09/18/2026
🇯🇴 PETRA | Beyond the Treasury
If you visit Petra, take the famous photo in front of the Treasury—but don’t turn around and leave! Some of Petra’s most incredible experiences are found farther along the trail.
🥾 Climb to the Monastery
Yes, it’s roughly 800 steps, but the reward is one of Petra’s most impressive monuments. Continue a little farther to the viewpoints for spectacular views across the surrounding mountains.
🏛 Explore the Royal Tombs
Carved directly into the cliffs, these enormous tombs are easy to overlook when you’re focused on reaching the Monastery. Take the time to wander through them and admire the incredible colors of the sandstone.
📸 Hike to a Treasury Viewpoint
Seeing the Treasury from above gives you an entirely different perspective. Skip the unofficial shortcuts and use established trails—ideally with a local guide for the longer routes.
🥾 Take the Back Door into Petra
For something completely different, hike into Petra from Little Petra, approaching the Monastery before continuing through the ancient city toward the Treasury. It’s a fantastic option for active travelers and one of my favorite ways to experience the scale of Petra.
🕯 See Petra by Night
On select evenings, thousands of candles illuminate the Siq and Treasury. It’s a completely different atmosphere from visiting during the day.
💡 Travel Tip: This is why I recommend two days in Petra whenever your itinerary allows. Spend your first day seeing the iconic sights, then use the second to hike, explore and discover the places many visitors never reach.
Sometimes the best travel experiences happen after you’ve checked off the “must-see.”
Next stop: trading rose-red stone for red desert as we head into the incredible landscapes of Wadi Rum. 🏜️🇯🇴