In December 2022, Grace and I embarked on a grand trip spanning 5 countries and 1 city-state. In a series of posts, I’ll take you through our 28-days trip across Jordan, Egypt, The Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai. On the third day of our Jordan itinerary, we made it to Petra.
We woke up in our bubble tent at the Hasan Zawaideh camp in the Wadi Rum desert area. After a leisurely breakfast buffet, we packed the rental car and drove 2 hours. Our day would be spent driving to Petra, spending the afternoon in Petra and the evening in the town, followed by an early morning back at Petra, and finally heading to our last stop in the Jordan leg – The Dead Sea.
Petra, nestled in Jordan’s desert landscape, is an ancient city carved from red sandstone cliffs. Petra was our favorite destination in Jordan; we spent 7 hours over two days taking in the sights and exploring the many trails. It lives up to its reputation as one of the premier archaeological sites in the world and a testament to the ingenuity and artistry of the Nabatean people who built it over 2,000 years ago.
The most famous and iconic monument in Petra is the Treasury, serving as a symbol of the grandeur and elaborate detail of Petra. However, Petra was an entire city – there’s the amphitheater where performers regaled their audience in song and dance, the various tombs and living quarters carved into the sandstone cliffs, the colonnaded street where vendors displayed their wares, and a number of religious sites.
We rented a car in Jordan and parked for free in the lot adjacent to the visitor center. This lot is across a two-lane bridge on the other side of the gorge. If taxi-ing, get dropped off at the Petra Visitor Center.
Two Days in Petra
We spent a total of 7 hours in Petra over two days seeing the main sites and exploring additional trails. We drove in the first day at 1pm and the second day first thing at 6am. Many blogs also recommend two days. If time is short or you’ve planned a day trip from Amman, the most popular sites can be seen in as little as 4 hours.
Day 1
Take the Main Trail followed by the staircase of the Ad Deir trail. See the most popular sites in Petra: the Siq, the Treasury, the Amphitheater, the Royal Tombs, and the Monastery.
- Stamp your Jordan Pass at the visitor center and proceed downhill on the dusty path, passing by the vendors peddling a “free” horse ride. See note below.
- The first monument you’ll pass is the Obelisk Tomb, built with a mixture of Egyptian, Greek, Indian, and Nabataean architectural styles. Continue to the winding Siq, a narrow canyon formed by tectonic forces then shaped by water.
- The Siq opens up to reveal the Treasury, Petra’s most famous and iconic monument. The Treasury is located at the halfway point on the Main Trail, about 1.25 miles or 2km from the visitor center.
- Spend 15 min at the Treasury before moving on, we’ll be back first thing in the morning.
- Continue on the Main Trail and pass the imposing 8,000-person amphitheater
- Walk past many vendors along the Street of Facades to the cobblestoned Colonnaded Street. While on the Colonnaded Street, be sure to look behind for a full view of the Royal Tombs sculpted into the mountain face.
- Reach the end of the Main Trail marked by a full service restaurant and restrooms. Look for signs for the Al Deir trail leading to the Monastery, a massive rock-cut structure set high on a mountain ridge. The hike up takes about 45 minutes but the views are worth it. Explore the nearby hills for higher vantage points.
- Reverse the route and head back to the visitor center. Petra opens everyday at 6am and closes at 6pm in the Summer and 4pm in the Winter. However, we were making our way back from the Monastery at the 4pm closing time and didn’t come across any park rangers until the Treasury.
- Upon exiting Petra, head to the Cave Bar for a refreshing drink. You’ve earned it. A trendy bar now occupies this over 2,000 year old tomb.
Note: As you walk the dusty road past the Petra visitor center entrance gate, you’ll immediately be bombarded with the question “horse ride? It’s free and included in your ticket.” While not first-hand experience, the horse handler will demand a tip when you disembark. I silently motioned no with my hand each time. Donkeys and camels ride are also available inside Petra – be sure to ask about price first before riding.
At the Treasury, locals will be offering to take you various viewpoints overlooking the Treasury, for a fee. We didn’t head up there but I casually haggled a price 5JD for two people. A quick tip, if you want them to quickly stop hassling you, tell them that you’ve already been up to the viewpoint.
Day 2
Start early and avoid the crowds for some more stunning photos of the Treasury and climb the Al Khubtha Trail up to the Royal Tombs, offering picturesque panoramic views of the valley below.
- Enter Petra at 6am and make your way to Treasury. Enjoy uncrowded photo opporunities in the Siq and at the Treasury.
- Head up to one of the viewpoints overlooking the Treasury.
- Find the Al Khubtha Trail that leads up to the Royal Tombs.
Other activities:
- Visit the Petra Church, a Byzantine church located near the Monastery.
- Explore the Qasr Al Bint Faroun Temple, one of Petra’s oldest and largest structures.
