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!