Petra scams and safety: what to watch for

Petra is a safe place to visit. The things that go wrong here are mostly small and predictable — an inflated ride price, a pushy offer of a guide — or physical: heat, slippery steps and, in winter, floods. Knowing what to expect takes most of the stress away.

Ride prices and haggling

Fares are set by the Petra authority but are almost always negotiated in practice. These are the prices you should expect, so you can recognise a bad offer:

• Agree the price and the route out loud before you get on. "Twenty JOD to the Monastery, one way, total" leaves no room for a surprise at the top.
• Ask whether the price is per person or per animal. This is the most common misunderstanding.
• Carry small notes. "No change" is a common way to round a fare up.
• The "free" horse is free only to the Siq. Beyond that, it is a new ride with a new price.
• Golf-cart tickets: buy at the kiosk beside the gate, not from people selling them on the path.

All fares with photos are on the Plan a visit page.

Unofficial guides

You will be offered guiding services inside and outside the gate. Licensed guides are available at the visitor centre, and a licensed guide is required for the Back Door route from Little Petra. If someone offers a shortcut, a "secret" viewpoint or a route that avoids the ticket gate, decline: unlicensed routes are unmarked, and some cross cliff edges with no barrier.

Animal welfare

Horses, donkeys, camels and carriage horses work long days in the heat. Standards vary. Many visitors find the walk itself the better experience. If you do ride:

• Look at the animal first. Refuse any that is thin, lame, sore or exhausted.
• Do not ride a donkey down the stairs — it is where falls happen.
• Report mistreatment at the visitor centre.
• In the Siq, carriages move fast. Walkers should keep to the right-hand wall and keep children close.

Heat and dehydration

Heat and dehydration are the most common reason visitors need help. In summer, carry three litres of water per person, wear a hat, and turn back rather than push a stair climb in the middle of the day. Start early and rest at your hotel through the hottest hours if you can. The best time to visit guide explains how the seasons change this.

Flash floods in the Siq

Between November and March, flash floods can close the Siq without much notice. Rain on the hills can fill the canyon while the sky above you looks fine. Follow staff instructions immediately and never shelter in a side gully. Check pdtra.gov.jo for closure notices.

Stairs and cliff edges

Many viewpoints have no barrier, and rock stairs are polished smooth and slippery after rain. Wear closed shoes with grip. Injured visitors on the stairs are usually brought down by donkey or stretcher, which is slow — tell someone your route before a long climb. Trail hazards are detailed in the Monastery hike guide.

Who to call

911 is Jordan's emergency number and works inside the site. There is a Tourist Police post at the visitor centre. Clinics, pharmacies and embassies are on the emergency numbers page.