PetraTravel Guide

A narrow, 1.2km natural gorge with walls up to 80m high, the dramatic approach corridor to Petra — the anticipation as the Treasury's facade slowly reveals itself at the end is part of the experience.

Petra's most famous facade, carved directly into rose-red sandstone in the 1st century BC — instantly recognisable from Indiana Jones and the New Seven Wonders list.

Even larger than the Treasury, reached by climbing roughly 800 rock-cut steps — fewer visitors make it this far, making it a quieter, equally spectacular payoff.

A cluster of monumental facades cut into the cliff face opposite the theatre, including the Urn Tomb and Palace Tomb — best photographed in the late-afternoon light.

A Nabataean ritual site atop a mountain, reached by a steep staircase — the panoramic view over Petra's valley is one of the best in the entire site.

The Siq and Treasury lit by over 1,500 candles three evenings a week, accompanied by traditional Bedouin music — a completely different atmosphere from the daytime visit.

A modern museum near the visitor centre displaying artefacts excavated from the site, providing context on Nabataean civilisation before or after exploring the ruins themselves.

A smaller, quieter satellite site 15 minutes from the main entrance, believed to have been a suburb or caravan stop for Petra's traders.

An off-the-beaten-path route through a partially flooded tunnel and slot canyon — requires a local guide and is closed after rain, but rewards with a genuine adventure feel.

An evening class in nearby Wadi Musa teaching traditional Jordanian dishes like maqluba and mansaf, cooked alongside local instructors and eaten together afterward.