Petra

A rose-red city carved into rock: the Treasury at the end of the Siq, the Monastery and the Royal Tombs, plus Petra by Night and hiking in Dana.

Petra and Wadi Rum lie in the mountains and desert along the border of Ma'an and Aqaba governorates in southern Jordan, the heart of any trip to Jordan. Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom from the 4th century BC to the 2nd century AD, with tombs and temples carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs; it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. About 80 km to the south, Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon," is a landscape of granite and sandstone mountains, red dunes and canyons; it was inscribed as a mixed natural and cultural World Heritage Site in 2011 and is a filming location for Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian and Dune. Where to go: the main Petra site (the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street, the Monastery and the High Place of Sacrifice), for which we recommend at least 2 days; Little Petra and the Neolithic village of Beidha to the north; Shobak Castle and the Dana Biosphere Reserve on the northern stretch of the King's Highway; and in Wadi Rum, jeep tours, rock-bridge scrambles and overnight stays in Bedouin camps. Climate: March–May and September–November are best, with daytime temperatures of 20–28°C; June–August often tops 35°C by day, so start hikes early in the morning; December–February nights approach freezing, Petra occasionally gets snow, and desert camps call for warm clothing. Getting there: the town of Wadi Musa, where Petra is located, has plenty of accommodation; it takes about 3.5–4 hours from Amman by JETT bus and about 2 hours from Aqaba; from Petra to Wadi Rum is about 1.5 hours by private car. Suggested itinerary: 2 days in Petra (including one night at Petra by Night) plus 1 night at a Wadi Rum camp, with an extra half day for Little Petra or Dana. Tickets: the Jordan Pass is strongly recommended (it includes 1–3-day Petra tickets and Wadi Rum entry, and waives the visa fee if you stay at least 3 nights); Petra by Night requires a separate ticket. Notes: you'll walk 10–20 km a day in Petra, so wear non-slip shoes; haggling disputes over horse and donkey rides are common; policies and prices are subject to official announcements.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries