Petra walking tour & city guide

Through the Siq to the Treasury

The walk into Petra is part of the experience. From the visitor centre, a path leads past the first tombs to the Siq, a winding gorge more than a kilometre long whose walls rise high overhead and close in to just a few metres apart. At its end, the facade of the Treasury, Al-Khazneh, appears through the gap, glowing in the morning light.

Beyond the Treasury the valley opens up: the Street of Facades, a theatre carved from the rock, the great Royal Tombs set into the cliff, and a colonnaded street that leads to the ruins of temples and markets. The Monastery, Ad Deir, is reached by a long climb of around 800 rock-cut steps and is one of the most impressive monuments in the site.

A classic walk: the Siq, the Royal Tombs and the Al-Khubtha trail

Arrive at opening time, when the Siq is quiet and the light on the Treasury is best. Continue down the main trail past the theatre to the Royal Tombs, then take the Al-Khubtha trail, which climbs the mountain behind the tombs to a viewpoint high above the Treasury, looking straight down at its facade.

If you have the energy, end the day with the climb to the Monastery or return later in the week for Petra by Night, when the Siq and the square in front of the Treasury are lit by candles on selected evenings.

Good to know

Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer middays are hot, and winter mornings can be cold. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a two- or three-day ticket, or the Jordan Pass, lets you explore without rushing. Wear good shoes and carry water, as walking distances inside the site are long. Wadi Musa has hotels, simple restaurants and shops, and nearby Little Petra, Siq al-Barid, is a quieter site in the same style. Check current travel advice before you go.