{"id":10855,"date":"2021-09-01T19:00:28","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T18:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/?p=10855"},"modified":"2023-06-28T20:00:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T19:00:18","slug":"travel-guide-to-petra-jordan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/travel-guide-to-petra-jordan\/","title":{"rendered":"Complete Guide to Petra, Jordan – Best Petra Tours, Sights, Hotels and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Ancient City of Petra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Jordan<\/a> and even all of the Middle East! In case you were looking for a complete guide to Petra that tells you everything you\u2019ll need to know – from the best guided tours to practical info about how, what and when to visit Petra, you have arrived in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scroll down to find everything you need to know before you visit the Lost City of Petra!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Why should you visit the Ancient City of Petra, Jordan?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s a well-known fact: no trip to Jordan is complete without a visit to the world-famous site of Petra. Otherwise known as the \u2018Rose City\u2019 due to the colour of its carved stone, Petra is one major archaeological and historical site that every adventurous traveller should have on their bucket list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located in the south-west of Jordan, near the town of Wadi Musa, the landscape surrounding Petra is stunning, with red, rocky mountains at the East of the Arabah valley. Petra<\/a> is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it has been called \u201cone of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage\u201d. So, needless to say, it is by far the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan, with over 1.1 million tourists per year. Well, that\u2019s a lot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you ask me, Petra is one of the most incredible places I have ever been to. It was top of my bucket list for years and when I finally made the trip, it exceeded my expectations. There is no doubt as to why it is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let\u2019s jump right into it and find everything there is to know about visiting Petra:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>What to see in Petra – Main sites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Al-Khubtha Trail is basically a long trail that will get you from the entrance of Petra all the way to the Royal Tombs. This is an entire circuit that contains the most magnificent highlights of Petra – the Treasury, Monastery, High Palace of Sacrifice and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are all the sights you can see while visiting Petra:<\/p>\n\n\n

1 – Al Siq<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Al Siq Canyon<\/a> is the main pathway that visitors take from the entrance to the heart of the city of Petra. Approximately 1.2km long, the narrow canyon takes about 30 minutes to cross and opens up to reveal Al Khazneh, also known as The Treasury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, this was the most breathtaking moment of my visit! During your walk through the canyon walls of the Siq, you can admire the huge stone walls, man-made terracotta pipes and stone panels that were once used to filter and transport water to Petra from Wadi Musa. You can choose to travel the gorge by walking or you can be transported by camel, horse, donkey, or even by cart.<\/p>\n\n\n

2 – Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) <\/h3>\n\n\n
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The Treasury <\/a>is hands-down the most famous site in Petra – a big plaza full of superb, intricate carvings and facades. But, as impressive as it may be, you should know that this part of Petra is just the beginning – there are plenty more carved buildings to see!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be careful, as there will be lots of bedouin guides in front of the Treasury trying to sell you trinkets or offering their services to show you trails off the beaten path so you can see it from above – and they can be quite persistent! If you choose to climb on your own, know that the road up is pretty steep and there will be moments of scrambling up rocks, but it only takes 10min and the view over the Treasury is 100% worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP: <\/b>If you want to take the best photos with the Treasury without (almost) any tourists, here\u2019s a tip: come back close to the closing time! Most tourists will visit this sight at the beginning of their visit, then proceed to other points and won\u2019t make the long journey to return, so you\u2019ll find this place almost empty in the late afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n

3 – The Street of Facades and The Amphitheatre<\/h3>\n\n\n
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As I mentioned before – many more facades await! The Street of Facades<\/a> is a superb path scattered with MANY more buildings carved in the red rocks, as well as caves and a cute Roman amphitheatre.<\/p>\n\n\n

4 – The High Place of Sacrifice<\/h3>\n\n\n
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This wonderful place<\/a> requires a bit of hiking, all for a superb view overlooking Petra. The hike is a bit challenging and it can take a while (around 45 minutes), so if you\u2019re short on time, you can always skip this sight and proceed to the next ones (the Monastery is a must; the Royal Tombs too if you have the time), as there\u2019s plenty more to see. Plus, there isn\u2019t any signage to guide you up, so if you really want to visit the High Place of Sacrifice, it would be best to have a guide with you for this one.<\/p>\n\n\n

