Easily the most famous of Jordan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the ancient city of Petra was originally the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. A city of sand and stone, its intricately carved temples and tombs were lost to the world for centuries due to changing trade routes. 

Today, it is listed as one of the world’s New 7 Wonders and attracts adventure seekers and history lovers from all corners of the globe. 

Archaeological Field Trip Summary

Petra makes for an amazing archaeological field trip to take with kids! Archaeological trips are field trips dealing with the material culture left behind by the people of the past. In Petra’s case, that’s largely the sandstone-carved facades of temples and tombs, but it also includes the smaller things that people left behind, like shards of pottery or Nabataean coins! 

Learn more about what makes archaeological field trips special

Where is Petra Located?

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What is Petra? (A brief history)

Today, all that remains of Petra are the ruins of a sprawling city, carved into the sides of sandstone cliffs. The city is filled with elaborately carved facades, complex hydrologic systems, and huge temples, but much of the city has been lost to the sands of time. 

Still, what we do know makes this city in the sands all the more impressive.

It’s unclear exactly how far back the history of Petra goes, but the earliest clear references to the city come from records of a Greek attack on the city in the year 312 BCE. At this point, Petra was already the capital of the Nabataeans, and wealthy due to its proximity to trade routes with the far east. 

Who were the Nabataeans?

The Nabataeans were one of the groups of Arabic Nomads who lived and moved through the regions between Persia, Babylon, and the Levant. It is uncertain where exactly they came from originally, though many theories abound. 

What is certain is that in the centuries leading up to the 1st century, the Nabataeans were a wealthy and powerful people group in the area. Much of that wealth was gained through trade along the Silk Road. As such, the Nabataeans had contact with a variety of outside cultures, and their architecture shows the influences of that contact. 

The city of Petra is located within a network of tall canyons that creates a natural barrier from attacks. Attacks like the one by the Greeks in 312 BCE happened, but they were always repelled by the strength of the Nabataeans and the natural defenses of Petra. 

However, while the details are unclear, Petra was eventually annexed into the Roman Empire in the year 106 CE, under the Roman Emperor Trajan. Even under Roman rule, Petra remained an important stop along the Silk Road. Even so, nothing lasts forever. 

With the rising capabilities of seafaring ships, trade routes like the silk road diminished in importance. Earthquakes in 363 CE crippled the systems for bringing water into the city. Petra’s importance waned.

As late as the 12th century, Petra and the surrounding areas were still in use. Crusaders built fortresses in the area but were forced out. Before long, the city was largely forgotten, except by those who lived nearby. 

This is why Petra is sometimes known as the “Lost City.”

Rediscovery 

In the year 1812, a Swiss man named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt heard rumors of a dead city and decided to seek it out. Since then, archaeologists have been working to explore and document the city, a task that continues until this day. 

What is a visit to Petra like? (Our Experience)

We stayed in the nearby town of Wadi-Musa, so we could get an early start on exploring the city, and we’re pretty thankful that we did. Despite doing research beforehand, we failed to grasp just how much walking we’d have to do to get around Petra. 

Over the course of the day my phone recorded nearly 18,000 steps over the seven hours, we were there, with my wife topping 21,000. We don’t have trackers for the kids, but since their legs are shorter than ours, I’m sure they easily topped 30k steps apiece! (Keep reading to see my tips on doing Petra with kids, or just skip there now)

Even though we spend a full 7 hours there, I feel like we just barely scratched the surface of everything there is to see. Remember, this is a full-on ancient city, not just a few temples in a historic district. Luckily, our kids are experienced explorers (so long as they don’t get bored), and we managed to have a great time even if we did misjudge how long it would take us. 

Because we were visiting in early March, the morning was cool, and I appreciated my jacket for the first part of the day, but by about 9:00 I ended up taking it off. 

A trip to Petra is, in many ways, like taking a trip back in time. Once we entered the city proper, it was easy to imagine being back in earlier times. Small stands selling trinkets and souvenirs lined the edges of the dirt roads with carved facades just behind them. Camels and donkeys regularly passed us in the street, offering rides for only a few dinars.  

Most pictures you see from Petra are either the Treasury or of the Monastery (Ad-Deir), but there’s a ton more to see, and less well-known spots are all over the place.

Which locations are my must-see spots in Petra?

There were only a handful of spots on our “must-see” list, all of which were along the Main Trail. 

The Siq

The Siq is the long, meandering canyon entrance to Petra. The sandstone walls, worn by wind and age, reminded me a lot of Antelope Canyon in Arizona, although the Siq is much wider, and is paved for ease of access. 

One of the more interesting features is a narrow channel carved into the sides of the wall, which were used to carry water down the canyon and into Petra itself. 

At different points through the canyon, remnants of beautiful carvings still remain, while others are almost completely worn away by time and wind. 

The Treasury

Carved in the 1st century BCE, the facade of the Treasury retains many of its intricate details more than 2000 years later. It is also probably one of the most well-known locations in all of Petra, since it has a history of being in the movies. 

