The misplaced metropolis of Petra Jordan is among the finest locations to go to within the Center East. It’s comparatively protected and reasonably priced, and there are some wonderful issues to see.
Petra is an unimaginable historic metropolis carved into the rocks in southern Jordan, and the ruins may be explored by strolling on foot or driving a camel. You can simply spend one or two days right here not less than.
It’s a bucket record merchandise for positive, and this journey weblog will clarify how one can go to Petra your self, with or with no tour, and with a modest finances and minimal planning. Learn on!
What Is Petra? What Is The Historical past?
Petra is a misplaced archaeological metropolis in Jordan the place historic buildings had been carved into the rock partitions as early as 400 BC.
Essentially the most iconic factor at Petra is the Treasury (pictured above), which is thought in Arabic as Al-Khazneh. This view is known due to all of the cool images that seem on Instagram.
However what most individuals don’t notice is that the Treasury is simply one of many buildings. Petra was an precise metropolis, and at one time, it’s thought that nearly 20,000 individuals lived at this hidden metropolis within the rock!
Petra, Jordan was deserted within the early centuries AD, and have become unknown to the world till it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer in 1812:
I used to be with out safety within the midst of a desert the place no traveller had ever earlier than been seen…
An excavated mausoleum got here in view, the state of affairs and great thing about that are calculated to make a unprecedented impression upon the traveller, after having traversed for almost half an hour such a depressing and nearly subterraneous passage as I’ve described.
In evaluating the testimonies of the authors cited in Reland’s Palastina, it seems very possible that the ruins ….. are these of the traditional Petra…Explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
Epic, huh? That’s why the monuments at Petra have been featured in Indiana Jones and different journey films.
I imply, simply have a look at it!
Day Excursions To Petra Jordan
To begin with, when you’re on a decent schedule and wish to skip the additional steps concerned in arranging your personal journey to Petra, or when you’d quite journey with a vetted tour firm, there are alternatives for doing that.
There are a selection of firms that supply prearranged day excursions to Petra Jordan, with pickup and drop-off on the Amman airport included. In addition they have a 3-day Petra tour that features Wadi Rum, the Useless Sea, and extra.
If you happen to’d quite make your personal preparations and do all the pieces your self (which is finally a bit cheaper), then I’ll cowl that subsequent.
The place Is Petra?
Petra is positioned in southern Jordan, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the capital metropolis of Amman.
It’s carved into the rocky partitions of a desert canyon simply outdoors the closest city of Wadi Musa.
How To Get To Petra Jordan
There isn’t any airport at Petra, so worldwide flights to Jordan will typically go to Queen Alia Worldwide Airport (AMM) in Amman metropolis. You may store for flights to Amman at Skyscanner.
The drive from Amman to Petra takes about 3-4 hours, and you may make the journey by automotive (extra handy) or bus (extra reasonably priced). I’ll clarify these transport choices in additional element beneath.
It’s additionally doable to go to Petra overland from Israel, and there are 1-3 day excursions ranging from Tel Aviv.
• Non-public Taxi
When you have a lodge booked at Petra, you possibly can ask the lodge to ship a driver to select you up on the Amman airport and convey you there. My Petra lodge organized this for me for the pretty typical value of 75 JD ($105 USD).
You may also discover a taxi driver on the Amman airport to take you to Petra, however the costs will probably be comparable.
Costly, isn’t it? However that is the quickest and best choice for attending to/from the misplaced metropolis of Petra.
• JETT Bus
If you happen to take the JETT bus, it’s 11 JD ($15 USD) for a a technique ticket or 22 JD ($30 USD) for a spherical journey ticket. You may ebook the journey with them on their web site.
Right here is the bus schedule on the JETT web site. Additionally, you will want a taxi driver to take you from the airport to the JETT workplace in Amman the place the bus leaves from. Taxis are costly in Jordan, so sadly this half might value upwards of 20 JD ($28 USD).
I solely took the JETT bus a technique, after I went again to Amman from Petra. The bus was fairly cozy and actually not onerous to make use of in any respect.
Subsequent time I go to Petra, I believe I’ll take the JETT bus each methods.
• Rental Automotive
An alternative choice is to lease a automotive and drive your self.
