Petra, Jordan travel tips
Cook with Bedouin guides, trek from a nature reserve, play Indiana Jones in a desert canyon – discover Jordan's 'lost' city of Petra for yourself
Petra advice
- Petra can get very, very busy. To experience some of its natural grandeur in relative quiet, get there for opening time.
- In the hills behind the Treasury, the Wadi Turkmaniya road offers an alternative scenic route in or out of the city.
- About 8km north of Petra, the outlying trading post of Al Beidha or ‘Little Petra’ has its own mini-siq and a fraction of its big brother’s visitors.
- The gateway village is Wadi Musa, which sprawls right up to the entrance to Petra and has dozens of hotels at all price levels.
- Minibuses depart regularly for Petra from the capital Amman (3 hours), the Red Sea town of Aqaba, and Wadi Rum.
When to go to Petra
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) offer pleasant temperatures and (slightly) smaller crowds than summer peak season. The site is open from 6am – get there early.
Where to stay
Most of the accommodation for Petra is found in Wadi Musa, although there are hotels and ecocamps. The conveniently located Petra Moon Hotel is probably the best of the mid-range options. If you can't afford to stay at the Moevenpick, at least go for a drink, either on the rooftop terrace or in the beautiful lobby.
In Wadi Rum, stay deep in the desert at the camp of of the Mzied Atieg. This is a small camp with Bedouin or modern tents – or under the stars. There are showers and toilet. Mzied can arrange transfers from Wadi Musa.
Large tour groups tend to stay at Disseh outside the Protected Area. Some camps can be large and/or noisy, so choose carefully. The Resthouse at Rum Village also offers basic accommodation and camping.
Petra health and safety
Dress conservatively – Jordan is pretty relaxed, but it is still a Muslim country and revealing clothing is considered offensive. Covering up will also help protect you from the sun.
Tap water is chlorinated, but bottled water is readily available.
Check with your GP or travel health clinic before travelling to make sure you are up to date on any recommended vaccinations.