Petra, Jordan Travel Guide: Essential Tips and Insights
Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World for a good reason. A famous archeological site in the southwestern desert of modern-day Jordan, it is believed to have been founded as early as the 4th century BC by the Nabateans, a nomadic tribe that controlled the trade routes in the region. It is a gorgeous site that is necessary addition to your Middle Eastern itinerary. Yet, there’s so much to know before going to Petra, Jordan, because although it is one of the Wonders of the World, it’s a bit less developed and certainly requires a fair bit of preparation before visiting. Here are the essential tips for Petra, Jordan.
We did our trip to Petra as an add-on to the end of our Israel road trip, spending 2 night and 3 days. We entered via the King Hussain Border Crossing near Jerusalem and expected to return the same way (more on that absolute failure later!).
(1) The Treasury is the most famous, but the complex is massive
You may know of Petra from the famous photos of the Treasury, but the site extends so much further than that. It was a thriving city known for wealth, culture, and engineering. When planned properly, it is possible to visit the ruins, tombs, and temples which are carved into the cliffs and mountainsides. As of 1985, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Our personal favorite site was the Monastery, a monumental building carved into the rock in the hills
(2) Spent some time at Wadi Al Mujib
Alright, we have to admit that we did not visit Wadi Al Mujib, but we also did not pick up the rental car until 1pm. If you are more lucky than we were at the border crossing, this national reserve is well worth the visit, even if just for a short hike. The Siq Trail is one of the most popular options as it’s the shortest of the three available trails and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.
Even without stopping, however, we were greeted with beautiful wadis (Arabic for a ravine) on our drive along the Dead Sea.
(3) Petra By Night is worth it
Petra by Night is a wonderful experience where you are able to see the famous Treasury lit up at night, only occurring on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8:30pm. While it is often crowded, it certainly worth it to walk the kilometer through the valley at night, opening up to expose the beauty of Petra’s Treasury. There is official programming such as music and light shows, but the real magic is the dark walk to the lit-up archeological site. For those who feel less comfortable walking on two feet, it is important to note that the 1km walk is both very dark and very uneven. While alluring, mysterious, and almost a haunting trek, remember to pack a bright flashlight if this isn’t your thing.
(4) Driving in Jordan is DIFFICULT
This is my most essential tip for Petra, Jordan: Do not attempt to drive in Jordan unless you are very comfortable in thick fog and low-visibility situations. Our drives took at least one hour longer than anticipated – not to mention the high blood pressure – and is not for the faint of heart.
The highways are sometimes unpaved or blocked off completely, and the fog descends on the mountains at an unprecedented rate. Initially, we wanted to drive back to the King Hussain Border Crossing near Amman (way North), but very long story short, we dropped off the rental car in Eid (way, way South, instead. Talk about a massive turnaround! We felt so unsafe traversing the unpaved roads, cliffs, and blinding fog, so driving conditions are certainly something to keep in mind if you choose to drive yourself around Jordan.
(5) You are charged for transiting through Jordan
You have to pay a fee when you exit Jordan at the border control. The cost goes down as you add more nights to your stay, intended to encourage more tourism in the country. Therefore, I suggest you stay more than one night in Jordan! It’s a beautiful country and there’s no need to rush Petra. There are a few severely ambitious tours that depart Tel Aviv or Jerusalem at 3am and return around 11pm. Quite crazy indeed.
(6) Be careful with some tour guides
We found our tour guide via our hotel and had a fantastic day with him. I highly suggest finding a one-way tour of Petra so that you don’t tire yourself out from back and forth walking. As a marker of distance, our tour guide took us via the back-end of the complex, and we started our tour at the Monastery. Therefore, we were able to walk down the 800 steps instead of up and generally beat the crowds moving in the opposite direction.
The disclaimer: the back-end way into site is not exactly legal, and unfortunately, your tour guide may still require you to pay an entrance fee even though nobody ever verifies if you have a ticket.
That’s all for Petra, Jordan, and enjoy your journey to this Wonder of the World! Hopefully you have a better idea of what to expect and what to know before your visit. Thank you for reading about the essential tips for Petra, Jordan.
Happy Sampling, and for more ideas on what to do in the Middle East, check out our destination guides!