Explore Petra (from the other side)

If there’s one site you have to explore on a family holiday in Jordan it’s Petra. The rose city carved from the rock is just spectacular. Unsurprisingly it’s Jordan’s most popular tourist site. It’s also huge and there’s not much shade. We reckon we walked 10km on a typical day exploring Petra. So, go prepared – wear good walking boots or shoes, take a hat, cover up, use sunscreen. Hungry kids tend to want to eat at the most random times, so snacks like fruit and energy bars along with a big bottle of water should be in your bag too. We booked a Jordan Pass which allowed three days here and it’s highly recommended. This allows you time to really experience it rather than just dashing around in a day as many do.

Day one we just walked in through the main entrance and wandered. We didn’t go in particularly early. There’s a reverse logic to this approach which can pay dividends. Every guidebook and blog post tells people to ‘get up early to avoid the crowds’. So we often go late morning after a good night’s sleep and a leisurely breakfast rather than starting at the crack of dawn. We took a packed lunch and walked all the way to the Monastery and back which was a long way! Day two we did get up quite early and hopped on the free shuttle bus to Little Petra around 20 minutes away (you don’t need to pay for a taxi!). Little Petra itself is well worth an hour or two of your time. But from here you can also pay for an official 4x4 transfer to the start point for a hike in to Petra via the rear entrance. The hike is a bit strenuous – kids need to be confident walkers as it takes a good couple of hours with lots of ups and downs. The views are spectacular, there’s hardly anyone around, and you arrive at Petra at the iconically majestic Monastery which is well worth visiting twice. If budget allows, you could also do Petra by Night – when you will see the most famous temple the Treasury, lit up by thousands of candles. It is a bit touristy though and it’s not cheap.