The Siq
1.2 km approachA sandstone corridor barely three metres wide in places, walls rising 80 metres above the old Nabataean water channels.
Est. 4th century BC
A city cut backwardsinto the rock
The Nabataeans carved tombs, temples and cisterns out of living sandstone, then vanished into the desert trade routes. Petra is what they left behind.
Plan your visitHalf a day gets you to the Treasury. A full day gets you Petra.
The site covers some 264 square kilometres of canyon, ridge and open wadi. Most visitors turn back at Al-Khazneh, missing the colonnaded street, the Royal Tombs and the high place of sacrifice above them.
Start before seven, carry two litres of water per person, and keep the hardest climb for the cooler end of the afternoon.
- 8 km
- walked, minimum
- 45 m
- Treasury facade
- 800+
- carved monuments
Three things not to miss
Ad Deir
800 steps upThe Monastery is larger than the Treasury and far quieter. Climb late in the day and the whole facade turns amber.
Petra by Night
Mon · Wed · ThuFifteen hundred candles line the Siq to the Treasury, with Bedouin flute and rababa played in the sand.