- Visit the Great Temple, a massive complex that was likely used for religious and political purposes.
- Climb to the High Place of Sacrifice, an ancient altar site with panoramic views of Petra.
This awesome site that helped me identify the monuments from my photos, overlaying monument images on a map of the Main Trail.
About the Trails
There are 8 walking trails in Petra. The easy trails have flat surfaces and at times loose gravel, with little to no elevation change. The hard trails consist of hundreds of stairs and significant elevation change. Most visitors enter Petra through the Main Trail, which starts from the Petra Visitor Center. The other entrance is via the Ad Deir – The Back Route trail, a shortcut that takes you directly to the Monastery. However, it’s recommended to get a local guide and vehicle to take you there. We were approached in the parking lot but didn’t take him up on the offer. All the other trails split off from the Main Trail.
Park Fees and Timings
The Jordan pass is the most economical way to enter Petra. The pass has three tiers for consecutive 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day entries to Petra but must be bought before entering the country. The visitor center sells tickets if you don’t plan to get the Jordan Pass. Check the official website for prices and the special rules on cost.
When we entered Petra the second day, the gate attendant asked to see our passports along with our Jordan passes. We didn’t have it on us but he accepted photos of us in Petra from the day before.
There are plenty of vendors inside Petra selling beverages and snacks, and several cafes/restaurants for a sit down meal. The vendors all seems to accept major credit cards, but I still preferred to pay in cash.
Petra opens everyday at 6am and closes at 6pm in the Summer and 4pm in the Winter. However, we were out of the park at 5pm and didn’t come across any park rangers until we got to the Treasury.
Petra by Night
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, experience the magic of Petra by candlelight. The guided experience starts at 8:30pm from the Petra Visitor Center. According to the Petra official page, there are unlimited tickets to be purchased at the visitor center or at your hotel conncierge for 17JD per person (children under 10 years of age are free).
The timing didn’t work out for us but we would have strongly considered it. Check out Visit Petra’s Youtube and this blogger’s account of the experience.
Weather and Packing List
Weather in Petra is mild – it doesn’t get too cold nor too hot. Pants and a light jacket are sufficient for the colder months.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 13.1 (55.6) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.9 (69.6) | 25.1 (77.2) | 28.6 (83.5) | 29.8 (85.6) | 30.0 (86.0) | 28.1 (82.6) | 24.6 (76.3) | 18.2 (64.8) | 13.4 (56.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) | 2.8 (37.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.7 (53.1) | 14.1 (57.4) | 16.1 (61.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 14.2 (57.6) | 11.2 (52.2) | 7.1 (44.8) | 3.4 (38.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 45 (1.8) | 38 (1.5) | 36 (1.4) | 12 (0.5) | 4 (0.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.1) | 15 (0.6) | 41 (1.6) |
For Petra, seek to pack light. That pack will start feeling quite heavy after 2 hours.
- Jordan Pass
- Camera and equipment
- Cash/credit card
- Comfortable closed-toed walking shoes. Sneakers are perfect
- Optional: Light jacket during the winter months
- Optional: water and snacks
Lodging
Petra is located in the town of Wadi Musa. Lodging can be found near the town center and near Petra, however, there are no lodging options inside Petra. For one night, we stayed at the lovely Town Season hotel booked through booking.com for $70 USD a night. We parked our rental car on the street in front of the hotel and the porter came out to greet us, helping with our luggage. He offered us dried dates and tea as we checked in with the front desk in their highly-adorned lobby. We found the retractable clothesline in the shower super useful and hung our sand-stained socks after washing. The hotel slippers were a nice luxury to kick off our shoes, and we took advantage of the tea and coffee for an additional caffeine boost before dinner.
The top floor features a full service restaurant and hookah in separate smoking lounge. We enjoyed an exceptional buffet breakfast there in the morning, which was included in our stay. A modern automated espresso machine, fresh fruit, a sampling of Jordanian hot and cold dishes, toast and spreads, and cheeses and different olives, We grabbed a window seat to enjoy panoramic views of the Wadi Musa town below. The friendliness of the staff stood out and made our stay outstanding in this stunning 3-star establishment. This hotel is a high-value for your money.
For dinner, we ate in the town center at Beit Al-Barakah. Grace and I ordered the mansaf, a traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice. The lamb was succulent over fragrant rice and paired nicely with the separate dipping sauce. The staff brought out various dips and mezzes and pita free of charge, and we enjoyed mint tea for dessert.
Our Takeaways for Petra
- Get the consecutive 2-day Petra entry Jordan Pass before entering Jordan
- See the most popular sites on the first day and explore additional trails the second day
- Start the second day at 6 am for uncrowded photo opportunities of the Treasury
Yummy Treks 
Great info and Pictures , hope you enjoyed it . Will try to catch up with other post of your trip 🙂
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Thanks for the follow! Totally the best place on our Jordan leg.
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