This is the building seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, though there is no booby-trapped temple behind the facade. Visitors are not allowed inside, but even if they were, there’s not much to see. There are only three small chambers that were once used as a tomb. 

The Al Khubatha Trail (The Royal Tombs)

The Al Khubatha Trail was my family’s only real deviation from the Main Trail, but it ended up being one of my kids’ favorite spots. After crossing a small bridge and climbing up a short hill, you find yourself face to face with a number of beautifully carved tomb facades. 

The four grandest of these are the Royal Tombs, and they are well worth the climb! However, the reason my kids loved this section so much was for the smaller, less grand tombs. As there are no barriers here, we were able to walk into a few of them and peek around. 

The Colonnaded Street / The Great Temple

The Colonnaded Street is a short strip of paved road lined with the remnants of Roman columns. This would have been a major shopping strip during Petra’s glory days, and in modern times there are still a number of small shopping stalls where you can buy a reminder of your time here. 

Directly off one side of the Colonnaded Street sits the Great Temple. It is easily the largest of the temples in Petra and combines classic Nabataean architecture techniques with more classical (Greco-Roman) designs. It is thought to have been constructed around the end of the 1st century BCE. 

Ad-Deir (The Monastery)

The very end of the Main Trail marks the beginning of the Monastery Trail, which is composed of roughly a mile and a half of stairs. The official map says that it should take 2.5 to 3 hours of walking, however, my family managed it in just over an hour, including stopping for tea at two of the shops along the route. 

I highly recommend taking the journey, both for the sense of accomplishment and for the aforementioned tea, which is delicious. 

The Monastery itself is a magnificently carved cliff face, similar in style to the Treasury. There are far fewer people around, however, giving you plenty of time and space to admire it. Plus, there is a sandwich shop sitting just across from the Monastery that has cold water, tasty wraps, and shaded seats facing the cliff face.  

What other things can I see in Petra?

Bab al Siq and the Djinn Blocks

The Bab al Siq is a collection of carvings and tombs located between the Visitors Center and the Siq. The Djinn Blocks are large, squared-off monuments, while the Obelisk tomb has four obelisk-like pyramids called Nefesh above its entrance. 

The Dam 

Renovated in 1964, the Dam was used by the Nabataeans as a way of diverting the flow of water away from the Siq into other side canyons. This protected the Siq from flash floods during the yearly rain storms. 

This is also the area where an inscription was found that showed the original name of the city was Raqeem. Petra is the Greek name, and means “rock.” 

The Street of Facades

Just past the Treasury, the Street of Facades is a series of carved tombs lining the road leading into Petra proper. We peeked into a few but didn’t linger long, since the area is dominated by small street-side shops, and the tombs are less impressive than some of the others nearby. (Still impressive, though)

The Theater

This is a huge amphitheater built just off the main trail. It was capable of seating 4000 spectators, and, for me,  was probably one of the most readily visible signs of just how many people must have lived in Petra. 

Qasr al-Bint

The Qasr al-Bint temple is one of the areas in Petra that is still being actively restored by archaeologists. That said, it is still a very impressive sight. It looks very distinct from many of the other sites, as it is free-standing just off the street and not carved into a cliffside. 

The Church

Christianity made it to the area around 446 CE. The first Christians in the area converted the Urn Tomb into a church at first, but the Petra Church soon followed. The Petra Church has well-preserved examples of both floor and wall mosaics, as well as some excellent examples of church furniture made from marble.

And more!
Check out the official Visit Petra website for more detail on each site

Visiting Petra With Kids

Petra is an absolutely beautiful archaeological field trip site, with plenty of outdoor space for kids to run around and enormous carvings that are sure to impress! But, depending on your kids, it can also be a bit much, especially if you’re walking the whole way. 

My kids did fantastically, but all the walking took its toll, and by mid-morning, it was clear that their energy was running out. 

Here’s how we kept them going through the rest of the trip and finished strong:

Encourage kids to explore for themselves

While we spent most of our time walking the main trail, this was a particularly useful tactic on the Street of Facades and the path up to the Royal Tombs. In these areas, there are plenty of tombs with open doorways that you can peek inside! 

There’s not really anything inside the tombs, but my kids loved picking a doorway in the distance to explore and figuring out the best path to get there. 

Take rests when you need them

Did I mention that Petra was big?

Luckily, once you are past the Treasury, there are plenty of small shops selling water, juice, snacks, and souvenirs. These offer a perfect opportunity for breaking up your hike with a quick rest. 

Our favorite places were the shops on the stairs up to the Monastery. We were invited to sit down for tea several times along the hike, and each time we chose to stop and chat we left refreshed and ready for the next hike!

Bring Snacks!

Hiking is hungry work, and while there are plenty of places to grab snacks, a lot of what’s on offer is just convenience store fare. 

I brought a bag of the kids’ favorite cereal along with me for the kids to snack on as they walked, and it was amazing how effective it was at keeping them going. Trail mix or granola are other great options.

