Petra was the reason I travelled to Jordan. I’d seen the Rose City in documentaries, books, travel feeds and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but nothing prepared me for the moment I walked through the Siq and saw the Treasury for the first time. It felt completely unreal... like I’d stepped into a film set, except this ancient city was very much real.

What surprised me even more was just how enormous Petra is. Over two days, I walked 26 kilometres and still felt like I’d barely scratched the surface. And while Petra can be busy, there are ways to experience this incredible ancient city with fewer people around... including one strategy that gave me several precious minutes at the Treasury almost completely alone.

In this episode of Tourist to Traveller, I’m sharing my practical guide to visiting Petra, Jordan, including how long you need, where to stay, when to visit, how to avoid the biggest crowds, what to see beyond the Treasury, and the things I wish I’d known before arriving.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why Petra is so much more than the famous Treasury
• How many days you really need to explore Petra
• The best strategy for experiencing the Treasury without the crowds
• Why the Monastery is worth the hike
• The best times of day for exploring and photography
• Whether Petra by Night is worth adding to your itinerary
• Important safety considerations, including heat and flash flooding
• Why I don't recommend supporting animal tourism in Petra
• Where to stay in Wadi Musa
• My top tips for making the most of your Petra experience

Helpful Resources & Links

The Ultimate Petra Jordan Travel Guide
I've also written a detailed Guide to Visiting Petra, Jordan, including where to stay, what to see, what to pack and how to plan your time.

Keep Planning Jordan
Continue your Jordan adventure with my Wadi Rum Travel Guide and Dead Sea Jordan Guide.

Connect & Explore

Find destination guides, travel planning resources and more at touristtotraveller.com, and follow along on Instagram @_touristtotraveller for behind-the-scenes planning and future travel inspiration.