The rose-red city carved directly into sandstone cliffs by the Nabataean civilisation 2,000 years ago. The Treasury at the end of the Siq is one of the great reveals in world travel.
Getting There
Fly into Queen Alia International (AMM) in Amman. Petra is 3 hours south by road; most visitors hire a car or take the organised bus service (JETT) from Amman. Wadi Rum and Aqaba on the Red Sea are natural extensions of the same trip.
The Siq
Petra's entrance is through the Siq — a 1.2km narrow gorge through rose-red sandstone, in some places barely wide enough for two people. The walls rise 80 metres on either side. At the end, through a final gap in the rock, the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) appears. This moment — and it is a moment, not a building — is the reason Petra is on every serious traveller's list. The scale, the colour of the stone, and the improbability of what the Nabataeans achieved here are genuinely difficult to process.
Beyond the Treasury
Most visitors see the Treasury and turn around. Don't. The full archaeological site extends for 264 square kilometres. Key stops beyond the Treasury: the Street of Facades, the Theatre, the Royal Tombs carved high into the cliff face, the Colonnaded Street, and the Great Temple. The Monastery (Al-Deir) requires a 45-minute uphill walk (800+ steps) and is larger and quieter than the Treasury.
Petra By Night
On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, the Siq and the Treasury are lit by 1,500 candles. The guided walk takes 90 minutes and ends with tea. Slow, atmospheric, and completely different from the daytime experience. Book through any Petra visitor centre.
Practical Notes
The site is large and the terrain is demanding. Wear good shoes. Water is available at several points but bring your own. The best light for photography is in the late afternoon when the sun is directly on the Treasury facade. The temperature drops sharply after sunset even in summer; bring a layer.
Wadi Rum
Two hours south of Petra — a landscape of red sand and extraordinary sandstone formations. Lawrence of Arabia was based here. A 4WD tour with a Bedouin guide is the correct experience; overnight camping in the desert under one of the clearest night skies accessible to travellers anywhere in the world.
Posts from Petra
Petra: More Than Just the Treasury
The Treasury is extraordinary — but it is the first thing you see, not the last. Petra extends for 264 square kilometres of Nabataean rock-cut architecture, desert canyons and Roman streets that most visitors never reach.
Reviews from Petra
Petra by Night: The Ancient City Under Candlelight
Three times a week, after dark, Petra's Siq is lined with candles and the Treasury is illuminated in firelight. Walking through ancient Nabataean stone by candlelight, to the sound of Bedouin music, is one of the most atmospheric experiences the Middle East offers.
Videos from Petra
Petra: The First View of the Treasury
The moment you emerge from the Siq and the Treasury reveals itself is one of the most extraordinary experiences in travel. We document it properly — and then stay for the afternoon light that most visitors miss.
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