THE EPIC TRAVEL GUIDE TO PETRA IN JORDAN

Petra is one of the seven wonders of the world, and the place is one of the reasons why millions of tourists from around the world visit Jordan every year. While planning my visit to Jordan, Petra was my number one priority. Even though there are loads of different historical landmarks and beautiful natural places in Jordan, there is nothing that can outrank Petra in its grandiosity, fame, and beauty. 

Petra in Jordan is the biggest historical place I have visited in my life. It took me two days to fully explore Petra. Some people wander in Petra for three days, and still, they can’t fully understand and grasp the complete grandeur of the place. 

Before visiting Petra, I had loads of questions and the place was a total mystery to my brain. Even though I was preparing myself for visiting Petra in Jordan by reading different travel guides on the Internet, I was still worried. You can easily and quickly visit a small historical place in thirty minutes or a few hours. However, when we talk about a place that is several hundred square kilometers large, you should definitely prepare yourself for a long and strenuous hike. 

In this epic travel guide to Petra in Jordan, I will provide you with all the necessary information and tips on how to get the most out of your visit to Petra. Prepare for a long read. An ultimate travel guide to Petra in Jordan can’t be short. Gather your patience and read this blog post till the end. 

HISTORY OF PETRA

Petra has loads of different names. In the Arabic language, Petra is called ٱلْبَتْرَاء. The Romanized version of Petra sounds like Al-Batrāʾ. In Ancient Greek, Petra is pronounced and written as Πέτρα. Nonetheless, to its local inhabitants, Petra was always known as Raqmu or Raqēmō. Petra is a historical city in Southern Jordan. 

Khazneh in Petra

Petra is a very ancient city that was inhabited from as early as 7000 BC. Nabateans were the first and the main inhabitants of this historical place. The nation settled here and established its kingdom in the 4th century BC. The Nabateans were nomadic Arabs who established Petra as one of the central trading routes through which incense was exported and imported. 

The lucrative trade made Nabateans immensely wealthy thus making Petra the center of their business empire. The ancient Arabic tribe was accustomed to living in deserts and unlike their enemies were well-acclimatized to the harsh desert climate. This advantage let them successfully repel attacks from their enemies. 

Nabateans were a very skillful nation. Their major talents were in harvesting, stone carving, agriculture, and harvesting rainwater. The 1st century AD is considered the time when Petra was flourishing. The famous Al-Khazneh structure is thought to be the mausoleum of a famous Nabatean king Aretas IV.

Even though the Nabatean kingdom was a strong state, its military power wasn’t high enough to resist the time’s biggest power – the Roman Empire. Thus, the Nabatean kingdom became a client state of the Romans in the first century BC. In 106 AD, Petra fell to Romans. Further, the Roman Empire renamed Petra into Arabia Petraea. 

Though Petra was an important trade route for several centuries, its significance declined after the emergence of sea routes that completely replaced inconvenient and time-consuming land routes. The city continued to decline. Severe earthquakes shattered and destroyed loads of its constructions and buildings. Finally, the city was fully abandoned. Only a small number of nomads continued living in the city. 

Now, when you have some basic information about Petra in Jordan, let me provide you with some practical information on how to get to Petra and get the maximum out of your visit to this wonderful place. 

LOCATION OF PETRA IN JORDAN

Petra is situated in the area between the Gulf of Aqaba in the hills of the east side of the Wadi Araba. The historical site is located among rugged canyons and mountains of southwestern Jordan. The latitude of Petra in Jordan is 30.328960, and the longitude is 35.444832.

HOW TO GET TO PETRA IN JORDAN

There are several ways to start your travel in Jordan. I started my Jordan travel from Aqaba. I arrived at Amman Queen Alia airport and hitchhiked until Aqaba. Aqaba was the first city I visited. Then I hitchhiked to Wadi Rum and spent a day and night there. After Wadi Rum, I hitchhiked to Wadi Rum. Thus, your route to Petra in Jordan will depend on your starting point.

If you started your Jordan travel from the North, then Petra will be one of the last places of your visit. If on the other side, you began your Jordan travel from the South like me, then you will visit Petra very soon. In any case, the modes of transportation to Petra are the same. Here are my best tips on how to get to Petra with the most efficiency. 

THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO PETRA

First, I should warn you that there is no public transportation to Petra in Jordan. Regardless of whether you are coming from the south or north of Jordan, no public bus will take you to Petra. There aren’t any buses going in that direction. Keep this in mind. In any case, if you are a true backpacker, this isn’t a real problem for you. When there is no public transportation, there is always hitchhiking. 

