Petra is a world wonder, a fascinating city, and hands down one of the most valuable Jordan’s treasures, plus the greatest tourists’ attraction in the country. Petra, which translates to ‘stone’ in Greek, is probably the most spectacular ancient city remaining in the modern era. This is an ancient city that’s literally carved into red desert cliffs and canyon. Its ornate natural beauty and unique architecture attract thousands of people to Jordan each year.

Tourists can access Petra from Jordan’s major cities such as Amman and Aqaba or alternatively take Tours from Israel cities like Jerusalem, Eilat and Tel Aviv.

History of Petra

Although there’s evidence inhabitation has existed in Petra from the Iron Age, what tourists witness today dates from an amazing floruit that happed at the city during pre-Roman times. The builders of this magnificent site were Nabataeans, Arabic people who accumulate wealth by controlling the overland route that was bringing vital incense from Saudi Arabia into the markets of the Roman Empire. They carved this wonderland of elaborate buildings, tombs, and temples out of solid rocks to create the awe-inspiring phenomena that have become world-recognized. Later on, the city slipped into decline for almost two centuries until it was rediscovered in 1812 by John Lewis, a Swiss Explorer.

Visiting Petra
The entrance to Petra is situated just past the town of Wadi Mousa and after paying the entrance and starting your adventure it’ll take you approximately 20 minutes to get to the most famous structure, the treasury. You can stock up with a map, souvenirs or even food from the Government Rest House from where the path leads down to Siq, (a narrow winding valley that was formed as a result of mountain split and forms an entry into Petra). This ancient city is not only majestic but also vast so it’s important to be armed with really comfortable shoes that can allow you to swiftly navigate the area with no sores. For an extra fee, you can opt for a horse ride or a carriage to help you cover the distance to the Treasury. There are lots of other highlights around the city that are must-visit, some of which are a little off the main path and are hard to get to. They include Roman Theatre, Monastery, Sacrificial alters and Royal tombs. If you are an adventurer and an explorer a Two-day Petra tour would be the perfect option for you.

Unfortunately, Petra is stiflingly hot in the height of summer with temperature averaging at 36°C so it’s best to visit during the spring (March-May) or fall (September-November) when the weather is pleasantly warm- around 18°C.

The best way to fully unearth the best Petra experience is by joining a Tour from cities like Aqaba, Jerusalem or Eilat. You can do a One-day tour, Petra and Wadi Rum 2-day tour or combine Petra and Wadi Run 3 days tour if you have more time to explore more gems of this astounding gem.

Hours: Summer: 6 am to 6 pm Winter: 6 am to 4 pm

Price:

• Visitors must pay an entrance fee to Jordan although this will differ based on whether or not you’ll stay overnight in Jordan
• Border Crossing Fee – $65
• Visa Fee – $60
• Entrance Fee – included
• Lunch – included
• Children (12 and under): Free Those entrance fees are always included in our Petra tours. Petra is about four hours’ drive from Amman, Jordan, and around two hours’ drive from Aqaba and the southern crossing border from Israel.