Petra Wadi Rum
3
Day Itinerary •
Jordan
Three days across Petra and Wadi Rum gives you the two most extraordinary landscapes in Jordan, from the Rose-Red City carved by the Nabataean civilisation into the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan to the extraordinary desert wilderness of Wadi Rum, a protected UNESCO landscape of rose-sand plains, soaring sandstone massifs and ancient petroglyphs that inspired Lawrence of Arabia. This route covers the essential Petra and Wadi Rum. The Siq gorge at dawn with the Treasury emerging from the rock, the full Petra city trail to the Monastery above the cliffs, the extraordinary Petra by Night candlelight experience, a Bedouin 4WD tour of Wadi Rum's finest natural arches and sandstone pillars and a night in an extraordinary Bedouin camp under the desert stars.
Best Time To Visit
March to May or September to November
Getting There
Drive 3 hours south from Amman or fly to Aqaba
Getting Around
Rental car; Wadi Rum tours arranged locally
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 150 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate; Petra involves significant walking
DAY 1
PETRA, THE ROSE-RED CITY
MORNING
THE SIQ AND THE TREASURY AT DAWN, THE FINEST ENTRANCE IN THE WORLD
The Siq gorge at Petra is the most extraordinary entrance to any ancient site in the world, a 1.2km natural crack through the sandstone narrowing to just 3 metres wide before opening suddenly to the full facade of the Treasury carved into the cliff face. Arrive at the gate opening time of 6am to walk the Siq in complete solitude and reach the Treasury before the first tour groups. The Treasury, the most iconic image in Jordan, was carved by the Nabataeans in the 1st century BC as a royal tomb. Entry included in Petra ticket. Full day ticket approx 50 JOD. Drive: On site
MIDDAY
STREET OF FACADES AND THE ROYAL TOMBS
Beyond the Treasury the Petra valley opens into the extraordinary Street of Facades, a sequence of Nabataean tomb facades carved into the cliff face in extraordinary variety. The Royal Tombs carved into the rose-red sandstone cliffs above the Petra valley are the most extraordinary concentration of carved facades in the ancient city, including the remarkable Urn Tomb with its extraordinary vaulted lower chambers, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. The view from the Urn Tomb terrace over the Petra valley is extraordinary. Drive: On site
AFTERNOON
THE COLONNADED STREET AND PETRA CHURCH
The Colonnaded Street at the heart of Petra is the extraordinary main street of the Nabataean city, its limestone column bases still standing in the valley floor. The Petra Church at the end of the Colonnaded Street contains extraordinary Byzantine floor mosaics discovered in 1990 and the finest surviving early Christian artwork in Jordan. The Great Temple complex behind the street is the finest example of Nabataean civic architecture in the city. The walk back through the Siq in the late afternoon light is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Petra by Night experience operates Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The Siq is lit by 1,500 candles and the Treasury illuminated while Bedouin music plays in the darkness. The extraordinary combination of candlelight, sandstone and silence is unlike any daytime visit. Entry approx 17 JOD, separate from the day ticket.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Wadi Musa Early coffee before the 6am gate opening. The town has several good cafes open early. | Lunch: Basin Restaurant, Petra The only restaurant inside Petra itself, at the far end of the Colonnaded Street. Basic but convenient. | Dinner: My Mom's Recipe, Wadi Musa The finest traditional Jordanian restaurant in Wadi Musa. Mansaf lamb and local mezze.
DAY 2
PETRA FULL DAY
MORNING
HIGH PLACE OF SACRIFICE, THE FINEST VIEW OVER PETRA
The High Place of Sacrifice above Petra is the finest viewpoint over the ancient city, a Nabataean open-air altar complex at 1,035 metres reached by a 45-minute climb up the southern ridge. The extraordinary view over the Petra valley with the Treasury, Royal Tombs and Colonnaded Street all visible below is the finest in the entire city. The descent via the Garden Tomb, the Renaissance Tomb and the extraordinary Roman Soldier Tomb gives the finest series of rock-cut monuments accessible on the western trail. Drive: On site
MIDDAY
THE MONASTERY, THE LARGEST CARVED MONUMENT IN PETRA
The Monastery at the top of the northern ridge of Petra is the largest carved monument in the city, a facade 47 metres wide and 48 metres high reached by 800 rock-cut steps from the Colonnaded Street below. The extraordinary climb through the sandstone landscape takes 45 minutes and gives extraordinary views at every turn. The view from the terrace in front of the Monastery over the extraordinary canyon landscape to Wadi Araba beyond is one of the finest in Jordan. The Monastery interior is free to enter. Drive: On site
AFTERNOON
LITTLE PETRA AND THE PAINTED HOUSE
Little Petra, known as Siq al-Barid, is a small Nabataean settlement 8km north of the main Petra site, a short narrow siq leading to a series of extraordinary carved facades in an intimate setting entirely free to enter. The Painted House within Little Petra contains the only surviving painted interior decoration from the Nabataean period, an extraordinary series of floral and vine frescoes on the rock-cut ceiling. Free to enter, signposted from Wadi Musa.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Petra Archaeological Museum near the Qasr al-Bint temple is the finest small museum at the site, its extraordinary collection of Nabataean objects including the finest carved stone incense burners, bronze figurines and inscribed tablets found during excavations. Entry included in the Petra ticket. Almost always quieter than the main monuments.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Guesthouse in Wadi Musa Substantial breakfast before the High Place climb. Pack water and snacks for the full day. | Lunch: Picnic at the Monastery Bring food from Wadi Musa. Eating in front of the extraordinary Monastery facade is unforgettable. | Dinner: Al Qantarah, Wadi Musa Rooftop restaurant with views over the Petra mountains. Local mezze and grilled meats.