Make friends along the way

We lucked out a little here, but we bumped into another family with kids in the same age range as ours about halfway up the Monastery trail. All of a sudden, our kids went from tired to talking, and the second half of the trail went by in a flash!

Don’t skip the animal rides!

Getting from one end of Petra to the other was easy enough. After all, we started early in the day to avoid the heat, and we were exploring new sights the entire way in!

But the trip out was an absolute slog! 

Unfortunately, I was in the mindset of traveling on a limited budget, and so I didn’t spring for the camel ride back to the Treasury, but I should have, at least for the kids. 

Most of the animal handlers were offering a ride for about 5 dinars per rider, but I was hesitant to do that because I have heard that sometimes animal handlers will demand a large tip at the end and I didn’t want to deal with that. However, the walk back was longer than I remembered. 

A camel ride would have meant being able to spend more time exploring before turning back, many fewer complaints about tired legs, and would have been an additional great experience to boot!

Learn from my mistakes. Take the camel. (Or donkey, if you prefer!)

Do I need a guide for Petra?

The simple answer is no. There is plenty to see and explore on your own, and if you aren’t interested in getting a guide, there’s not really any reason to do so. 

The different sites inside Petra don’t have much in the way of informational signs, which can make it extremely difficult to figure out just what it is that makes each place interesting. So, if you want to learn as much as you can about the different sites inside of Petra and the people that called it home, getting a guide is the easiest way to get that information. 

Really, it comes down to what you want to get out of the experience.  

If you just want to admire the ancient architecture, chat with local shopkeepers, and get in a great hike, you don’t need a guide. If you want to make this a highly educational trip filled with information about the Nabataean culture that thrived here, getting a guide would definitely be helpful.

Need more help deciding if you want a guide?
Check out my articles on including guides in your family’s trip!

• How Including Experts Can Make a Field Trip Even More Special 

• The Guide to Guides: Should I Get One, or No? 

How long should I spend in Petra?

Whether you visit with a guide or without, I can attest that a single day really isn’t enough. We spent about 7 hours inside Petra and only saw the places listed as being on the main trail! 

We didn’t explore the inside of the Great Temple, and only walked one of the side trails. There’s still a ton left to do!

So, I can say with confidence, if you want to see it all, buy a 2 or 3-day ticket. Since the extra days only cost 5 dinar extra per day, extending your stay can be a great way to get your money’s worth

That said, if you’re just wanting to see the major sites, like the Treasury and the Monastery, you can probably manage it in a single day. Half a day, if you’re willing to pay for a ride.

Again, this all depends on how much you want to see and how quickly your family can get around, so manage your expectations accordingly. 

Where should I stay when visiting Petra?

Petra takes enough time to see that even if you’re only there for a single day, you’ll probably want to spend at least the night before your visit in the nearby town of Wadi Musa. 

Wadi Musa’s downtown is just outside the Petra Visitors Center, and no matter where you stay in town, you’ll only be a few minutes away from starting your Petra experience. 

There are plenty of hotels in Wadi Musa to choose from, in a wide range of prices. My family went the budget route during our visit and had a good experience at the Nomads Hotel Petra. The rooms were a bit small, but the public spaces were great, and we weren’t in town to stay in the hotel room! My kids particularly like playing foosball in the lobby. 

On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re looking to go all out on your trip, the Mövenpick Resort is easily the most luxurious spot in town! 

Mövenpick Resort is located just outside the Petra Visitors Center, eliminating the need to arrange transportation. The hotel itself has everything you need to have an enjoyable trip, with comfy beds, a choice of multiple on-site restaurants, a swimming pool, and a rooftop garden with a view of Petra’s hills! 

 It’s definitely the top choice for luxurious ways to visit the area.

Or, if you’re looking for something nicer than the budget travel options, but perhaps less extravagant than Mövenpick, Petra Moon Hotel does a great job of striking that balance. They cost less than half of the Mövenpick Resort rate but still have a location within walking distance of Petra’s entrance. 

They also have spacious rooms for larger families, a breakfast buffet, and can arrange transportation from either Aqaba or Amman for those who need it. 

The combination of good rooms and a great location at an affordable price has made it one of the highest-rated stays in Wadi Musa. 

Of course, if none of those options quite meet your expectations, there are an entire host of other hotels and apartments to choose from! I highly recommend using Booking.com to make sure you get the best possible accommodations for your trip. Not only do they have a wide variety of spots to choose from, but when things have gone wrong in the past, I’ve been very impressed with their customer service experience. 

As one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Petra has been on my list of places to visit since before I had ever left my home country! It always seemed like one of those places that would be nearly impossible to get to, unless you travel with someone like Indiana Jones.

However, with easy access from either end of Jordan and tons of lodging options nearby, Petra is one of the easier-to-reach sites that I’ve ever visited! If you’re interested in ancient ruins and fascinating histories, this is definitely a great place to put on your list.