Things to Visit in Petra: Treasury, Tombs, and Desert Trails

The 1.2-km narrow canyon with walls rising 80 meters is the dramatic entrance to Petra. The first glimpse of the Treasury framed by the canyon walls is one of travel's most powerful moments. Start walking by 6 AM when gates open to experience the Siq without crowds.

This 40-meter carved facade is Petra's most iconic monument, built by the Nabataeans around the 1st century BCE as a royal tomb. The rose-pink sandstone glows warmest in morning light between 9-11 AM. The small plaza in front gets crowded by mid-morning with tour groups.

Past the Treasury, the canyon widens into a valley lined with dozens of carved tomb facades. The four massive Royal Tombs on the eastern cliff face are the most impressive: the Urn Tomb, Silk Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, and Palace Tomb. The Urn Tomb interior was converted to a Byzantine church.

This massive facade is even larger than the Treasury at 50 meters wide and 45 meters tall. The 45-minute climb up 800 rock-cut steps is strenuous but the monument and views from the top are extraordinary. A small cafe at the top sells drinks. Go in the afternoon when the facade catches golden light.

This mountaintop altar offers panoramic views over Petra's valley. The ascent starts near the theater and takes about 30 minutes up carved rock stairs. The sacrificial altar with its drainage channels is well preserved. Descend via the Wadi Farasa route to see the Lion Monument and Garden Tomb.

A lesser-known trail leads to a cliff directly above the Treasury, offering a bird's-eye view looking straight down at the carved facade. The trail starts behind the Royal Tombs and takes about 30 minutes. The view is one of the most dramatic perspectives in all of Petra.

This evening event illuminates the Siq with 1,500 candles leading to the Treasury, where a Bedouin musician performs by candlelight. The walk starts at 8:30 PM and the show lasts about 2 hours. Tickets cost 17 JOD and must be purchased in addition to the day pass.

A one-day pass costs 50 JOD, two days costs 55 JOD, and three days costs 60 JOD. The site is enormous and two days is the minimum to see the main highlights and one back trail. Three days allows a comfortable pace with time for all major hikes.

The site has minimal shade and temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees Celsius in summer. Water refill stations are available at the Basin restaurant near the Qasr al-Bint temple. Dehydration is the most common problem visitors face.

The terrain ranges from sandy paths to steep rock-cut stairs to loose gravel slopes. The climb to the Monastery and High Place of Sacrifice requires proper footwear. Sandals and flip-flops are inadequate for anything beyond the main trail to the Treasury.

The dramatic sandstone desert 1.5 hours south of Petra offers Bedouin camp experiences with jeep tours, camel rides, and stargazing. Overnight camps range from basic tents at 30 JOD to luxury bubble domes at 150-300 JOD per person including dinner and breakfast.

Siq al-Barid, 9 km north of Petra, is a smaller Nabataean site with carved facades, a painted ceiling dining room, and far fewer visitors. Entry is free and no ticket is needed. The site takes about 1 hour to explore.

The Dead Sea is a 3-hour drive north of Petra. The extreme salt content makes floating effortless. Public beaches on the Jordanian side charge 15-20 JOD including facilities. Limit your time in the water to 20 minutes.

Lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt sauce and served on a bed of rice and flatbread. It is traditionally eaten communally with the right hand. Restaurants in Wadi Musa serve it for 8-15 JOD. The tangy jameed yogurt sauce is deeply satisfying.

Tea brewed with fresh sage and heavily sweetened is the Bedouin welcome drink offered throughout Jordan. Locals near the Monastery and along hiking trails sell cups for 1-2 JOD. The sage adds a distinctive herbal note to the sweet black tea.

This traditional cooking method buries marinated chicken and vegetables in a sand-covered metal drum over hot coals for several hours. The slow cooking produces incredibly tender, smoky meat. Most Wadi Rum desert camps include zarb in their overnight packages.