DAY 3
WADI RUM DESERT
MORNING
DRIVE TO WADI RUM AND ARRIVAL AT THE DESERT
Wadi Rum is the most extraordinary desert landscape in the Middle East, a UNESCO World Heritage protected wilderness of rose-sand plains and soaring sandstone massifs rising up to 1,754 metres. The landscape inspired T.E. Lawrence who described it as vast, echoing and god-like in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. The visitor centre at the desert entrance provides all Bedouin tour arrangements. Entry approx 5 JOD per person. Drive: Jeep tour
MIDDAY
BEDOUIN 4WD TOUR, THE NATURAL ARCHES AND LAWRENCE'S SPRING
A half-day Bedouin 4WD tour covers the finest natural features of Wadi Rum including the extraordinary Burdah rock bridge and Um Fruth arch, Lawrence's Spring where T.E. Lawrence watered his camels in 1917, the extraordinary Khazali Canyon with its Nabataean and Thamudic inscriptions cut into the rock face, the red sand dunes and the magnificent sandstone pillars that give Wadi Rum its extraordinary skyline. Tours arranged at the visitor centre from approx 25 JOD per person. Drive: To camp
AFTERNOON
DESERT CAMP AND SUNSET OVER THE WADI
The Bedouin camps in Wadi Rum are the finest overnight desert experience in the Middle East, extraordinary bubble tents or traditional Bedouin goat-hair tents in the desert with no light pollution and the finest stargazing sky in Jordan. The sunset over the extraordinary sandstone massifs turns the desert extraordinary shades of red and pink as the light fails. The Bedouin dinner of lamb zarb cooked underground in a sand oven is the finest traditional meal in Jordan.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Wadi Rum stargazing experience is the finest in Jordan, the extraordinary dark sky of the protected desert giving visibility of the Milky Way, the Andromeda galaxy and thousands of stars invisible from any urban environment. The Bedouin guides know the night sky with extraordinary intimacy and the midnight desert silence is one of the finest experiences in the Middle East.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Guesthouse in Wadi Musa Final Petra morning breakfast before the Wadi Rum drive south. | Lunch: Bedouin tea in the desert Traditional sweet Bedouin tea with dried fruit during the 4WD tour stop. | Dinner: Desert camp zarb dinner Traditional lamb zarb cooked underground in the Bedouin camp. Extraordinary.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Wadi Musa, Nights 1-2 Petra Moon Hotel or Mövenpick. Approx 50 to 180 USD per night. Wadi Rum camp, Night 3 Bedouin camp in the desert. Approx 50 to 150 USD per person including dinner. Budget option Guesthouses in Wadi Musa from approx 25 USD. Proximity to Petra gate is key.
Top Tips
1. Arrive at the Petra gate at 6am when it opens. The Siq and the Treasury in the first hour are extraordinary. By 9am the site is crowded with tour groups.
2. The Jordan Pass (approx 70 USD) includes visa on arrival and 3 consecutive days at Petra. It is the finest value purchase for any visit to Jordan.
3. Petra is enormous. The distances from the gate to the Monastery are extraordinary. Wear comfortable shoes and carry 2 litres of water minimum in summer.
4. Wadi Rum Bedouin guides are extraordinary storytellers. Ask about Lawrence of Arabia, the Bedouin traditions and the stars. Their knowledge is remarkable.
5. The Petra by Night experience on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings is extraordinary and completely different from the daytime site. Book at the visitor centre.
6. The sandstone at Petra changes colour dramatically through the day. The Treasury at dawn in the first light and at sunset in the red glow are the finest times.
Total Budget
80 to 150 USD/day