"Petra is a must-see" a Petra Travel Page by bdougherty

We flew from Cairo to Amman Jordan via Royal Jordanian Airlines. We then hopped a bus from the airport to the middle of the city - took approx. 30 minutes and was very comfortable. When we arrived at the bus terminal there were taxis a plenty waiting to deliver us to our hotel. Coming off a year in Cairo, we were pleasantly surprised to see the meters in the cabs actually worked and we could relax and enjoy the ride rather than think about how tough the negotiation would be at the end of the ride.

The following morning we picked a taxi off the street and negotiated a fare south to Petra - as I recall it was 35 JD and our driver made the drive worth our while. He, as were most drivers, was as good a tour guide as he was a driver. He dropped us off near the entrance, along the main road into Petra. After the 4+ hr drive from Amman we were ready for some food and rest before our exploration would begin the following morning.

The Siq is longer than expected but filled with anticipation. As you gain the first glimpse of what lies within the geographically guarded city you begin to realize the expanse of what lies ahead.

The Treasury is simply the tip of the iceberg, but an amazing tip. Once you work up the ability to pull yourself away from this site the real exploration begins. Around the corner you will find the ongoing assembly of carvings and niches continuing to roll out into the valley.

Mules and camels abound as a means of transport but you will more greatly enjoy the experience from your own two feet - they can take you into regions unknow to the four-legged visitors.

There is so much to see - get off the floor of the valley and climb the stairs that abound on every hillside and cliff. The high place of sacrifice is an unbelievable view...but you'll work for it. Stop to meet the Nabateans that continue to live within and along the outskirts of the park. They are interesting and give you a sense of the personal history of Petra. The Roman ruins are another intriguing aspect but shadowed greatly by the views and "natural" edifices.

Come back for a second day if at all possible. We opened and closed Petra two days in a row. Although we exhausted ourselves, it was worth the effort to be the last souls to walk out of the park, in the rain, two hours after "closing time."