Day Trip from Amman to Petra
So like me, you've seen Indiana Jones and wanna go to Petra? Let's talk logistics. Petra is located just below the small town of Wadi Musa. That's right, BELOW. Keep that in mind if you're booking overnight accommodation, and you don't like an overly strenuous uphill battle after a long day walking through sand.
There's a heap of sites/tour guides/anyone you talk to that will tell you that you need more than one day to see Petra, and boy are they right! But if you're like me or Indiana Jones, and are always flirting with time, you're probably just wanna get in, and get it done. Also it's 50 JOD to enter, so you really want to make the most out of it!
Amman to Petra
What you need:
- Sturdy running shoes - You're gonna be in these bad boys all day. Ii.e.15km of all day
- Jandals - Not a top 5 item, but you might wanna take off your bad boy sturdy running shoes on the bus
- Heaps of water
- Snacks
- Sunblock
- Money for trinkets - There are actually heaps of cool trinkets to buy from local vendors inside
- Sweatshirt - It will get cold as it gets darker
How to get there:
There's all of one public bus provider in Jordan called JETT. You just need to book online and then get your hostel or hotel to ring and confirm your booking, then you pay when you get there in the morning.
Amman to Petra: 0630 - 0930
Petra to Amman: 1600 - 1900
Cost: 10 JD each way
Arrive: 30 minutes before
What to do there:
There are a lot of paths through Petra, but the two big boys you want to see are the Treasury and Monastery, and the view point of the Treasury to get that Insta shot. Here's an interactive map of the paths.
What else to do around Petra:
After speaking to a few of the Bedouin guys that have huts in the Petra area, they will accommodate and feed you for the night in Petra itself! From what I understood, you just turn up to Petra and start chatting to people over a cup of tea to find out more information and pricing. I wish I'd known I was able to do this before I went!
As I didn't have the time to head down to Wadi Rum, I ended up staying a night in a Bedouin camp called Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp to get my Indiana desert experience. I also went to Little Petra for an afternoon before hitting bigger Petra. I had an awesome afternoon with some nice fellows that lived there, drank tea, and went up into the surrounding hills, with no one else around - a stark contrast from Petra!
Sarah
