Distance and Difficulty: The Petra Main Trail is 8km / 5 miles return from the Visitors Centre. Easy walk, largely flat. Allow 3 – 4 hours return, including time to see the sites along the way.
People Also Ask
The local people all agree--to properly and fully explore you need five days minimum. While there is certainly enough to occupy yourself for five or more days, two to three days is sufficient to visit all of the highlights in and around the park.
The entrance into Petra is in the town Wadi Musa, a great place to stay overnight when visiting Petra. The walk from the entrance of Petra to the Treasury (the iconic facade that is the highlight on a visit to Petra), is 2km long, or just over one mile.
If you plan on coming to Petra for only a day, you're missing out on most of the experience. One day in Petra is not enough. In fact, you could spend a whole week in Petra and still find new things to do! Petra is a relic of the past, a living city that transports you hundreds of years back in time.
There isn't a strict Petra dress code as such. It's the biggest tourist attraction in Jordan, so people pretty much wear what they like when they visit Petra, However, bear in mind that the site of Petra is huge, so be prepared to do a lot of walking.
If your time is limited, I recommend taking a one-day tour from Amman. It's a long day — 12 hours — but this gives you six full hours to explore Petra on your own. You can also choose to combine this with a Petra by Night experience or pair your visit to Petra with the picturesque Wadi Rum.
You will pay for your tour with a credit card when booking. Payment of visa fees, border fees, and tips must be in cash. You may bring cash and/or credit cards with you for personal needs on your trip.
A visit to Petra would not be complete without hiking to the famous Ad Deir temple (The Monastery). The Ad Deir trail begins at the end of the main trail in the ancient city of Petra and climbs over 800 steps to reach.
Camel Ride in Wadi Rum & Petra is optional for 15 JD / $ 21 USD per camel per hour. You don't need to book it in advance and can be arranged upon arrival to Petra or Wadi Rum.
Monday and Tuesday tend to be the quietest days as many people arrive in Amman on the weekend, then stay a few days in the north and then come to Petra. So usually Wednesday and Thursdays are the busiest weekdays.
The main sights can be experienced in one full day, but for those who like hiking and exploring off the beaten track, two to three days is ideal. If you want to plan and make the most of your time in the desert, I'm sharing all the details from our two-day adventure trip in Wadi Rum below.
Navigating Petra's ancient walkways and structures is doable on your own. You receive a map with your ticket, and there are plenty of signs in the park to help you get around. However, many travelers desire more in-depth information about Petra's history and hire a guide to get more out of their visit to Petra.
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.
Past travelers have spent, on average, JOD27 ($38) on meals for one day and JOD16 ($23) on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Petra for a couple is JOD84 ($118). So, a trip to Petra for two people for one week costs on average JOD1,242 ($1,750).
Wadi Musa – translated to the Valley of Moses – is a town that is set within a valley that surrounds the ancient city of Petra. With a large number of hotels and plenty of local restaurants to match, in recent years Wadi Musa has seen a tourism boom with visitors choosing to use the town as a base to explore Petra.