There are many places around our world that may be considered dangerous due to political turmoil or civil unrest.
As travelers, safety is most definitely a huge concern and nothing that is taken lightly.
While there may be some issues with traveling to some of its neighboring countries, Jordan itself is on good terms with everyone.
From our experience, Jordan felt safe to travel to and explore within.
Initially, our bucket list consisted of a visit to Petra, but after spending three days in Jordan, we were introduced to much more.
There are so many reasons why Petra is worth visiting and this article will make you want to pack your bags and go now!
Is Petra Worth Visiting?
Upon our recent return from visiting the Middle East, a friend asked: “Is Petra worth visiting?”
Just like other avid travelers and those that know of the Seven Wonders Of The World, she has seen plenty of photos of The Treasury at Petra and wondered if there was anything more to Petra.
Of course, The Treasury has achieved it’s fame thanks to being the very first structure you see as you walk through the narrow path carved through towering cliffs.
It is quite majestic to see it appear slowly through the crack as if the curtain is being pulled open to start the show.
So, yes. Petra is worth visiting. You just need to think and feel deeper. Otherwise, you might just want to stick to going to the movies or a theme park.
I don’t mean to be harsh, but if you’re looking to be entertained, this may not be the place for you.
If you’re looking for something that is REAL but feels like it came from a scene out of a movie like Indiana Jones, then you’ll be thrilled.
Things to Do in Petra
I was recently reading a blog post about visiting Petra, and there were tons of really great comments at the end.
There was, however, one person who commented that they thought Petra was “just some old rocks.” I guess this is true. In essence, it’s a city formed from carved rock, and it is VERY old.
If you think of the world in that simplified and unemotional way you would probably say that the Grand Canyon is also a bunch of old rocks, and I assume, you would also say that the Pyramids of Giza are just a pile of old rocks, too.
I’d like to think that my travel expectations go deeper than your average vacationer. When I travel, I’m not looking to be entertained. I’m not looking for anything.
More and more, when I travel, I allow myself to be enlightened by the place itself.
It’s inevitable to have some sort of assumption, though, with the availability of photos and videos on the internet.
At times, these images may not convey the truth about a place thanks to editing software and manipulation of some form.
So it’s understandable for some to have doubts about whether a particular “popular” destination will actually live up to its hype.
When it came to my travel to Petra, the reason was simple. It is one of the Seven World Wonders, and the one picture of the Treasury had me captivated.
I had no idea that there was a whole city formed from the rocks.
I had no concept of how well hidden Petra is when looked at from a distance (it’s impossible to see from afar that an entire city exists!).
Did I know of the genius architecture of waterways and channel systems that provided life in this area? No.
To read the facts in a book or online is one thing. To see what remains of a civilization from over 2000 years ago and imagine the greatness of what it was, is staggering.
As far as there being more to see that The Treasury: Yes. There is a lot to see at Petra. I would even say that one entire day is not enough time.
I, personally, wish I had another day or two to be able to really take it all in.
Other things to see in Petra include:
- The Monastery
- The Royal Tombs
- The Theatre
- Street of Facades
- Colonnaded Street
- High Place of Sacrifice
By the way, tourism in Jordan is down right now, and this means fewer crowds for those visiting.
So, if you’ve been pondering traveling to this area, now is the best time to visit Jordan. With fewer tourists, your visit to Petra will, undoubtedly, be more enjoyable.
Best Time to Visit Petra
In speaking with our tour guide as well as our own personal experience, we can say that March is the best time to visit Petra.
Spring, in general, is a good time to visit Petra because the temperatures are more mild and comfortable for being outdoors and sightseeing.
We dressed in layers because the early morning hours are a bit cold. Having a shawl was perfect as it allowed for some versatility (and wasn’t bulky).
Most of the day we were comfortable walking around in a T-Shirt. I think that covering your head is also a good idea.
If you plan to go all day, having a hat on will keep you cool and keep the sun out of your eyes.
How to Get to Petra from Amman
You can visit Petra by directly flying into Amman and staying there a couple of nights before making your way south. Petra is about three hours from Amman via The Desert Highway.
We highly recommend staying at a nearby Bedouin camp to enhance your desert experience.
Taxi is probably the best and most comfortable way to get to Petra from Amman.
There is also the more budget-friendly option of taking a bus. You can catch the bus to Petra from Amman Bus Station.
We didn’t know what to expect from a Bedouin camp but were pleasantly surprised at the “Glamping” experience it provided us.
The camp where we spent two nights provided us very comfortable accommodations. Our Yurt had a comfortable king size bed and electricity (except for overnight).
There were clean and comfortable hot showers and toilets on the property. The hospitality and food were absolutely perfect!
Obviously, having WiFi was the best part since it allowed us to share our photos and videos with friends and relatives back home.
Here is the Bedouin camp we stayed in near Petra:
If you prefer a hotel, we recommend Candles Hotel or the Petra Marriott Hotel.
Our tour was made through Abraham Tours in Jerusalem.
From Jerusalem we were taken to the Allenby Bridge (in Jordan it is known as the King Hussein Bridge) and started our tour from there to Amman.
After visiting Wadi Rum, on our third day, we drove to Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein Crossing and crossed back into Israel.
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