AVOID PAYING FOR TAXIS

If you are in Aqaba or planning to come to Petra from north of Jordan, you will see loads of intrusive taxi drivers. These men will offer to bring you to Petra. The fees are never cheap. What is more, Jordanian taxi drivers think that tourists and travelers are fools with tons of money. Thus, they will always charge you a high amount of money. 

I never take taxis. No matter where and when I am, I never spend even a single cent on taxis. This is my personal probackpacking principle. If you are a tourist with no backpacking experience and no desire to become a professional backpacker, then you can do whatever you want. However, if you embrace the philosophy of ProBackpacker, then I suggest you stay away from taxis if you want to get to Petra in Jordan. 

HITCHHIKING IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO PETRA

When I finished my time in Wadi Rum, I easily and quickly hitchhiked to Petra. I paid no money for the journey. Kind Jordanese people gave me a ride. Hitchhiking to Petra is the best way to the ancient city. If you have no hitchhiking experience, you start doing it right now.

HITCHHIKING TO PETRA FROM AQABA

If you want to get to Petra from Aqaba, you will need to get out of the Aqaba city center. When you are out of the city, start hitchhiking. All cars that go towards Ma’an, Karak, Madaba, or Amman, will pass Petra. 

Once a driver drops you at the intersection that goes to Petra, you will need to take a road to the left and get a new car to get to Petra. It is very easy since almost every car going up to Petra city will stop for you. 

HITCHHIKING TO PETRA FROM WADI RUM

Wadi Rum is the closest tourist place to Petra. All you have to do to hitchhike from Wadi Rum to Petra is to get out from Wadi Rum and hitchhike to the main road. When you are on the main road which is King’s Highway, it will be easy to catch a car that will pass Petra. 

 Don’t bother paying for taxis when you can get a free ride to Petra in Jordan. Yes, hitchhiking isn’t the fastest way to travel. However, once you get enough hitchhiking experience, you will learn to appreciate all the advantages of hitchhiking. 

PETRA ENTRANCE FEES

Petra in Jordan is a UNESCO heritage site, and it is one of the seven wonders of the world. Thus, visiting such a place can’t be cheap. A one-day entrance ticket to Petra costs 50 J.D (70 USD). A two-day entrance ticket to Petra costs 75 J.D. (77 USD). If you want to spend three days in Petra, you can buy a three-day ticket which will cost you 60 J.D (84 USD). 

HOW MANY DAYS ARE ENOUGH TO EXPLORE PETRA

I would say that two days are enough to fully see, explore, and enjoy your time in Petra. One day in Petra will be a too short time to see all wonders and historical landmarks of the ancient city. Three days might be too much because you can easily explore the site in two full days. Thus, getting a two-day entrance ticket to Petra is an option. With this ticket, you will wander inside Petra and explore the site with no rush. 

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BUY TICKETS TO PETRA

I visited Petra for two days. Before coming to Jordan, I bought Jordan Pass which waived my visa fees, and plus, gave me access to all the historical attractions of Jordan. Jordan Pass costs 75 J.D (100$) and it lets you save money, waives your visa fees, and gives you access to Petra. 

I recommend purchasing Jordan Pass before coming to Jordan. In case you don’t want or you can’t buy Jordan Pass, you can buy Petra entrance tickets in the Petra visitors’ center. 

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO ENTER PETRA

I arrived at Petra city in the afternoon with a realization that if I entered Petra’s ancient site now, I would have wasted half of the day. Thus, I decided not to enter Petra that day. Instead, I spend that day exploring the city, eating local food, and interacting with locals. 

The best time to enter Petra is early in the morning. 7-8 A.M. is the ideal time to enter Petra. Petra in Jordan opens at 5 A.M. I think that 7 and 8 A.M is the perfect time to enter the famous historical site because, in this case, you won’t have to force yourself to wake up too early. This will also give you enough time to explore Petra. 

TAKE A FEW PETRA MAPS IN THE VISITOR CENTER

After buying or activating your Petra entrance ticket, you will be passing the visitor center. There is a counter with Petra maps in dozens of languages. Get a few maps with you to Petra. One of the maps to use for your orientation in the historical place. Other maps as a memory from Petra. 

My ticket and a couple of maps I grabbed in the visitors’ center

In my case, I took several maps in the Russian and English languages. These Petra maps are very detailed and you can’t find anything like them on the Internet. I still have several Petra maps on my shelf.

