Petra is a Nabataean city, not a single monument. Visitors who photograph the Treasury and turn back have seen a fraction of it. The full site takes two days to do properly, and a two day ticket costs little more than one.
What most people miss
The Monastery, Ad Deir, sits at the end of about 800 steps and is larger than the Treasury with a fraction of the crowd. The High Place of Sacrifice is a similar climb in the opposite direction with a view down the whole valley.
Practical points
- Enter at opening, both for light and for temperature
- Carry two litres of water per person, more in summer
- Animal rides are widely offered and welfare standards vary considerably
March to May and September to November are the workable months. Summer midday heat in the exposed sections is genuinely dangerous for unprepared walkers.
