How long to visit petra

The stairs leading up are immediately on your left when you round the corner, next to a little souvenir stand. This is as far as we got before turning around. But the view from here was awesome, and I even made a new little feline friend. Some locals were hanging out outside the restaurant, so we agreed on a price and set off. Our guide, Egel, was charming and chatty, and he led me and my dad up the steep stairs on our donkeys.

The ride took maybe minutes total, versus the hour or more it would have taken to hike. This was easily my favorite sight in Petra, and with a stroke of serendipity, the boring overcast skies cleared and we got 30 minutes of bright blue sky while we were here!

Sadly, we did have to head back down eventually. And wow, going down on a donkey was even scarier! But Shakira knew what she was doing—though she did have to make a pit stop to try and steal a bag of trash from a shopkeeper.

By the time we got back from the Monastery, it was almost closing time. Dad and I dragged our sore, dusty behinds back down the Colonnaded Street and Street of Facades, and when we reached the Treasury something magical had happened—all the tourists were gone! If you want great photos of the Treasury without the crowds, hang around until close to closing time!

They line the Siq with glowing lanterns, which cast cool shadows along the curvy Siq canyon walls. When you reach the Treasury, there are dozens of lanterns laid out, and a short musical and cultural program. As a photographer, it gave me an opportunity to practice my nighttime and tripod photography.

You will need a tripod and the ability to change exposure times on your camera, to really do it justice. It was nice not to be looking at my phone all day! Yes, of course! There are plenty by the entrance and I found one by The Monastery, which was a makeshift portaloo. It had toilet paper and a bowl outside to leave a small tip for the pleasure!

Enjoyed this Jordan travel blog all about visiting Petra? Pin it…. I appreciate this post! I am going at the end of the month and this is just the info I needed and I am more excited now about staying the camp.

Happy Travels. Did you get to shower? I wish I got more information as to what to expect with Abraham Tours…. Hey Andee! There was a shower with running water at the camp we stayed in near to Petra. It was fine for brushing teeth and washing faces, but as it was chilly outside I chose not to shower that evening! Some people did though — hope that helps. Wow Jordan was never on my radar, but this guide got me interested in it.

Thanks for the great and full guide. Thank you so much for all the tips Chloe, this is so useful! Petra is definitely on my bucket list. Did you feel safe while traveling in Jordan? Thanks so much! Glad you found it useful. I was shocked at how disrespectful people were of the culture, just to get that perfect Instagram shot. So bad! The image of Seven Wonders Bedouin camp is so beautiful! Are they candles that are lit on the cliffs behind?

Definitely need to visit Jordan one day! Thank you Lisa — it was such a wonderful experience. Ahhh it is soooo amazing! I knew it would be special but it went beyond expectations. What stunning photos! I play Uncharted and this absolutely reminds me of that. This is a really cool straightforward guide, though! Thank you so much! I hoped it would cut the jargon and give people a simple to follow guide. I found a lot of the info around very very confusing!

Almost at the end, the gorge becomes dark and opens up to the facade of the Treasury. The Treasury was certainly designed to impress and the effect is still the same: carved into the rock, the Treasury is very well preserved also thanks to its position, being completely protected from wind and rain.

The best times to view the Treasury is in the morning between 9 and 11 and in the afternoon between 5 and 6: when the sun reflects on the facade, the colors are simply magnificent. The basic design of the Theater is Hellenistic and it was carved out of the mountainside: at a time, it could accommodate up to people.

Located on the East Cliff, the Royal Tombs are simply magnificent. There are 7 Tombs in total, but you do not need to know the details: just make sure you take time to appreciate the architecture and the colors, ranging from red to blue to yellow. Definitely one of the most striking sights of Petra. The columns are the remaining of the old markets : so far, there is still a lot to find and works to excavate the floors and the buildings remain ongoing.

Still, a great location to understand how magnificent this city was. The only route back to Petra is the way you came up. Along the way, you encounter several other buildings carved in the mountains The Triclinium, the Lion Monument, etc , very few brave tourists and very few locals as well. The hardest hike to reach the flat mountain overlooking the whole Petra. Despite being so popular or probably because it is so popular , there are very few accommodations in Petra that are worth mentioning.

The majority are expensive, dirty and not comfortable at all so we highly recommend you pay a bit more for a better room in a better hotel. The roof terrace is perfect at sunset. Rooms are quite old and need an update, but we found this hotel a good compromise since we were in Petra to enjoy the Old City, not the hotel. Big plus: part of the hotel si the Cave Bar , a pub in a year old tomb where you can drink local beer is available despite the prices being excessive, and also eat something.

The restaurant is managed by two young people and everything is fresh and local. Petra is worth the trip , despite the bad smell of the camels and the horses, the mass tourists flocking to see the Treasure and immediately leaving, the expensive hotel compared to other destinations.

If you are wondering if Petra by Night is worth it or if you should have a quiet evening wandering around Wadi Musa, check out our article:. Is Petra by Night Worth it? Petra is really incredible and we really hope this article has given you the desire to book your trip to Jordan. Follow us on Instagram and get in touch if you want to have more information and subscribe to our newsletter to receive exclusive content by email! If you think this article is well written and useful, share it on Pinterest and on social media:.

Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunblock. Also make sure you have a ready supply of water. Temperatures drop fast when the sun sets — bring an extra layer to stay warm.

Petra and Jordan are safe and stable places to visit. Bedouin stall-holders can be found on site, selling everything from jewellery to carpets. HostelBookers has a selection of great-value hotels in Wadi Musa a ten-minute walk from Petra, all highly rated by our previous guests.