The roads and driving in Jordan are fairly tame in comparison with different nations within the Center East, so it is a first rate choice to contemplate. Automotive rental costs are affordable.
I haven’t pushed a automotive in Jordan but, however perhaps I can cowl that in a future Petra journey weblog put up.
Map Of Petra
Right here’s a tough map of the world. You’ll get a replica of this similar map if you attain the customer’s middle at Petra Jordan.
The primary path is fairly simple to observe, and also you’ll almost certainly be within the firm of different vacationers, particularly after the solar comes up.
The primary path distance (from the customer’s middle to the museum) is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). Extra data on strolling distances later.
There are restrooms and a few small eating places on the principle path inside Petra. The meals could be very overpriced, however the souvenirs are actually neat and they could be a cut price when you haggle onerous.
Map of the Petra space. Courtesy of the Jordanian Tourism official web site.
Visiting Petra: What To Anticipate
Hours of Entry
- Summer season: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Winter: 6 AM – 4 PM
Entrance Charges
- Daytrippers (No In a single day Keep In Jordan): 90 JD ($127 USD)
- One Day: 50 JD ($70 USD)
- Two Days: 55 JD
- Three Days: 60 JD
- Jordan Cross: Free
- Youngsters: Free (beneath 12)
You’ll want to indicate your passport or ID on the ticket workplace. You may pay by money or bank card.
If you happen to maintain a Jordan Cross (extremely beneficial for many guests!), then you definately don’t must pay an entrance payment.
Extra details about Petra charges may be discovered on the official Jordanian tourism web site.
Gown Code
There’s no strict costume code at Petra, because it’s not a temple or mosque.
With that mentioned, Jordanian tradition is comparatively conservative, so carrying modest clothes in public is a good suggestion and I’d extremely suggest it.
That might imply carrying one thing that covers your knees and shoulders.
You’ll see numerous camels strolling round inside Petra
Distances & Strolling Instances
Listed here are some tough estimates for distance and strolling instances by foot.
They’ll change in fact, relying in your health stage and what number of picture stops you make alongside the best way.
- Customer’s Middle to Siq: 1 km (quarter-hour)
- Siq to Treasury: 1 km (quarter-hour)
- Treasury To Monastery Path: 2 km (half-hour)
- Monastery Path: 1.5 km (half-hour)
- Major Path (Customer’s Middle to Monastery Path): 4 kilometers
- Customer’s Middle to Monastery: 5.5 kilometers
You may reference the Petra map earlier on this journey weblog to see the place to seek out every of those locations.
As soon as inside Petra, you may get across the ruins by driving a camel or strolling on foot.
Camel & Donkey Rides
If health is a matter, you possibly can pay to experience a horse, carriage, camel, or donkey for various segments of the Petra path. I by no means used these, as a result of the costs are simply unreasonable.
Once I went in 2018, they had been asking a agency 20 JD ($28 USD) for a camel experience. For comparability, you possibly can experience a camel on the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt for 1/tenth the value!
Alternatively, when you’re simply itching to get your pic taken sitting on a camel in entrance of the epic Treasury of Petra, then that is your likelihood.
Donkeys are one other common solution to get round Petra
Greatest Issues To Do & See At Petra
At this level, you’re most likely questioning what are a number of the “should see” locations in Petra Jordan.
This isn’t a whole record of each single rock, tomb, and fascinating factor to see within the misplaced metropolis of Petra, however these are simply a number of the highlights that stood out to me throughout my time there. Keep in mind, regardless of how superior you suppose Petra is, belief me, you’re going to get bored with taking a look at rock buildings after awhile.
Someday at Petra is sufficient time to see many of the locations on this record, however most likely not all of them, so that you’ll wish to prioritize the issues that look most interesting to you. Two days is loads of time to see all of those.
These are listed in fundamental chronological order, with a number of deviations from the principle path the place it’s mandatory (Monastery and higher viewpoints).
• The Bab al-Siq
That is an open street within the desert, stretching from the customer’s middle till the Siq (entrance to Petra). The identify is Arabic for ‘gateway to the Siq’.
On the roadside you’ll cross a number of the first carved monuments of the day, with some cool rock homes that seem like they belong to Fred and Barney within the Flintstones.
