Visit Petra, Jordan, Jordan Tours

Direct Specialist Overview: Petra is an ancient Nabataean city carved directly into the rose-red sandstone mountains of southern Jordan, recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. For an optimal private tour, enter the 1.2-kilometre Siq gorge at sunrise before the heat and crowds arrive, allow two full days to ascend to the cliff-top Ad Deir (Monastery) and the High Place of Sacrifice, and pair your stay with an overnight Bedouin desert experience in neighbouring Wadi Rum.

Why Petra Remains One of the World’s Greatest Archaeological Wonders

Carved into the rugged desert cliffs of southwestern Jordan between the 4th century BC and the 1st century AD, Petra served as the thriving royal capital of the Nabataean kingdom. The Nabataeans were masterful nomadic desert traders who monopolised the lucrative frankincense, myrrh, and spice trade routes connecting Arabia, Egypt, and Syria with the Mediterranean basin. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1985 and voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Petra combines ingenious hydraulic engineering with monumental Hellenistic rock-cut architecture.

According to data published by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), the site encompasses over 260 square kilometres of steep sandstone canyons. The Nabataeans survived and prospered in this arid wilderness by constructing an intricate network of terracotta pipes, dams, cisterns, and water conduits that collected flash flood runoff and delivered clean drinking water year-round to an urban population estimated at over 30,000 inhabitants.

Traversing The Siq, The Treasury and Ad Deir (The Monastery)

The journey into Petra begins through the Bab as-Siq and enters the dramatic Siq—a 1.2-kilometre winding natural fissure between vertical sandstone cliffs towering up to 80 metres high. As you emerge from the shadowy corridor, the iconic Hellenistic façade of Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) bursts into view, carved 40 metres high directly into the vertical cliff face to serve as a royal tomb, likely for King Aretas IV.

Continuing beyond the Street of Facades and the 8,000-seat Roman-style theatre, the ancient Colonnaded Street leads toward Qasr al-Bint. For intrepid travellers, a private guided ascent of 800 hand-hewn stone steps leads to Ad Deir (The Monastery). Measuring 47 metres wide and 48 metres high, Ad Deir is even larger than the Treasury, perched high on a windswept plateau commanding panoramic vistas across the Great Rift Valley and the biblical hills of Wadi Araba.

Specialist Verdict & Conservation Guidelines

Never attempt to compress Petra into a single rushed morning; doing so leaves you exhausted in the midday desert sun and misses the magic of evening lighting. We recommend purchasing a 2-day Jordan Pass or entry ticket, entering at 6:30 AM on day one for the Siq and Treasury, and reserving the afternoon for the Royal Tombs. On day two, hike the scenic back trail to the Monastery with a private Bedouin guide before departing for Wadi Rum before sunset.

“Emerging from the darkness of the Siq as the morning sun illuminates the rose-red sandstone carvings of the Treasury is an emotional encounter with human ingenuity that will never leave you.”

— Emily Watson, Senior Middle East Specialist, My Way Travel · 10+ years designing comprehensive private journeys across Jordan, Oman, and ancient Middle Eastern trading routes.

Authoritative Sources & Further Reading

1. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1985). Petra (Ref: 326). whc.unesco.org/en/list/326
2. Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA). (2024). Conservation and Visitor Statistics. visitpetra.jo
3. Jordan Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. (2024). Archaeological Research and Site Management in Petra. mota.gov.jo