DO YOU NEED A GUIDE IN PETRA

A day before I visited Petra, I was a guest in a local guide’s house. I asked him the same question whether I needed a guide to fully explore and understand Petra. He boldly told me that guide is absolutely unnecessary. I followed his advice and can confidently assure you that you don’t need a guide in Petra.

Without a guide in Petra, you will see all the historical landmarks firsthand. When you come to your hotel or home, you can always open up the Internet and find out as much information about the places you visited as you want. On the other hand, if you have too much money, you will see a huge abundance of guides in Petra. 

THERE ARE NO CARS IN PETRA

While hiking in Petra, you will see no cars there. Cars and any other transportation aren’t allowed in the territory of the historical place. There are some golf cars and police cars in the area. However, apart from these vehicles, you won’t see any other automobiles. 

BUY SNACKS AND WATER OUTSIDE PETRA

It is obvious that everything inside Petra is very expensive. Thus, it isn’t a good idea to enter the site empty-handed. Visit a local supermarket (you can find them in abundance outside Petra), and buy enough water and some snacks.

BEST ITINERARY FOR TWO DAYS IN PETRA

Here is the best itinerary to spend two perfect days in Petra. I used this route and it will perfectly fit you if you want to explore Petra with no rush. This itinerary will provide you with a pleasurable 2-day hike in Petra. 

ITINERARY FOR THE FIRST DAY IN PETRA

Here is the itinerary for the first day in Petra. It will let you explore a big part of Petra with no rush. Come early at 7 a.m., and tt 17-00 to 18-00, you will be able to exit the site and go to either your hotel or explore the city. 

YOU WILL START YOUR HIKE FROM SIQ

After passing the visitor center and walking a few dozens of meters, you will Bab As-Siq which is the entry to the Siq. The Siq is the valley that leads to Al-Khazneh (The Treasury of the Nabatean Kingdom). 

Bab As-Siq in Petra in Jordan

The Siq will give you the first vibes of that famous Petra you always saw in movies, on the Internet, and in photos. The valley is very beautiful and picturesque. In places, it is broad. Sometimes, it gets pretty narrow. 

THE SIQ WILL LEAD YOU TO AL-KHAZNEH (THE TREASURY)

Relax, walk, and enjoy every sight of the Siq because it won’t last for too long. The valley isn’t very long. Abruptly, it will end and you will see a big crowd of people in front of a very tall building carved into a mountain. All these people are excited tourists taking photos and posing in front of the famous Al-Khazneh (The Treasury). 

As-Siq in Petra in Jordan

Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) is the most famous place in Petra. In past, this building used to store the treasury of the Nabatean Kingdom. You will still see the entrance to Al-Khazneh. However, it is forbidden to enter it. 

SPEND SOME TIME NEAR KHAZNEH

You won’t see a bigger concentration of tourists in any other place in Petra than in Al-Khazneh. You should spend some time here. If you are a solo traveler, take some selfies. You can pay for a photo on a camel. If you are with a partner or a group, you can take loads of photos together. 

Al-Khazneh in Petra Jordan

Al-Khazneh in Petra is a place with a constant shadow. Sunrays don’t penetrate this place. Thus, you can enjoy a pleasant time there in the middle of a hot summer. 

CONTINUE TO THE STREET OF FACADES

When you feel like you have spent enough time in Al-Khazneh, follow the road and you will be on the Street of Facades. This is a beautiful street with different tombs, monuments, and other things carved into mountains. Walk and enjoy the view. Make photos and selfies. 

TURN LEFT TO THE HIGH PLACE OF SACRIFICE TRAIL

When you pass the Street of Facades, you will have several options. You can continue going straight and you will come to the Theater. You can also turn right, and you will be in a different place. I suggest turning left and following the High Place of Sacrifice Trail.

Place of High Sacrifice Trail is behind me

High Place of Sacrifice is a 3 km long trail that is very beautiful. Hiking this trail doesn’t require any level of hiking experience or fitness. It is very easy and comfortable. I have seen even old people hiking this trail with ease. High Place of Sacrifice trail is well-marked and it is impossible to get lost on this trail. 

SPEND SOME TIME AT THE HIGH PLACE OF SACRIFICE

After several ascends and descends, you will be on a high place which is called the High Place of Sacrifice. This place is also called “The View”. It is situated on an elevation, and therefore, you get stunning views from the top of this place. 