There are some Bedouin guys standing round right here giving ‘free’ horse rides to the Petra entrance, however the catch is that they’ll count on (and demand) a giant tip afterwards. Simply inform them no thanks and maintain strolling.
• The Siq
The Siq is the traditional entrance to the town of Petra.
This can be a lengthy, slim pathway (principally like a Utah slot canyon) that leads you to the hidden metropolis. The steep partitions on both aspect of this path are actually spectacular, and straight away they make you are feeling tiny.
You may experience a horse drawn carriage via the Siq, once more for a payment, however I don’t see a lot level until you’re simply very drained (perhaps on the best way again). Granted, the trail will not be utterly flat, nevertheless it’s not steep or exhausting both.
• The Treasury
As you exit the top of the Siq, you’ll be greeted by an impressive carved monument known as the Treasury (Al Khazneh). This facade is well essentially the most well-known view inside Petra Jordan.
Surprisingly, there’s nothing inside Petra’s treasury. It’s an empty sq. chamber with a flat ceiling. Vacationers typically can’t go inside Al Khazneh, both, however the outdoors is nice sufficient to maintain you busy taking images for fairly awhile.
The perfect lighting is early within the morning, when the rocks are a darkish purple coloration. Later within the day, the rocks will change to a brown or shiny orange coloration (in direct daylight), and this appears so much completely different. Each views are good, however they’re very completely different. Attempt to see each when you can.
The Treasury (Al Khazneh) is essentially the most well-known view inside Petra Jordan.
• Above The Treasury
There are three completely different higher viewpoints the place you possibly can look down on the Treasury from the rocks above.
All of those views are improbable, however they require somewhat little bit of rationalization to seek out. I’ll be writing a follow-up Petra journey weblog put up for this as effectively.
If you happen to don’t thoughts paying an area tour information, they will take you to any of those viewpoints simply with a brief hike.
• The Road of Facades
After you get accomplished gawking on the Treasury, you’ll enter the Road of Facades. It’s lined with varied carved tombs and different monuments. There are a whole lot of these, and a few of them are skippable when you’re simply eager to see the highlights of Petra.
• Tomb of Unayshu
This can be a effectively preserved tomb, and one of many greatest carvings on the jap aspect of the Road of Facades.
Most individuals appear to skip this part, nevertheless it’s price a glance when you’ve got time! I believe these are a number of the finest buildings within the Petra metropolis ruins.
• The Amphitheater
As you proceed strolling on the Road of Facades, you’ll cross an amphitheater on the left.
This can be a Roman-style theater that was constructed within the 1st century AD. You may’t go inside, nevertheless it’s simple to take images of it from the road.
• The Royal Tombs
This can be a collection of tombs on the best aspect of the Road of Facades. The model appears much like the Treasury, however these buildings are unfinished and never as good.
If you happen to observe the path that goes across the bottom of those tombs, you possibly can go see the Treasury and different components of Petra from above.
• The Colonnaded Road
The Road of Facades ultimately blends into the Colonnaded Road.
This was a paved road that in outdated instances most likely served as a market lined with outlets and sellers. The gate and a number of the columns are nonetheless standing.
• The Nice Temple
Becoming a member of the Colonnaded Road, these are the ruins of a giant temple in what was once the town middle of historic Petra. There’s a giant staircase and the stays of an open air plaza.
There are nice views of the mountains within the distance, so undoubtedly make a fast cease right here, not less than.
• The Monastery
The monastery is among the most underrated components of Petra Jordan. It’s greater than the Treasury, and far much less crowded.
In contrast to the Treasury, which is carved immediately into the rocks, the Monastery nearly appears like a freestanding constructing.
If you happen to hike straight to the Monastery very first thing within the morning, chances are you’ll even have it to your self for hours.
The Monastery is among the most underrated ruins inside Petra
• The Excessive Place of Sacrifice
This was a panoramic viewpoint above Petra metropolis the place spiritual sacrifices of animals and incense had been provided.
It’s a 30-60 minute hike to the highest, and the views are price it! Simply come ready for warmth, and convey loads of water.
Lodges In Petra Jordan
If you need to spend greater than someday at Petra (which I’d suggest), then you definately’ll want a lodge or different place to remain.
