Petra can be found in southwest Jordan, a couple of hours' drive north of Wadi Rum.
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Petra is gorgeous, but it's teeming with tour groups. Wadi Rum was much less crowded than Petra, and I found it to be a truly peaceful escape. It was more expansive, and I had no problems getting photos of the landscape without people in them.
Wadi Rum is also about a day's worth of touring, and because of the desert heat it is better to be able to get an early start. An itinerary I would recommend is (3 nights): Arrive in Jordan and go straight to Petra, spend the night in Petra. Spend a full day exploring Petra, spend the night in Petra.
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.
Our Petra & Wadi Rum Day Trip gives travelers staying in Amman and the Dead Sea the opportunity to see the wondrous sites of Jordan all in one day. This adventure will take you to two of the world's most impressive and unforgettable sites.
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. One day--or worse yet a morning or afternoon--is likely to bring some disappointment to those who have traveled a great distance.
In the heart of the Jordanian desert, Wadi Rum boasts towering cliffs, dark caverns, narrow gorges, impressive mountains, sweeping dunes, and refreshing springs. Even better: it suits not just those who are looking for beauty and solitude, but adrenaline junkies as well.
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.
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.
Due to the large size and diverse desert landscape of the Wadi Rum Desert, it is advisable to have a tour guide when exploring. The Wadi Rum desert is a dry valley covered mostly in sand and most often very hot and arid. It can be difficult to explore the area on one's own due to the harsh conditions and size.
First of all, on arrival at the Visitor's Center you will need to purchase a ticket to enter the Wadi Rum Protected Area. Adult tickets are 5JD and children under 12 enter for free. Visitors entering in 4WD rental cars will be asked to pay an additional 25JD, however non-4WD vehicles enter for free.
Part of the reason that camping in Wadi Rum is so affordable during the initial booking process is that the guides running the camps make a good chunk of their money selling Jeep tours and camel rides. This is simply part of the process, and nothing to be worried about at all–but it helps to know what to expect.
March and the two first weeks of November are the best months to visit Wadi Rum, as they are not too frequented and the weather is pleasant. But the best time to visit Wadi Rum depends also on your expectations; if you want to escape crowded times, you should come in winter or summer.
The most beautiful wadi of Jordan – Wadi MujibAt some point you really have to go swimming, as there is a steel cable along the wall that you 'have to' hold onto.
?45 JD per person (with lunch)Guides will either trek leading you with ropes or mounted on their own camel. *Please note evening camel rides are available but may cost extra.
Do I Need A Guide Or A Tour? You can totally visit Petra by yourself—we did! If you're visiting several areas in Jordan, a tour guide and driver may simplify things, but it's certainly not a requirement. You can consider hiring a guide at the entrance to Petra, which I would have considered if we'd had more time.
How much walking will I have to do to visit Petra? The archaeological site of Petra is pretty massive; it covers 60 square kilometres with differences in terrain and elevation. To walk from the Visitor Centre all the way to the Monastery (the “end” of the site) will take roughly 2 hours at a reasonable pace.
Adult tickets are 5JD and children under 12 enter for free. Visitors entering in 4WD rental cars will be asked to pay an additional 25JD, however non-4WD vehicles enter for free. Furthermore, if you have the Jordan Pass ticket you do not have to pay the entrance fee.
Taxi from Petra to Wadi RumThis should be somewhere between 35-40 JOD (after you've haggled) and since Petra welcomes many independent visitors, it's also possible to split the cost with other solo travellers.