Solo travel · Petra · Jordan
Solo travel in Petra
How to enjoy Petra at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Susanahajer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Petra is easy to visit alone: the main trail is clear, hotels in Wadi Musa are used to solo travellers and you are rarely far from other walkers. Many solo travellers base themselves in Wadi Musa town centre.
Key facts
- Base
- Wadi Musa town centre
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 911
- Language
- Arabic and English
Solo travel tips
- Hire a licensed guide at the Visitor Centre for the High Place, the back trail or Jabal Haroun rather than hiking remote trails alone.
- Tell your hotel which trail you are taking and when you expect to return.
- A firm, friendly 'La, shukran' handles most offers of rides and souvenirs.
- Women travelling alone may receive persistent attention from some ride and tea sellers; joining a small group can help.
- Budget hotels in Wadi Musa town centre often arrange shared transport to Wadi Rum.
Where to stay
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
Wadi Musa town centre
The centre of Wadi Musa, about 2 km uphill from the gate around the main roundabout, holds most of the area's budget hotels, local restaurants, bakeries and grocery shops. Hotels usually offer a shuttle to the entrance, or a taxi takes a few minutes.
- Good
- Lowest prices; Everyday local restaurants; Shuttles to the gate
- Watch out
- Steep walk back from the site; Plain, functional streets
- Nearby
- Ain Musa, Petra Visitor Centre
Great on your own
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Kids
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)
Start the climb in the afternoon, when the stairway is in shade, and stay for the light on the facade near sunset.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the climb
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
Street of Facades and the Theatre
Look at the back wall of the theatre, where cut-through tomb interiors show how the cliff was reshaped.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint
Rest in the shade near Qasr al-Bint before starting the Monastery steps, and refill your water there.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
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
Meeting people
- Bedouin camp dinner — Camps near Little Petra serve zarb lifted from the sand pit, with salads, rice and Bedouin tea around a fire, often with music afterwards.
- Tea at a viewpoint — Small Bedouin tea stalls sit at viewpoints inside Petra, including above the Treasury and near the Monastery; a glass of sage tea is the traditional reward after a climb.
Sensible precautions
The main risks are heat, dehydration and falls on steep, unfenced trails, especially in the heat of the day. Sellers offering donkey, camel and horse rides can be persistent; ride only on animals that look healthy and agree prices first.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Staying connected
- Local SIM cards from Zain, Orange and Umniah work in Wadi Musa; signal is patchy in parts of the site.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Petra good for solo travellers?
Petra is easy to visit alone: the main trail is clear, hotels in Wadi Musa are used to solo travellers and you are rarely far from other walkers.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Petra?
Wadi Musa town centre: Budget hotels, shawarma shops and the central roundabout.