JO · Ma'an Governorate · 30.33°N 35.44°E

petra

Rock-cut tombs and ancient Nabataean streets reached through a narrow sandstone gorge.

Best time
March–May and September–November are the most comfortable. July–August is very hot on the exposed paths; winter can be cold and wet, and flash-flood warnings close the Siq.
How long
2 days, 2 nights
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Amman, usually via Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, about 14–17 hours all in. Wadi Musa, the town beside Petra, is about 3 hours by road from Amman's airport. Jordan is 5 hours behind KL.
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JO · Ma'an Governoratepetra30.33°N 35.44°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Rock-cut tombs and ancient Nabataean streets reached through a narrow sandstone gorge.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPetraJO, Ma'an Governorate
KLpetra
≈ 7,560 km from KL, as the crow flies
Al Deir, "The Monastery", a monument closely resembling Al Khazneh though less ornate. It can be accessed climbing a long flight of stairs carved in the mountain above Petra. A man can be seen at the

Photo: Azurfrog · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Petra is a Nabataean city carved into rose-red cliffs and reached on foot through a narrow gorge. The Treasury is only the beginning, so give it two days for the tombs, the Monastery and the high places.

Makan

  1. MansafLamb cooked in fermented yoghurt and served over rice, Jordan's national dish.Map ↗
  2. MaqlubaAn 'upside-down' pot of rice, vegetables and chicken, flipped over at the table.Map ↗
  3. ZarbBedouin barbecue cooked in an underground oven.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The SiqA gorge over a kilometre long with walls up to 80 metres high, ending at the Treasury.Map ↗
  2. The TreasuryThe carved façade from all the photos, glowing best in the morning light.Map ↗
  3. Royal Tombs and Colonnaded StreetThe heart of the old city, past the theatre, where many day visitors turn back too soon.Map ↗
  4. The MonasteryAbout 800 rock-cut steps up to a façade even bigger than the Treasury's.Map ↗
  5. Little PetraA smaller, quieter site about 15 minutes' drive north.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Food is halal as standard in Jordan.
  • Fighting in the region closed Jordanian and Gulf airspace at times in 2026, so a flexible ticket and insurance that covers disruption are worth having.
  • Wear sturdy shoes and carry plenty of water; the trails are long and there's little shade.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.