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SightJordan

Petra

The Nabataean city in Jordan's rose-colored rock: the narrow Siq gorge, the Treasury's carved facade and some 800 steps up to the Monastery.

In a niche of rose-red sandstone in the Siq, Petra

What it is

Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, which flourished around the turn of the Common Era. The Nabataeans controlled caravan routes and carved temples and tombs into reddish-pink sandstone. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You enter through the Siq, a winding gorge about 1.2 km long that opens onto the facade of the Treasury (Al-Khazneh).

When and how

The main sights take a full day, ideally two. Beyond the Treasury, walk to the Royal Tombs and climb to the High Place of Sacrifice and the Monastery (Ad Deir), about 800 steps up. Spring and autumn are best; summers are very hot, winters rainy with cold nights. The Jordan Pass simplifies tickets. A few evenings a week, Petra by Night lights the Siq and the Treasury square with candles.

Tip

Arrive at opening time, when the Treasury is almost empty and the light in the Siq is soft. Good shoes and plenty of water are essential: 15 km a day is easy to clock up.