There are not any motels “in” Petra, because it’s a protected archaeological web site, however you possibly can keep within the close by city of Wadi Musa, which is inside strolling distance of Petra.
Wadi Musa will not be a giant city, nevertheless it’s been constructed up by tourism at Petra, so there are many good motels and eating places to select from.
The place I Stayed
I stayed at Rocky Mountain Lodge close to Petra for 26 JD ($37 USD) per evening, and it was a fairly good cut price in comparison with the opposite motels I’ve tried on this space (Jordan will not be the most cost effective nation to journey).
Rocky Mountain is a 20 minute stroll to Petra, or you need to use the lodge’s each day shuttle service. Jane, the lodge proprietor girl, was variety sufficient to drive me to Petra herself and choose me up later. She’s a New Zealander and clearly works very onerous.
The lodge additionally helped me organize my Wadi Rum jeep tour from Petra. All in all, it was simply what I wanted, and the employees had been very useful with arranging transfers, meals, and different issues.
Costs might fluctuate on occasion, so simply maintain a watch out for a superb deal.
I stayed at Rocky Mountain Lodge close to Petra
The city of Wadi Musa. You may see the doorway to Petra within the distance.
Petra By Night time
This can be a evening present the place the Treasury of Petra is lit up by 1,500 candles and a few songs are performed. It lasts 2 hours and runs each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
I made a decision to skip this as a result of lots of people say it’s overpriced and disappointing, and I had already seen the Treasury on two separate visits. Now, as a journey blogger and semi-serious photographer, I type of kick myself for not doing it.
If you happen to’re into pictures, it could possibly be a superb alternative to take some cool images of the Treasury lit up by candles. In any other case, the final consensus appears to be that it’s poorly executed and never well worth the entry value for most individuals. I want the Jordanian tourism authorities would take some classes from the parents who made the excellent evening present at Abu Simbel in Egypt.
The doorway payment for Petra By Night time is 17 JD ($24 USD) for adults, and it’s NOT included in an everyday Petra day ticket. Children beneath 10 go free. Extra data may be discovered on the official Jordanian tourism web site.
Petra By Night time (© Shutterstock)
Bottled sand artwork souvenirs at Petra
Just a little pet wandering the Petra metropolis ruins
Is Jordan Protected?
Sure, I believe Jordan is fairly protected.
Nowhere on this planet is totally protected, however Jordan is a secure nation that will get hundreds of thousands of vacationers per 12 months.
Terrorist assaults are doable, however that’s true wherever. They don’t appear to be any extra widespread in Jordan.
Within the age of terrorism I’d attempt to keep away from hanging out in massive crowds whereas touring right here, however once more, that’s a fundamental security tip that goes for nearly wherever these days.
Personally, I’d fee Jordan a lot safer than Egypt, for instance.
Learn Extra: Security in Jordan
Greatest Time To Go to
Petra is sweet any month of the 12 months, however the most effective time to go to is within the spring (March – Might) or fall (September – November). I went in early October and it was very nice. In the course of summer time, Petra may be extremely popular — as much as 86 °F (30 °C).
Both method, the most effective time of day to go to could be very early, earlier than dawn. Not solely will you skip the crowds and warmth, however you’ll additionally get a headstart in your day, and images of the Treasury will look cooler. My favourite images at Petra had been taken shortly earlier than the dawn.
It’s the most effective time of day for photographing the Treasury as a result of the rocks are a darkish purple coloration. Later within the day, the rocks will change to a brown or shiny orange coloration (in direct daylight), and this appears so much completely different. Each views are good, however they’re very completely different. I’d suggest seeing each phases when you can.
You may also test a reside webcam on the Treasury to get an thought what the lighting will seem like at sure instances of the day.
How Lengthy To Keep
Someday is sufficient time to see all the principle highlights of Petra, however I believe 2 days is healthier so you possibly can go at a extra relaxed tempo.
I’d additionally spend someday at Wadi Rum seeing the desert, and doing a jeep or camel tour there.
Greatest Excursions In Jordan
Extra Petra Journey Weblog Posts
Thanks for studying this journey weblog about Petra! Hopefully it’s useful for planning your personal journey.
Don’t neglect to take a look at my full Jordan Journey Information and in addition my information for the Wadi Rum desert, which is only a brief distance from Petra.
Blissful travels!
