The ancient city of Petra is one of Jordan’s national treasures and by far its best known tourist attraction. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is a UNESCO World Heritages Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Inhabited by the Nabateans, Edomites and Romans, Petra brought together the knowledge and skill of these civilizations to create this world wonder. Caravans laden with incense, silks, spices and other exotic goods would rest at Petra.
This site is one of Jordan’s UNESCO world heritage sites, for more information click here.
From Amman: Petra is a 3-hour drive from Amman on the modern Desert Highway, or 5 hours on the more scenic Kings' Highway. Leave Amman from the 7th Circle and follow the street signs.
From Aqaba: Petra is about a 1.5 hour drive from the Red Sea city of Aqaba.
Buses are also available from Aqaba and Amman. For more information on the bus schedule click here.