Petra & Wadi Rum travel guide

Jordan

A rose-red city and a Martian desert, side by side.

In Jordan's south lie two of the Middle East's greatest wonders, easily combined: Petra, the 'rose-red city half as old as time', a vast Nabataean metropolis carved into pink sandstone canyons and reached through a mile-long slot gorge; and Wadi Rum, the towering red-sand desert

Petra & Wadi Rum — current status

Open. (Status checked 2026-08-30.)

Petra & Wadi Rum — TL;DR

Petra & Wadi Rum at a glance

What are the best things to do in Petra & Wadi Rum? Balance one or two headline sights with unhurried time in the neighbourhoods highlighted in this guide — that mix is what makes a Petra & Wadi Rum trip feel like more than a checklist.
How many days do you need in Petra & Wadi Rum? Three to four full days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Petra & Wadi Rum — enough to cover the main neighbourhoods on foot, sit down for two or three proper meals, and still keep a day…
When is the best time to visit Petra & Wadi Rum? March to May and September to November for warm days and cool nights, ideal for hiking Petra and exploring the desert.
Where should I stay in Petra & Wadi Rum for the first time? First-time visitors do best in one of the walkable central neighbourhoods covered in the Where to Stay section of this guide — the ones that put you within a short walk of dinner and public transport.
How do you get around Petra & Wadi Rum? A hire car or driver is the easiest way to link Petra, Wadi Rum and beyond (they are about an hour apart).

Petra & Wadi Rum overview

March to May and September to November for warm days and cool nights, ideal for hiking Petra and exploring the desert. Summer is very hot; winter nights in the desert are cold. Petra by Night runs on select evenings year-round.
A hire car or driver is the easiest way to link Petra, Wadi Rum and beyond (they are about an hour apart). Within Petra you explore on foot (with optional horse, donkey or golf cart); Wadi Rum is toured by Bedouin 4x4, camel or on foot from the camps.
Jordanian Dinar (JD)
Arabic. English is widely spoken in tourism.
UTC+3
A boom in design-led desert camps in Wadi Rum, from Martian domes to luxury bubbles; better dining and boutique stays in Petra's Wadi Musa town; a growing focus on Bedouin-led, sustainable experiences; and stargazing tourism drawing astronomers to the dark desert skies.

Where to eat, drink & do in Petra & Wadi Rum

Petra & Wadi Rum neighborhoods

Petra Archaeological Park The vast rock-cut Nabataean city itself, from the Siq gorge and the Treasury to the Monastery high above, spread across canyons and ridges. A full day, at least, on foot.
Wadi Musa (Petra town) The town at Petra's gate, of hotels, restaurants and shops climbing the hillside above the site entrance. The base for visiting Petra.
Wadi Rum Protected Area The great red desert of towering sandstone jebels, dunes and rock bridges, dotted with Bedouin camps. A place to explore by day and sleep under the stars.
Wadi Rum Village & camp zones The small village at the desert's edge and the scattered camp areas within it, where the desert experience is based. Where journeys into the sand begin.

Practical info for Petra & Wadi Rum

Getting around in Petra & Wadi Rum? A hire car or driver is the easiest way to link Petra, Wadi Rum and beyond (they are about an hour apart).
When to go in Petra & Wadi Rum? March to May and September to November for warm days and cool nights, ideal for hiking Petra and exploring the desert. Summer is very hot; winter nights in the desert are cold. Petra by Night runs on select evenings year-round.
What's changing now in Petra & Wadi Rum? A boom in design-led desert camps in Wadi Rum, from Martian domes to luxury bubbles; better dining and boutique stays in Petra's Wadi Musa town; a growing focus on Bedouin-led, sustainable experiences; and stargazing tourism drawing astrono
Seek out The High Place of Sacrifice & back trails (Petra) in Petra & Wadi Rum? Petra's quieter trails — to the High Place of Sacrifice or the back route to the Monastery — reward hikers with solitude, ruins and staggering views far from the crowds.
Base yourself in Petra Archaeological Park in Petra & Wadi Rum? The vast rock-cut Nabataean city itself, from the Siq gorge and the Treasury to the Monastery high above, spread across canyons and ridges. A full day, at least, on foot. Known for nabataean tombs, canyons, history.

Frequently asked questions about Petra & Wadi Rum

What are the best things to do in Petra & Wadi Rum? Balance one or two headline sights with unhurried time in the neighbourhoods highlighted in this guide — that mix is what makes a Petra & Wadi Rum trip feel like more than a checklist. Book any high-demand entries in advance, keep evenings loose for a proper dinner, and leave at least one afternoon completely unplanned for the small discoveries Petra & Wadi Rum tends to reward.
How many days do you need in Petra & Wadi Rum? Three to four full days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Petra & Wadi Rum — enough to cover the main neighbourhoods on foot, sit down for two or three proper meals, and still keep a day for a nearby day-trip or a slow morning. Extend to five or six days if you plan to combine the city with the surrounding region.
When is the best time to visit Petra & Wadi Rum? March to May and September to November for warm days and cool nights, ideal for hiking Petra and exploring the desert. Summer is very hot; winter nights in the desert are cold. Petra by Night runs on select evenings year-round.
Where should I stay in Petra & Wadi Rum for the first time? First-time visitors do best in one of the walkable central neighbourhoods covered in the Where to Stay section of this guide — the ones that put you within a short walk of dinner and public transport. Avoid staying next to the main transit hubs unless convenience trumps atmosphere for your trip.
How do you get around Petra & Wadi Rum? A hire car or driver is the easiest way to link Petra, Wadi Rum and beyond (they are about an hour apart). Within Petra you explore on foot (with optional horse, donkey or golf cart); Wadi Rum is toured by Bedouin 4x4, camel or on foot from the camps.

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