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Nothing prepares you for the moment the Siq opens and the Treasury appears, carved forty metres up a rose-coloured cliff face. Petra is Jordan's crown jewel and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. This guide covers the history, how to do the site justice on foot, and how to keep maps, tickets and photos working with a Jordan travel eSIM.
The City the Nabataeans Carved From Rock
Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, a people who grew wealthy controlling the incense and spice caravans crossing Arabia over two thousand years ago. Rather than building their monuments, they carved them directly into the sandstone cliffs: tombs, temples, an amphitheatre and elaborate facades like the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) and the Monastery (Ad-Deir). The city faded after Roman annexation and earthquakes, was known locally for centuries, and was introduced to European readers by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
Walking Petra Properly
- The Siq to the Treasury: the essential walk, about 20 minutes through a winding canyon that ends at the most famous facade on Earth.
- The Street of Facades and the Theatre: the main valley beyond, lined with tombs.
- The Monastery: roughly 800 steps up, best in late afternoon light, and quieter than the Treasury.
- The High Place of Sacrifice: a stiff climb rewarded with the best panorama of the whole site.
- Allow two days if you can. Petra is vast, and single-day visitors see a fraction of it. The Jordan Pass bundles entry with the tourist visa for most nationalities and pays for itself quickly.
Practical Tips
- Start at dawn. The site opens early, the Treasury glows in morning light, and the heat builds fast.
- Carry more water than you think you need. Distances inside Petra are longer than any map suggests.
- Spring and autumn are ideal. Summer afternoons are punishing, and winter can be surprisingly cold at night.
- Petra by Night runs several evenings a week, with the Siq and Treasury lit by candles.
Staying Connected in Jordan
You will want data in Jordan more than you expect: navigation between Amman, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Petra, ride-hailing in the capital, digital tickets and the Jordan Pass on your phone, and translation when bargaining in souks. Mobile coverage in Jordan is good along the main tourist corridor, including Wadi Musa, the town at Petra's gate.
A SimplySIM Jordan eSIM is delivered by email in minutes and activates when you land. Your UK SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, so WhatsApp and banking apps carry on as normal while the eSIM handles data at local rates. See plans on the Jordan eSIM page, and if your trip continues into Egypt or the Gulf, compare the regional and global eSIMs so one plan covers the whole route.
The Classic Jordan Week
- Days 1-2: Amman and Jerash
- Day 3: the Dead Sea
- Days 4-5: Petra, with an early start on day one and the Monastery on day two
- Day 6: Wadi Rum, ideally overnight in a desert camp
- Day 7: Aqaba and the Red Sea before flying home
Final Thoughts
Petra rewards time, water and an early alarm. Handle the connectivity before you fly with a Jordan travel eSIM, and the desert logistics take care of themselves.
