Petra · Wadi Musa, Jordan
Petra Through the Eyes of Locals
Carved into sandstone cliffs by the Nabataeans over two thousand years ago, Petra is a place best understood through the people who call it home. This is the most complete guide we can give you — the history, the monuments, the trails, and the practical knowledge you need to plan a visit that goes beyond the Treasury.
Why this guide is different
A city carved from living rock
Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom — a trading people who grew wealthy controlling the incense and spice routes between Arabia, Egypt and the Levant. From the fourth century BC they sculpted tombs, temples and halls directly into the rose-coloured sandstone, engineering an ingenious water system that turned a hidden valley into a thriving city of perhaps twenty thousand people.
Forgotten by the outside world for centuries, Petra was reintroduced to the West in 1812 by the Swiss explorer Burckhardt. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Yet beyond the famous Treasury facade lies an entire ancient city — tombs, a colonnaded street, a great temple and high-altitude altars — spread across a landscape that still feels untouched.
We have built this section to be genuinely useful. Every page is written from first-hand knowledge of walking the site, watching the light move across the stone, and listening to the people who grew up in Wadi Musa. Use it to plan, to understand what you are seeing, and to decide how much of Petra is right for you.
Explore the guide
Four ways into Petra
Start wherever your question is. Each section opens onto its own dedicated pages.
The monuments
What to see in Petra
The site is far larger than the Treasury. These are the places we make sure our travelers experience — each links to a dedicated page.
Plan for you
Petra, whatever your pace
There is no single right way to see Petra. Here is how we think about it depending on who you are.
Book a private Petra tour
Departing from Amman or Aqaba
Private Petra tours with hotel pickup, private transportation and a local guide — built around your group, pace and departure time.
Beyond Petra
Combine Petra with southern Jordan
Petra is the anchor of Jordan’s south. These destinations pair naturally with a Petra visit on a single southern loop — and we build them into one private journey.
Sources & further reading
Our Petra guides are written from first-hand experience of the site. For deeper reading, these are the authoritative sources we rely on and recommend.
Every Petra page
See Petra through local eyes
Tell us your dates and travel style and we will craft a private Petra journey — with a guide who knows the city’s quiet corners.