Petra and Wadi Rum are the two great sights of southern Jordan, and they work best as a pair: two days of carved tombs and canyon walks, then a night in the desert. Here is how to plan a first visit without wasting time.
Travel conditions in 2026
Petra, Little Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman and Aqaba are open and operating normally. Regional tensions since late 2023 have kept visitor numbers well below their peak, so the sites are quieter than in record years, and some hotels in Wadi Musa have closed or reduced their operations. Government travel advice for Jordan was revised several times during 2026, so check your own government’s current advice and your travel insurance before you book, and choose flexible bookings where you can.
Buy the Jordan Pass first
If you are spending at least a few nights in Jordan, the Jordan Pass is usually the best deal. It bundles Petra entry for one, two or three days with entry to Wadi Rum and many other sites, and can cover the tourist visa fee for qualifying stays. Buy it online before you fly and carry it on your phone or printed. It does not include Petra by Night, which needs its own ticket.
How many days?
Give Petra two full days if you possibly can. Day one covers the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the theatre, the Royal Tombs and the High Place of Sacrifice loop; day two is for the Monastery climb, or the back trail from Little Petra to the Monastery with a guide. Then give Wadi Rum an afternoon and one night in a camp. Add a night in Aqaba at the end if you want the Red Sea.
What to book ahead
Your Wadi Rum camp, especially if you want a dome; a jeep tour of four hours or more; your hotel in Wadi Musa; and any private driver for the long road transfers. Petra tickets and Petra by Night tickets can be bought on the day at the visitor centre.
Getting there from Amman
Petra is about three hours south of Amman by road. Most visitors use a private driver or join a tour; there is also the JETT bus, and some travellers rent a car, which is straightforward on the main highways. A Petra day trip from Amman is possible but long, and visitors who do not spend a night in Jordan pay a higher Petra entry rate. If at all possible, sleep in Wadi Musa.
Getting there from Aqaba
Aqaba has its own airport and is the southern gateway: Wadi Rum is about an hour away and Petra about two. A good loop is Amman to Petra, Petra to Wadi Rum, Wadi Rum to Aqaba, then fly or drive out.
Inside Petra
The site opens early, around 06:30 in winter. Be at the gate at opening for an empty Siq and soft light on the Treasury, then push deep into the site before the groups arrive mid-morning. It is about two kilometres from the gate to the Treasury and much further to the Monastery, and the walk out is uphill, so pace yourself. Licensed guides can be hired at the visitor centre and are worth it for the first morning.
Petra by Night
The candlelit walk through the Siq to the Treasury runs Sunday to Thursday evenings and was reimagined in 2025 with projection mapping. Go on your first evening in Wadi Musa.
Little Petra and the museum
Little Petra, fifteen minutes north, is free and quiet, with a rare painted Nabataean ceiling. The Petra Museum beside the visitor centre gives an hour of context and stays open into the evening.
Wadi Rum
Cars stay at the village; local Bedouin guides take you out by jeep, camel or on foot. Go in the afternoon, finish at a sunset viewpoint and spend the night in camp for dinner and the stars. Nights from November to March are cold, so bring warm layers.
Practical tips
Wear sturdy shoes, carry water and sun protection year-round, and dress modestly in towns. Bring cash in Jordanian dinars for tips, tea stalls and taxis. Walking is better than riding the donkeys on the steep stairways. Plan for the uphill walk back to the gate at the end of each Petra day.
Where to stay
For Petra, sleep in Wadi Musa as close to the gate as your budget allows. For Wadi Rum, sleep in a camp. Our where-to-stay guide compares the options.
