Petra, the legendary lost city carved into the walls of a hidden desert canyon, is the most famous of Jordan’s many dazzling sites. This fascinating excursion is best reached from Israel via the Eilat/Aqaba border crossing. There are escorted bus tours that leave Eilat early in the morning, get you to Petra before noon, give you an hour to look around, and have you back at your hotel in Eilat by late afternoon. But for such a short tour, you might do better just watching a video. Petra is one of the wonders of the ancient world, and its antiquities, natural beauty, and ever-changing feel at different times of day are easily worth a stay of 1 to 3 nights or more. Really! The canyon city of Petra is vast, mysterious, and really demands at least one and up to 2 full days of exploring to get a feel for the atmosphere, to say nothing of the contents of the ruins. In addition, there are beautiful, affordable desert resorts only a few minutes from Petra, which make this a good place to relax and get away from it all.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
