Does anyone live at Petra?

Few realize that among these relics of an ancient people there are still those living in the area that maintain the traditional nomadic way of life. “(The Bedouins) are here as controller for these caves, for all Petra.



Officially, the archaeological site of Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a protected national park where permanent residency is generally prohibited; however, a small community of the B'doul (Bedouin) tribe still has a significant presence there. For centuries, the B'doul lived inside the ancient caves and carved tombs of Petra itself. In the 1980s, the Jordanian government relocated most of the tribe to the nearby purpose-built village of Umm Sayhoun to preserve the ruins. Despite this, in 2026, you will still see many Bedouin individuals who spend their days (and sometimes nights) within the site, operating stalls, offering camel rides, and maintaining their ancestral connection to the land. Some elder members of the tribe still inhabit certain caves, and the government largely tolerates this due to their historical ties to the "Rose City." For a tourist in 2026, the Bedouin are the "living heart" of Petra, providing hospitality and cultural context to the ancient stones. While they may have modern homes with electricity in the village just over the ridge, their daily life is still inextricably linked to the canyons and monuments of their ancestors.

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Today, Bedouins from the Bdoul tribe still live inside Petra, in caves just slightly off the tourist drag. They have livestock, but most of their living is made from selling cool drinks and trinkets to tourists. They also offer camel and donkey rides to help get you around the city faster.

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The gradual move to nearby fertile areas After the sophisticated hydraulic system slowly fell into disrepair, most inhabitants of the Petra valley gradually, but not completely, moved to the nearby fertile areas where they could find better opportunities for water and agriculture.

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Officially, the Bedouins were “removed” from Petra in 1985 when the park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But unofficially, illegally even, they are still here. 35-50 families remain in the 2,000+-year-old caves they have always called home.

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Inside Petra Jordan - Wonders Travel and Tourism. There's so much to see in Petra – It's a whole city carved in mountains, to check a whole city in one visit, then you need to make it 2-3 months visit.

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Many people know of Petra's famous Treasury from the Hollywood film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” with Harrison Ford. It's inside that Ford finds the Holy Grail.

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Petra, ancient city, centre of an Arab kingdom in Hellenistic and Roman times, the ruins of which are in southwest Jordan.

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Whether you are in the city of Amman, exploring Petra, or trekking the desert valley of Wadi Rum, men should refrain from wearing shorts as it is seen as disrespectful.

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In its heyday, which began in the first century B.C. and lasted for about 400 years, Petra was one of the world's wealthiest, most eclectic and most remarkable cities. That was when the Nabatean people carved the most impressive of their monumental structures directly into the soft red stone.

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Petra's importance declined as sea trade routes emerged, and after an earthquake in 363 destroyed many structures. In the Byzantine era, several Christian churches were built, but the city continued to decline and, by the early Islamic era, it was abandoned except for a handful of nomads.

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While you are not allowed to stay overnight unaccompanied in Petra, you can book a traditional Bedouin cave stay. Most hosts offer the full traditional experience, including dinner cooked over an open fire, the option of sleeping under the stars, as well as transportation back to the park entrance in the morning.

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Today, Bedouins from the Bdoul tribe still live inside Petra, in caves just slightly off the tourist drag. They have livestock, but most of their living is made from selling cool drinks and trinkets to tourists.

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Petra is home to over 1000 tombs Source The Nabateans believed in the afterlife and taking extra care of their dead. They built over 1000 tombs in Petra. This makes the site 'one of the largest royal tomb complexes in the world'.

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We advise: Exercise a high degree of caution in Jordan overall due to the threat of terrorist attack. Higher levels apply in some areas.

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Jordan is a conservative society. You should dress modestly and behave courteously. It's illegal to drink alcohol on the street but permissible in bars, clubs, hotels and private homes. There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, similar to those of the UK.

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Neither the US State Department nor the British Foreign Office has issue travel advice against visiting anywhere in the vicinity of Petra. They currently advise against visiting the border with Syria and Iraq. They also advise avoiding protests and political demonstrations which usually occur in the center of towns.

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It is fine to travel in Jordan in jeans most of the time, and you can, of course, wear them in Petra as well, in case this is the piece you never leave your home without, but as the visit of Petra requires quite a lot of walking, we think hiking trousers are a much better choice.

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Wearing shorts can also be seen as disrespectful, so opt for long pants instead. Dress codes are generally stricter for women than men, and many female travellers choose to wear a headscarf like the local women.

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