Jordan’s rose-colored sandstone city, off maps for centuries, is a bucket list experience not to be missed. On the edge of the Arabian desert, hidden in mountains south of the Dead Sea, Petra had disappeared from maps for more than 1,000 years. Thought to be at least 3,000 years old, Petra is one of the ultimate bucket list destinations. The city’s architectural beauty survives from it being chiseled directly from the sandstone mountains. Temples, tombs, a highly sophisticated hydro system, and a monastery are linked by trails, steps, and ancient caravan routes. Journey back in time with me to Petra and become part of My Jordan Journey.
Much of Petra’s fascination comes from its setting on the edge of Wadi Araba, part of the Great Rift Valley, encompassing scenes from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as well as Lawrence of Arabia. A symbol of great engineering and ancient commerce, the city is etched in a monumental landscape of sandstone mountains protected in all directions.
The only entry to Petra is along a 3-mile road, the Siq, that meanders through a winding narrow gorge in places only a few feet wide with walls rising 300 feet on either side. Ancient water channels that brought water to the city are carved into the canyon walls. Walking through the Siq is indescribable. It’s extraordinary to see the waterways perfectly intact, to touch the sophisticated channels, and to feel the small bursts of sand blowing against my skin. When, the Siq abruptly ends, you are thrust upon the most impressive of Petra’s buildings.
The Treasury, or Al-Khazneh in Arabic, is the most spectacular monument in Petra. It stands an imposing 39.5m high and is impressively carved out of a single block. The monuments name comes from a local Bedouin legend that pharaoh hid a treasure in the urn at the top. I could actually see the bullet holes from people shooting at the urn to try and retrieve the treasure. I imagined the bustling commerce, traders, and markets all going on right before me. I didn’t have to envision the camels or mayhem of people since that was still there.
If something impressed me more than the Treasury, it would be the donkey that took me up the steep cliffs to the Monastery. Climbing the cliffs on the edge while atop a donkey gave me a new fear that I didn’t realize existed within me. It might have only taken 20 minutes rather than more than an hour but those 20 minutes seemed a lifetime. He, Jack, hovered over the edge of the cliff like a Jedi with precision and fluidity. He had mastered that mountain, yet I wasn’t comforted by his constant need to hang out on the very edge of every step. The journey was worth it when I arrived at the Monastery.
Once a series of tombs, the 137-foot high Hellenistic temple facade looks down on the grandeur of Petra. The beauty that unfolded from my lofty perch was magnificent. Petra is not in ruins; it is a well-preserved city that holds treasures greater than any monetary value. With only one day to explore the ancient city, the donkey was a worthy investment, but nothing could convince me to ride it back down the cliffs from the Monastery.
I made the return trek on foot and took as many photo opportunities as possible. At the bottom, I rode the donkey once again, avoiding the extensive hike on foot. I was able to explore the remainder of the city and still make it back to the bus on time.
If I could make one suggestion while visiting Petra, it would be to pay the small fee to ride the donkey. Petra is impressive both in size and temperature. Save your feet and go donkey riding. The World Heritage Site stretches across 400 square miles; you’ll want to take them all in.
Although I made this journey alone, Jordan with kids would be a great adventure. I imagined Athena like a young Lara Croft, discovering the hidden beauties of Petra with me. I guess it’s just another reason to return to this mysterious, beautiful country.
This is definitely a place that I would like to visit someday.
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It’s a bucket list worthy journey. I hope you make it there.
What are your top five places to visit?
Lesley
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St. Petersburg
Easter Island
Jordan (specifically Petra)
Machu Picchu
Taj Majal
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I love all these gorgeous Petra pictures! Petra was always on my bucket list, and now that I’ve visited, it’s still among my favorite places in the world. Thank you for posting all these! 🙂
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What was your favorite experience there? Would you put Petra in the top five things to do in Jordan? 🙂
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I went there twice, actually — and on both occasions, it seemed magical. I’d definitely put it on the list of top 5 things to do in Jordan, along with Jerash and Madaba!
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Great to hear. I’m going to create a list of my top five experiences in Jordan so the other two are good to hear as well.
🙂
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Incredible!
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Thank you! Have you ever been to Jordan?
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G’day and WOW! Your blog post today is MY Bucket List, TRUE!
Thanks for allowing me to visit through your eyes unique view!
Cheers!
Joanne
What’s On The List?
http://www.whatsonthelist.net
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I hope you make it there! It was always on the top of my list and I wasn’t disappointed.
I love, and hate, your food posts. I always leave feeling hungry 😉
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stunning view !! Petra is one of my dream destination
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If you dream it, you can make it happen. I can’t wait to read all about your Jordan journey. 🙂
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amen to that!! 😀
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Wonderful pictures! I would love to visit this place someday. 🙂
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It’s such an amazing place! When I was a young kid, my dad used to take business trips abroad. He would take pictures and have them developed as slides. Then he would force the family to sit through a slideshow of his trip! LOL His pictures of Petra were some of the few that had my full attention.
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How come I’ve never heard of this place? It’s amazing! Thanks for taking me there.
