perspective that adds great depth to the tour. His excellent English, sense of humor, and expert recommendations made our trip even more enjoyable. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience in Petra and Jordan. Thank you, Ismail!

Review for Ismail – The Best Guide in Petra, Jordan - We were incredibly fortunate to explore Petra and learn more about Jordan with Ismail as our guide, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, he picked us up in his modern, clean, and comfortable car, driving with great care and professionalism, which made us feel safe at all times. Over the course of two days, Ismail guided us through both the well-known paths of Petra and hidden trails that we would have never discovered on our own. His deep knowledge of Jordan’s history made every moment of the tour insightful and engaging. Additionally, he provided precise and reliable recommendations on the best places to eat, shop, and exchange money, which helped us make the most of our trip. One of the most valuable aspects of this experience was having the opportunity to explore Petra with someone who was born and raised there. Ismail not only knows every corner of the site but also understands its history, culture, and traditions from an authentic and personal perspective. This adds an immeasurable depth to the tour, allowing visitors to connect with the place on a much more meaningful level. Ismail speaks excellent English, making communication smooth and effortless. He also has a great sense of humor, which made the tour fun and enjoyable. Every recommendation he gave us turned out to be completely accurate, demonstrating his expertise and deep knowledge of the area. Without a doubt, I highly recommend his services to anyone looking to explore Petra and Jordan in an authentic, safe, and well-guided way. Thanks to him, our experience in Jordan was truly unforgettable. Thank you so much, Ismail!

Fabulous time with a fabulous guide - Excellent day with Ismail His English is perfect. His explanations are clear and I have never been bored. He showed me the Petra I dreamed of and I enjoyed the return by free shuttle.

Don’t go to Petra without Ismael! - We were introduced to Ismael through our driver/guide from Amman. He was waiting for us upon arrival, smoothed the ticket line, and introduced us to trusted vendors. As we began our walk, his explanations brought the history of Petra to life. His pace was steady but unhurried, always offering us alternatives as to what we wanted to see. We were with Ismael for 4 hours and we learned so much. While you can tour Petra without a guide, you will not get the in-depth understanding of what you are seeing that you will get when you walk through Petra with Ismael. Do yourself a favor and book him for your trip to Petra.