Tourists and travelers always spend some time here. You should also do this. Take some photos. Make selfies for memory. Enjoy the gorgeous view of valleys and Petra from the high place. 

CONTINUE TO WADI AL-FARASAH UNTIL QASR AL-BINT

When you finish with High Place of Sacrifice, continue hiking further. You will be on Wadi Al- Farasa (Valley Al-Farasa). By the way, you will see loads of buildings, churches, and monuments. You can enter them. You will find the air temperature inside these buildings very refreshing. It is very cool inside these abandoned historical sites. 

Continue the trail to Qasr Al-Bint

Continue hiking Wadi Al-Farasa until you reach Qasr Al-Bint which is a high building that looks like a small castle. This construction is also one of the major landmarks in Petra. Spend some time exploring Qasr Al-Bint. Make photos and selfies. 

HIKE AD-DEIR (MONASTERY) TRAIL

Qasr Al-Bint isn’t the most popular place in Petra. You will find most tourists heading north to hike Ad-Deir (Monastery) Trail. This is exactly what you should do after you finish exploring Qasr Al-Bint. 

Ad-Deir (Monastery) Trail is a 2.5 km trail. This hiking trail is the most beautiful hiking trails in Petra. At the same time, it is the most difficult one. There is a lot of elevation on the trail. A person with an average fitness level will find Ad-Deir (Monastery) Trail moderately difficult. I have seen people short of breath on the trail. 

I really enjoyed the scenery on Ad-Deir (Monastery) Trail. There are a lot of beautiful and unique flowers and bushes. The stairs also looked very ancient. Even though I was truly tired on this trail, I can say that this hiking trail was one of the best hiking trails I hiked in my life. 

Prepare for a small jam on the trail since there are hundreds of tourists hiking this trail every day. The ultimate destination point of this trail is Ad-Deir (Monastery). At the highest elevation of the trail, you will see this wonderful building with your own eyes. 

SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY NEAR AD-DEIR

When Ad-Deir (Monastery) Trail ends, you will see a huge building similar to Al-Khazhen. This building used to be an ancient monastery in the times of the Nabatean Kingdom. Nowadays, As-Deir is a major historical landmark of Petra. 

Make some photos of Ad-Deir. Snap some selfies for memory. Then, climb Ad-Deir mountain which is a few meters in front of Ad-Deir (Monastery). From Jibal Ad-Deir (Ad-Deir Mountain), you will have an absolutely stunning view of the Monastery. 

This is the place where tourists eat their food and snacks. You can relax at this place and spend a few hours resting and enjoying the astonishing views of Petra. 

GO DOWN FROM AD-DEIR TO THE VISITORS CENTER

Now, when you have enjoyed the view, you should get down and exit Petra. You should hike back the same route. While going back to the visitors’ center skip the High Place of Sacrifice Trail and take the main road which is 8 km long. It will take approximately 2-4 hours to reach the exit. 

By this time, it will be already an early evening. You will be tired and even exhausted by the long and strenuous hikes. Now, you should have a rest till tomorrow. Tomorrow will be easier than today. 

ITINERARY FOR THE SECOND DAY IN PETRA 

The second day in Petra will be much easier and you will have a lot of spare time to explore Petra. You will even have time to visit and see the same places you saw yesterday. The second day will include some hiking and you will also visit and explore some places you didn’t pay attention to yesterday. 

WALK THE STREET OF FACADES TO THE THEATER

Likely, on your way back yesterday, you saw an ancient Roman theater. This beautiful theater was built by the Nabateans under the rule of the Roman emperor Aretas IV. The building is very imposing and beautiful. It definitely deserves your attention. If you are interested in the details of the theater’s history, you can always find a lot of information about it on the Internet.

HIKE AL-KHUBTHA TRAIL

While walking The Street of Facades, after the Theater, you will see a turn to the left. This is the start of a 3.5 km long Al-Khubtha Trail. This trail is very beautiful. It is very easy to hike it. There aren’t many elevations on this wonderful trail. 

When I visited Petra on the second day, I started hiking Al-Khubtha Trail immediately after visiting The Theater. I really loved this trail. It isn’t as crowded as Ad-Deir Trail. 

While hiking Ad-Deir Trail, you will see Urn Tomb, Silk Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, Palace Tomb, Sextius Florentius Tomb, Unayshu Tomb, and Royal Tombs.