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Jordan has many bucket list gems. I’ll continue to add posts, photos, and videos throughout the week. I hope you enjoy 🙂
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Wow, so vivid! I have a bunch of friends who’ve traveled through Jordan and no one has mentioned this place! Definitely putting Petra on the list 😉
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Petra was one of the top places that I wanted to visit in Jordan, but with so many bucket list places in one country, it’s hard to visit them all. What did you hear about the most?
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Fabulous photographs and write-up, Lesley. I am thrilled that you were able to experience the lonesome majesty of Petra. It is one of many astonishing archaeological sites that is not as widely renowned as it ought to be, yet comparatively few places can rival Petra’s enchanting atmosphere and setting. Thanks again for the superb entry!
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WOW! These images are stunning! What a beautiful place to visit! Great post! 🙂
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so wonderful! I’ve been meaning to visit Jordan but have trouble gathering like-minded people to go have an adventure!
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You should make it happen, even if you go on your own. It is beautiful and filled with the most friendly, warm people. 🙂
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What a wonderful thing you have done. Petra is on my list. Nice photos, nice comments, not a half bad donkey.
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Beautiful job. As for the donkey, he reminds me of a trip I made down into the Grand Canyon once by mule. (grin)
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That sounds even more scary. How long did it take?
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As I recall Lesley, it was about an hour each way. I think Charlie the Mule realized I was a couple of pounds beyond what I was supposed to weigh and wanted to show me my ultimate demise by kicking his legs over the edge. (grin) He also tried to bite me. Since then I have backpacked into the canyon several times plus rafted the Colorado through the Canyon.
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Love it – This is my all time most wanted place to go 🙂
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What a beautiful site…. I had not seen it before. Thanks for sharing.
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OH my!!!! Amazing!!!
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Amazing. I’ve been fascinated with that place since seeing “Last Crusade.” Don’t know if I’ll ever make it there myself, so thanks for sharing the great photos!
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Stunning pictures! It makes my plans to see Petra one day myself even more firm! Thank you for posting!
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The entire country is one big bucket list experience. 🙂
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Oh yes! I hope I can cross it off of my list one day, too!
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Wow…that was an amazing experience! Thanks for taking us with you on your trip to Petra 🙂
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What a beautiful place. Loved seeing it through you eyes. Looks like a magical place!
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love the pictures and your descirption of r everything very nice!
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LOVE this
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Great pictures!
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Wonderful pics of a magic place…. some years ago a NZ woman married a Bedouin who she met there, and lived there as a Bedouin herself, for about fifteen years until he died, I think… what a strange destiny !!!
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I’ve been there; spent a day and a half exploring … but a return visit is still on my bucket list. (mainly because most of my pictures are on slide, which I can’t really share)
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Thank you so much for this reminder of one of my favourite places in the world. Our trip there will always be one of my best memories- it’s stunningly beautiful 🙂
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You’re sooo lucky!
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It’s my dream to visit Petra. Your post made my dream stronger 🙂
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Maybe 200 people said already. But I want to too: This is an awesome place which I dearly want to visit, truely a Bucket LIst item! Thanks for sharing it with us!
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I went to Petra a few years back and it was incredible. Can totally remember my donkey riding experience too!.. haha, so scaryy..
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Seeing is Believing.. Definitely awesome Place
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It is an awesome place that was at the heart of trade (it was built on the crossroads) in its time. Would definitely love to come visit one day.
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Definitely one of the places on my bucket list as well! Beautiful pictures!
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thanks for posting this! i am planning a trip to jerusalem (and places around it like the dead sea..etc) this october…now you have got be thinking about this place too! 😀
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Petra is such a beautiful place. I would love to go there one day!
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Impressive photos and I’m sure it was an impressive trip. Thanks for sharing with us!
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Wow! Great shots and love the story.
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Beautiful pictures. Great recommendation about the donkey. I’ll look for a ride……..
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Magnificent.
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Great photos. Petra is someplace I have been wanting to visit. You look great, I am glad you are enjoying life to its fullest.
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Wow, from the sounds of it my fiancé and I would really enjoy traveling to a place like this! We love exploring old architecture and learning the history of those places. I may need to convince him that donkeys can be trusted though! He won’t even ride one in his homeland Greece! Thank you for sharing, I am definitely adding it to my bucket list. =)
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Petra and Dead sea are on my travel list, no doubt. I will plan a trip to Jordan some time. Your Jordan pictures are truly amazing…continue with your journey of the world. I returned from Nepal tour recently, will post about my journey soon on my blog.
– Achin
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Simple breathtaking. I have wanted to Petra for a loooong time.
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That’s amazing!! Truly breathtaking!
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Places worth to visit, interesting info
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Thanks so much for writing this excellent description of Petra! It brought back so many memories! I didn’t ride a donkey…:-( I did ride a horse part way in. This is the most unbelievable place I’ve ever been to and so thankful for the experience. 🙂
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Over-the-top STUNNING! Pictures as well as the building. Love the colour of the stone. Hard to take it all in and I’m only looking at pictures. Wow.
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BEAUTIFUL photos! Thanks for sharing. Maybe, some day I’ll have the opportunity/cash to visit there as well. 🙂
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Jack the donkey really sounds amazing.
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