The rock city Petra is on top of the list of each traveller to Jordan. Here we list shortly the most important information to help you plan your visit.  

 

About Petra:

Petra was established around 312 BC as the capital city of the Arab Nabataeans. Due to its proximity to trade routes, the nomadic Arabs established here a major trading center. Petra was built on a terrace, pierced from east to west by the Wadi Musa, where according to tradition, Moses hit a rock and water gushed forward. Often referred to as Rose City due to the color of the stone this magnificent place is famous for its impressive rock architecture and water channel system. Since 1985 Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and in 2007 was voted for as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

 

Opening Hours:

Petra Archaeological Park is open on daily basis from sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Centre is open in summer from 06:00 until 17:30 and in winter from 06:00 until 16:00.  

 

Approximate Driving Duration:

3 hours from Amman

3 hours from the Dead Sea

2 hours from Wadi Araba Border or Aqaba

1.5 hours from Wadi Rum

 

Cost of Entry Ticket Per Person:

1-day pass: 50 Jordanian Dinar

2-day pass (2 consecutive days): 55 Jordanian Dinar

3-day pass (3 consecutive days): 60 Jordanian Dinar

Day visitors from Israel / Palestine: 90 Jordanian Dinar

Arab Passport Holders: 30 Jordanian Dinar

Locals and Residents: 10 Jordanian Dinar

Children below 12 years are free of charge. 

 

Best Time to Visit:

Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November)

The temperature is pleasant, around 18-25 Degrees Celsius.

 

 

What to wear & bring:

Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes

Comfortable shirts and trousers

Backpack or knapsack

Bottled water & snacks

Hat/caps

Shawl/Scarf

Sunglasses and sunblock

 

 

What to expect:

You can comfortably visit Petra in a day. Each person has different levels of historic site tolerance. You could spend 4-6 hours exploring, or twice but even so, one day gives you sufficient time.

Bedouin sellers, stall holders, are on site, selling everything from jewelry, pictures, to carpets. Sales techniques are persistent; you’ll get an offer on a lot of stuff & a couple of times. To avoid the hassle, don’t look at whatever you’re not interested in buying, politely say “no thank you” or “la shukran” to any unwanted sales offer.

Petra is huge. If you want to see all, one day is just not enough. Ideally, it takes 3-4 days and depends on how much of Petra you want to look at.

 

 

Standard Tour to Petra Attractions:

Obelisk Tomb

Siq or Canyon

Al Khazneh or Treasury

Street of Façades

Royal Tombs

Roman Theatre

Colonnaded Street

Qasr Al Bint

 

 

Hiker & Adventure Travelers Favorite:

Monastery El Deir

High Place of Sacrifice

Soldier’s Tomb

Little Petra to Monastery El Deir

Treasury from above

 

 

Guiding Fees in Petra:

Standard Tour (Main Trail): 50 Jordanian Dinar

Supplement High Place: + 50 Jordanian Dinar

Supplement Monastery El Deir:  + 50 Jordanian Dinar

Supplement Wadi Farasa / Soldier Tomb: + 60 Jordanian Dinar

 

Modes of Transportation in Petra:

● Electric golf carts shorten the walking distance in Petra. Each cart can take up to 5 people. It is not possible to book a seat in advance, you have to do it on spot in Petra. The golf cart serves the route Petra Visitor Centre to Treasury (one way) with a price of 15 Jordanian Dinar per seat. The route Petra Visitor Centre - Treasury - Petra Visitor Centre is charged with 25 Jordanian Dinar per seat. Children under 3 years are free of charge. Payment needs to be done in cash.  

● A short camel ride in Petra can be booked in front of the Treasury and the route takes you to Qasr Al Bint. Prices can be negotiated with the handler. Expect to pay 15 Jordanian Dinar per camel.

● Short horse ride Petra. The admission fee Petra includes a 700 meters horse ride from the main gate until before the entrance to the Siq. The ride is not compulsory, and the horse handler expects a tip of 5 Jordanian Dinar per horse.

● Donkey rides are also offered in Petra. We don't recommend using donkeys, as they are often treated badly, and their hooves are damaging the sandstone of Petra.

● Clients planning on hiking from Little Petra to the Monastery El Deir need to use a 4x4 to reach the beginning of the trail. The transportation cost is 5 Jordanian Dinar per person.   

 

Disclaimer:

The information provided by Petra Nights Tours is for general informational purposes only. Prices and procedures can change anytime without prior notice.

Petra Nights Tours is not liable for any mistreatment or abuse of any animals in Petra. If you witness an incident like this, we do advise you to directly report to tourist police (phone +962 3 215 6487) or Petra Development & Tourism Regional Authority (phone +962 3 215 7093) or Ministry of Tourism (phone +962 6 460 3360).