One day 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

      Enter at opening time to walk the Siq almost alone, and pause at each bend; the light changes the colour of the rock constantly. Allow 30–45 minutes each way.

   2. Late morning

      The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)

      The facade is in full sun from mid-morning; for a view from above, take the Al-Khubtha trail or the path from the Street of Facades. Allow 30 minutes.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mansaf

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

   4. Afternoon

      Royal Tombs

      Visit in the late afternoon, when the west-facing tombs glow orange in the sun. Allow 1 hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      The Monastery (Ad Deir)

      Start the climb in the afternoon, when the stairway is in shade, and stay for the light on the facade near sunset. Allow 2–3 hours including the climb.

   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.

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 6–7 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Petra
• 3 days in Petra

Questions travellers ask