Month guide · Petra · Jordan
Petra in January
What January is really like in Petra: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Azurfrog, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 5 rainy days and roughly 10.4 hours of daylight. Cold, with frosty mornings and occasional rain or even snow; the site is quiet, but pack warm layers.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 5
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Petra: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 5 of its 31 days. Compared with December (13°C (55°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 14°C (57°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:35
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:59
- Daylight
- About 10.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold mornings, occasional rain and rare snow, but quiet trails and lower hotel prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in April). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Petra, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
Royal Tombs
Visit in the late afternoon, when the west-facing tombs glow orange in the sun.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Views
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
The Monastery (Ad Deir)
Reached by a stairway of about 800 rock-cut steps from the end of the Colonnaded Street, the Monastery is a facade nearly 50 metres high and wide, larger than the Treasury and carved in the 1st century AD.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the climb
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Petra Archaeological Park
High Place of Sacrifice
Do the loop in the morning, climbing from the theatre end and descending through Wadi Farasa to Qasr al-Bint.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Petra Archaeological Park
Al-Khubtha trail and Treasury viewpoint
Steps behind the Royal Tombs climb Jabal al-Khubtha to a ledge looking straight down on the Treasury from above, one of the most dramatic views in Petra.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 3°C and 5 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Petra?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, March–May and October–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Petra in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Petra?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, with frosty mornings and occasional rain or even snow; the site is quiet, but pack warm layers.
+How warm is Petra in January?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Petra in January?
Expect rain on about 5 days of the month.