While the Treasury and the Monastery may be the most famous places in Petra, there is a tonne more to Petra than just those two facades.
I spent two full days in the Rose Red city and in those two days, I did an absolute bucket-load of walking. I saw so much, and seemed to find myself silently in awe at least once every few hundred steps!
So, here is a little more of a glimpse into the Lost City of Petra and the magic that awaits you in Jordan.
As much as I am advocate for going it alone and travelling independently, I will be the first to admit that sometimes it does pay to have someone show you around! As such, I hired a private guide for a few hours one day to give me the lay of the land and to give me greater insight into the history of Petra.
Such guides cost around 40-50 JD which is steep for a budget backpacker, but it was worth every single dinar! I learned more than I ever could have hoped for, had a little help navigating some unofficial (and very scrambly) trails and he even helped me get a tonne of great photos!
I also really dislike carrying around guidebooks – so having a real human guide is a wonderful alternative, especially when in a place as rich with history as Petra.
You can see many of the main sights of Petra by staying on the main trail, but don’t be so quick to power along it!
Keep your eyes peeled for smaller facades, lightly trodden paths and narrow pathways – you never know what magic awaits.
The next few photographs are of the ‘Urn Tomb’.
Getting up to this tomb requires climbing a few sets of stairs, and if you have been reading all of my previous posts about Petra, you may be finding yourself thinking “holy crap, more stairs?!”
Believe me, the same thought crossed my mind more than a few times! However, every single time I climbed stairs in Petra I was rewarded with amazing views, so they are definitely worth the effort.
The tombs are at their most obviously impressive from the outside, but the interiors are nothing to sneeze at either.
The incredible swirls of red and orange is truly something that has to be seen to be believed – the pictures absolutely do NOT do it justice!
Petra is often referred to as the ‘Rose City’ and it isn’t hard to see why! However, despite red being the most prominently featured colour in the city, it is the hints of blue and purple that can be the most visually striking.
Another very prominent feature of Petra?
The wide variety of animals!
With everything from goats…
…to donkeys…
…an absolute tonne of camels…
…and even some super sweet doggos!
I spent two days exploring Petra, and in the process, I crossed something amazing off my (never ending) bucket list and made a tonne of incredible memories! I did not really want to leave Petra, but with only a few days left in Jordan, there was still so much I wanted to do with my Jordanian adventure.
Stay tuned for stories about camping in Wadi Rum and my failed attempt at a frolick in the Dead Sea!
As always, happy solo travelling! xx
THE LOWDOWN
Getting to Petra: Flights arrive to Amman from many airport hubs, from Amman you can drive or bus to Petra
Petra Gate Hostel: A basic but comfortable hostel – dorm beds start at $16/night
The Lost City of Petra: More information about ticket prices can be found here
Camera: Images captured with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 in conjunction with M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2/8 lens
Remember: Take spare memory cards and camera batteries – you WILL use them!
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Shireen Gheba and commented:
Always wanted to visit Petra. Here is some arm chair travel with a brave young girl doing it on her own.
Thank you for reblogging Shireen!
Its been a place where my husband and i always planned to go. Now he is no more. Thanks to u i had the trip. Love your travels.
You look like you had an amazing time! The photos are so beautiful and I’m even more excited to go, and I don’t even have any plans yet – I just want to see it for myself.
That is awesome to hear Sarah! Hopefully you start making plans for a Jordanian adventure very soon 🙂
Great photos as always Ellen! You look satisfied in the last photo, checked off!
Thanks John! I certainly was a happy little vegemite in that photo! Petra was just such an incredible travel experience!
Amaizing 😍
Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Petra has been on my list ever since I read a certain Tintin adventure…
😉
Thank you for reading! Do you have any plans to visit Petra in the near future?
No. Not really. We are a bit torn between France and Colombia, so our trips tend to center on one or the other, plus neighbouring countries time allowing. Now, lately I have been thinking seriously about S.E. Asia. (A mere 30 hours away from where we live…) 🙂
Be good.
Beautiful photos, having a guide is well worth it, gave us a ton of information before leaving us to explore on our own for awhile. Like you I kept saying “more stairs”, found it a bit tough but well worth it. Look forward to seeing your posts about Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
Hahaha! I am glad to hear that I am not the only person to find the stairs tough work!
Wonderful post. I love traveling and photography and let me tell you that this post made me really want to go to Petra😊😊
That is so lovely to hear! Do you have any plans for a Jordanian adventure?
The pictures look amazing!
Thank you so much!
Just stunning and breathtaking, such a marvelous place to explore.
Isn’t it just? As always, thanks so much for reading and commenting Terry 🙂
That picture of the cutaway mountain face of your Urn Tomb looks more impressive than the Treasury, in my opinion. Up close it’s looking a bit more worn away. Time, eh? Maybe that’s what you get for examining something too closely rather than just basking in its beauty.
No it certainly is a stunning facade! That is what makes Petra so interesting – incredible things around every corner!
As you have no doubt seen elsewhere, there are blue and purple roses as well, so the amazing colour schemes take nothing away from Petra’s moniker. There would be no end to my own amazement, at visiting that seat of grandeur.
2021 will be here before you know it!
what an experience!
Truly awesome, this is the dream destination of my wife! One day we will do it! Thanks for sharing!
I hope it is one day soon! Tourism numbers in Jordan are down a lot at the moment – making it the perfect time to go!
Loved the interior, looking out, shots (not easy to do) and intricate textures…thanks for this posting of Petra sights new to me.
Thank you so much Michael – it is always nice to hear people like my pictures 🙂
Wow! Quite impressive. And wandering off main trails is almost always a delight. –Curt
That it is – especially in a place as wonderful as Petra!
I loved the beautiful layers of color on the stone walls. I’m sure in person the colors were even more spectacular.
They really were! My pictures don’t do it justice at all!
Wow I would climbing into every little cave I saw. The place looks awesome
It really bloody is – such a cool spot for adventuring!
Love your photographs. The layer of colours on the rock that you captured are beautiful! Indeed it is easy to see why it is called ‘Rose City’. 🙂
Thank you Chester – it is always nice to hear that people like my pictures 🙂
More amazing pictures, Ellen! Now I am very curious about the geology of the Petra area. Those rocks are gorgeous! Our little planet is quite fascinating, and you are so wonderful to show me so many incredible places.
Aww shucks 🙂 any requests for future travels and blogs? Ha!
Have you ever been to the Himalaya area? One of my “bucket list” trips would be to trek to Everest base camp. Another place I was to see is Antarctica. And New Zealand, that looks so beautiful.
Thanks for the kind words. I will be honest. It is very hard to be a thinking, open minded person here in the US now. This government is a real nightmare. You are my getaway from the current reality. Thanks for your wonderful stories and adventures.
Wow, i really need to visit Petra soon! Looks amazing <3
It is an incredible place 💜
Again – gorgeous photos! This post made me so excited, as I have a trip to Jordan and Petra booked for next March and I literally *cannot* wait!
🙂
Lizzie
I’m going to Jordan next month and I can’t wait to visit Petra after reading your experience. Did you feel safe hiking alone? I’m thinking of doing what you did, hire a guide first and then go explore Petra again on my own, but I am terrible with maps and directions…