5 – Colonnaded Street<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Short and nice, this pathway<\/a> with Roman columns will take you to the next exciting sight – The Monastery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ:<\/strong> Your Complete Wadi Rum Guide, Jordan – Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

6 – Ad Deir (The Monastery)<\/h3>\n\n\n
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One of the most iconic sites in Petra, together with The Treasury, The Monastery<\/a> <\/a> dates back to 3 BC and it\u2019s a monumental Nabataean tomb. It\u2019s a long walk uphill to get there, with sparse patches of shade, so avoid the journey during the midday heat. Alternatively, if you\u2019re too tired of walking, you can take a camel or donkey ride uphill.<\/p>\n\n\n

7 – The Royal Tombs <\/h3>\n\n\n
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If you know you don\u2019t have much time to visit Petra, I strongly advise you to NOT miss the Royal Tombs – they\u2019re incredible! The Royal Tombs include the Urn Tomb, the Silk Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb and Palace Tomb. Afterwards, you\u2019ll reach Al-Khubtha High Place and Cistern, a place that offers an incredible view over Jordan\u2019s Lost City!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Ticket price for Petra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Petra entrance fee:<\/strong> 50 JOD (70.5 US$) for a one day pass, 55 JOD (77.5 US$) for a 2-day pass or 60 JOD (84.5 US$) for a 3 day pass. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket booth at the Visitor Center, located at the entrance to Petra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP #1:<\/strong>  I recommend investing in a Jordan Pass if you are planning on exploring more of Jordan. The price is 70 JOD (99 US$) and it includes access to Petra, along with 40 other sites such as Wadi Rum, Jesash and the Amman Citadel. You can buy the pass online on their official site.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP #2: There\u2019s a catch in the price you should know about, though.<\/strong> If you are only visiting Jordan for one day, or you are going to visit Petra on your first day in the country, entry will cost 90 JOD. You will need to prove that you are staying overnight in Jordan for the price to drop to 50 JOD or return the next day for a 40 JOD refund. In short, if you aren\u2019t spending the night in the country, the price will be almost double!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Petra by night<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you\u2019re staying the night and want to explore Petra from another perspective, I would recommend joining Petra by night.<\/a> Petra by Night is a walk that is offered three days a week – every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, beginning at 8.30 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petra by night is lit enough so you can take a few pics and marvel at the large Visitors\u2019 complex that serves as the entrance ticket buying point and a hub of great restaurants to grab some dinner before starting your walk. The path to the treasury is beautifully lit all the way with candles, with the Treasury being the most amazing with thousands of candles lit around it! The entire journey to the treasury is about 2.4km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ticket fee for Petra by Night is 17 JOD (24 US$) per person. Sadly, this activity is not included in the Jordan Pass. I strongly recommend buying your ticket during the day to avoid the long queues that form around 8 PM, just before the walk starts. It\u2019s also good to get in early to avoid large crowds and have a few moments inside by yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP:<\/strong> Remember that it will be completely lit by candlelight, so if your camera doesn\u2019t work well in low-light settings, taking photos may be a struggle. If you\u2019re bringing your DSLR, keep in mind to also bring a good tripod to avoid blurry pictures. Personally, I use this one<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Best Petra tours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Wondering how to visit Petra, now that you found out about all these incredible places worth discovering? Although you can totally see the Lost City of Petra by yourself, especially after reading THIS complete guide for visiting Petra. If you\u2019re up for some walking and hiking challenges, I recommend you hire a guide to make the best out of your experience. A tour can also be an excellent idea if you want to see Petra as a day trip or if you want to explore some other sights around Petra during your trip to Jordan such as Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea or Aqaba, for example. This way, you won\u2019t have to bother finding transportation and you\u2019ll also have a knowledgeable guide telling you all kinds of facts about the history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s my hand-picked list of tours to Petra I can recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n

ONE DAY IN PETRA:<\/h4>\n\n\n