Petra is not a site you can zip around quickly. The main entrance is at Wadi Musa town, and the route from the Visitor Centre to the Treasury via the Siq alone is about 1.2 km on foot each way. Getting to the Monastery adds another 850 steps of climbing on top of that. Knowing your options before you arrive saves both time and money.
Entry Tickets and Opening Hours
The Petra Visitor Centre is on the main road through Wadi Musa town. Opening hours as of 2026 are 06:00 to 18:00 in summer (April to October) and 06:00 to 16:00 in winter (November to March). The site does not enforce a strict exit time if you are already inside, but guides and services wind down as the sun drops.
Ticket prices as of 2026 (approximate):
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | JOD 50 |
| 2 days | JOD 55 |
| 3 days | JOD 60 |
| Jordan Pass (all 3 days) | Included in pass |
| Children under 12 | Free |
The Jordan Pass is almost always worth buying if you are spending at least three nights in Jordan. It bundles a 1, 2, or 3-day Petra entry with visa-on-arrival waiver (worth JOD 40) and access to 40+ other sites. Buy it online at visitjordan.com before you travel.
Guides can be hired at the Visitor Centre from approximately JOD 50 for a half-day up to JOD 80 for a full day. Official rates are posted at the centre. Guides are not compulsory but add significant context to the Royal Tombs and High Place of Sacrifice.
The Horse Ride at the Entrance
Before you even reach the Siq, you will be offered a horse ride. The horses cover the 800-metre stretch from the Visitor Centre gate down to the Siq entrance. The official rate is approximately JOD 5 to 7 per person one-way.
We recommend walking this stretch instead. The road is flat, well-shaded in the morning, and takes about 10 minutes on foot. The ride is fast and somewhat chaotic, and you miss the sandstone hills on either side that hint at the landscape ahead. If you have reduced mobility, the horse ride is the main option here since the electric cars do not cover this section.
Walking the Site
On foot is how most people experience Petra, and for good reason. The main route runs about 10 to 12 km in total if you include the Monastery. The terrain varies considerably:
- Visitor Centre to Siq entrance: flat, 800 m, 10 minutes
- The Siq: 1.2 km of narrow canyon, flat to gently descending, 20 to 30 minutes
- Treasury to Street of Facades and Royal Tombs: mostly flat, 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on how long you stop
- Colonnaded Street to the Monastery (Al Deir): 850 steps carved into the hillside, 45 to 60 minutes up
- Return to Visitor Centre: retracing the Siq, 20 to 30 minutes
Wear closed-toe shoes with grip. The Siq floor is uneven in sections and can be slippery if it has rained. The Monastery climb is strenuous but entirely walkable with short rest stops along the way.
Electric Cars (Golf Carts)
Electric cars run between the Siq exit (near the Treasury) and the Colonnaded Street basin. They are used primarily by visitors with limited mobility, older travellers, or those who have run out of time and need to exit quickly.
The cost is approximately JOD 5 to 10 per person one way. Cars seat 4 to 6 and run on demand - approach the drivers near the Treasury or at the far end of the Colonnaded Street. The route covers about 700 metres of the main site road and is not available for the Siq or the Monastery climb.
Donkeys and Camels
Donkey rides are offered at the Royal Tombs area for the climb toward the High Place of Sacrifice. Camels are more of a photo opportunity near the Treasury than a practical transport option. Both are offered by local Bedouin operators and are priced by negotiation, typically JOD 10 to 20 for a short ride.
We have found these add-ons are not necessary for most visitors. The main Petra trails are perfectly manageable on foot, and the animals are sometimes in poor condition. If you choose to use a donkey for the High Place climb, agree on the price clearly before you start.
Little Petra as a Day Extension
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) sits 8 km north of the main Petra entrance and is free to enter. It is a smaller Nabataean settlement with carved facades, a painted dining chamber, and far fewer crowds than the main site. Most visitors do it as a separate half-morning trip rather than a walk from the main site.
Shared taxis from Wadi Musa town to Little Petra cost approximately JOD 5 to 8 per person. Taxis back can be arranged on the spot or pre-booked with your driver. The site itself takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to explore on foot. A Jordan Pass does not cover Little Petra but it is free regardless.
The most efficient plan is: start the main Petra site at 06:00, exit around 15:00, then drive to Little Petra for a late afternoon visit before returning to Wadi Musa for dinner.
Practical Tips for the Day
Bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person - more in summer when temperatures in the gorge reach 35 to 38°C by midday. There are water and snack sellers inside the site but prices are high. A sun hat is essential outside the shaded Siq sections.
ATMs are available at Wadi Musa town before the Visitor Centre. Inside the site, vendors accept Jordanian dinar only. Credit cards are not accepted at most stalls inside the archaeological zone.
Start as early as possible. The first hour after opening, when the light catches the Treasury from the Siq exit, is the most photogenic moment of the day and the least crowded.