2 days in Petra

Day by day

1. Day 1: The Siq and The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)

   The Siq, The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Royal Tombs and The Monastery (Ad Deir), then Petra by Night in the evening.

   1. Morning

      The Siq

      Along the sides run the channels the Nabataeans cut to carry water into the city, and niches that once held carved deities. The path is reached from the gate past the Djinn Blocks and the Obelisk Tomb.

   2. Late morning

      The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)

      Its name comes from a legend that treasure was hidden in the urn at the top, which is pockmarked by bullets fired to break it open. It featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mansaf

      Traditional restaurants in Wadi Musa and at hotel buffets; often prepared to order for groups.

   4. Afternoon

      Royal Tombs

      Carved into the face of Jabal al-Khubtha, the Royal Tombs include the Urn Tomb, with its vaulted terrace later used as a Byzantine church, the small Silk Tomb with swirling bands of red, yellow and white sandstone, the Corinthian Tomb and the multi-storey Palace Tomb.

   5. Late afternoon

      The Monastery (Ad Deir)

      Viewpoints a short walk beyond look over Wadi Araba towards the Negev.

   6. Evening

      Petra by Night

      Walk at the front or back of the group for the quietest Siq, and bring a torch for the uneven path.

2. Day 2: Street of Facades and the Theatre and Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint

   Street of Facades and the Theatre, Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint, High Place of Sacrifice and Al-Khubtha trail and Treasury viewpoint, then Petra by Night in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Street of Facades and the Theatre

      Tomb chambers were sliced through when the upper seating was cut.

   2. Late morning

      Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint

      Restaurants and toilets near the end of the street mark the start of the Monastery climb.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Maqluba

      Family-style restaurants and cooking classes in Wadi Musa.

   4. Afternoon

      High Place of Sacrifice

      The descent through Wadi Farasa passes the Lion Fountain, the Garden Tomb and the Roman Soldier Tomb before rejoining the main valley.

   5. Late afternoon

      Al-Khubtha trail and Treasury viewpoint

      The trail is steep but short, and few visitors make the effort.

   6. Evening

      Petra by Night

      Walk the candle-lit Siq together to the Treasury for music under the stars.

Before you go

• Petra by Night: It runs only on certain evenings and needs a separate ticket; check the schedule locally when you arrive.

If it rains

• Swap in Petra Museum (Visitor Centre area): Visit on your first afternoon to understand what you will see in the Siq and the city centre the next morning.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–14 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.2 hours in December to 14.1 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking is the only way to see Petra properly.

More or fewer days

• One day in Petra
• 3 days in Petra

Questions travellers ask