PROCEED TO THE NYMPHAEUM 

After hiking Al-Khubtha Trail, follow the road and you will see the ruins of Nymphaeum which was a grand public fountain along Petra’s Collonaded Street. Of course, nothing much remains from the past grandiose grand fountain of the Great Nabatean Kingdom. However, you can still see its ruins which are very beautiful and can give you a hint of how the fountain looked in past.

VISIT BYZANTINE CHURCH AND THE GREAT TEMPLE

By the right side of Collonaded Street, you will see Byzantine Church. A little bit further, you will come to the Great Temple. This building is the greatest freestanding building in Petra. This architectural construction wasn’t built for worship. Instead, it served as a place for the royal reception hall. 

HIKE SABRA TRAIL

By the end, you have already seen, visited, and explored all major and significant historical monuments and buildings in Petra. Now, you can end the second visit day with a long hike. Sabra Trail is the longest trail in Petra. It is 10 km long and has moderate difficulty.

By the end of my second day in Petra, I hiked Sabra Trail. This trail isn’t much popular, and I was the only one hiking it. After twenty minutes of hiking, the trail brought me to uninhabited mountains and plains. Sabra Trail is superb if you abhor crowded trails and prefer silence in the middle of wild nature. 

After hiking Sabra Trail, you can make the same way back to the Siq through Collonaded Street, The Street of Facades, and exit Petra. 

VISIT PETRA MUSEUM

Petra Museum is situated outside Petra’s ancient city. This wonderful museum is very modern and equipped with the newest technologies. It was the best museum I visited in Jordan.

There are more than 280 historical artifacts in Petra Museum

Petra Museum contains 280 artifacts dating back to different ages. The museum is composed of five large halls. 

Petra Museum is equiped with the newest technologies

If you are interested in the history of Petra, you will learn and understand it at Petra Museum. The entrance to Petra Museum is free for everyone. Regardless of whether you have a ticket to Petra or not, it is free to visit Petra Museum. It takes a minimum of 30 minutes to carefully observe Petra Museum. 

CAMPING IN PETRA

Camping in Petra is not allowed. However, laws are created to be broken. I don’t think it is a crime to camp inside Petra. If I wasn’t a guest in a house of a local man and not given a five-room flat for my use during my stay in Petra, I would certainly spend at least one night in Petra. The weather was too hot for pitching a tent in Petra. However, I am sure I would definitely use my sleeping bag if it was cold at night. 

If you want to stealth camp inside Petra, it is understandable. Camping in famous historical places is a very seductive and addictive activity. I camped in Pamukkale and Termesos. Here are my recommendations for successful stealth camping in Petra. 

FOLLOW SABRA TRAIL AND CAMP THERE

Sabra Trail will lead you to some remote and uninhabited places inside Petra. These places aren’t frequented by tourists. There are no police there. Nobody will spot you even if you pitch your tent on one of the mountains or valleys on Sabra Trail. Sabra Trail will lead you to your ideal camping place inside Petra.

All other places and trails are situated in the center of Petra, and therefore, there are a lot of Petra staff, guards, and even police who might be patrolling those places. If busted, nothing serious would happen. However, you absolutely want to avoid getting exposed while breaking rules in a foreign country. 

After spending a night in Petra and exiting the historical place in the morning or afternoon, nobody will recognize or expose you. Thousands of people enter and exit Petra every day. A lonely stealth camper is like a ghost there. Nobody sees you there. Thus, don’t be scared of stealth camping in Petra. 

URBAN CAMPING IN PETRA CITY

Petra city is one of the worst cities for urban camping. While observing the territory in the center of the city, I barely found any good spots for urban stealth camping in Petra city. Camping in Petra city is non-existent. Since Petra is an expensive place visited by affluent tourists who stay in hotels, Petra city municipality doesn’t need to build campsites for backpackers and other budget travelers. 

The city of Petra is very inconvenient for urban stealth camping. However, you can always find a good spot if you really want.

At the same time, urban stealth camping is still possible in Petra city. Just don’t pitch a tent anywhere in the city. Put your sleeping pad and use your sleeping bag instead. Sleep late and wake up early to be unnoticed by the city dwellers. 

MY HONEST OPINION

Petra is definitely one of the most astonishing and monumental historical places I have ever visited in my life. It truly deserves to be counted as one of the world’s seven wonders. The high entrance fees are fully justified. I loved and enjoyed my time in Petra. I will hopefully visit this wonderful place again. 

This was the epic travel guide to Petra in Jordan. This article will be updated as soon as I learn about new changes in the functionality, rules, or prices in Petra.