Things to Do Around Petra in Ma'an Governorate

Safety notice, 31 October 2026. Jordan is caught up in the 2026 regional conflict around Iran, and flights can be disrupted at short notice. At the time of writing, the US State Department puts the entire country at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel”, with Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, for the borders with Syria and Iraq and a few named areas. Its advice has also singled out Ma’an city and parts of Ma’an Governorate. The UK FCDO warns against travel only within 3 km of the Syrian border and carries no warning for Petra or Wadi Rum. Petra and Wadi Musa are open and running today, but the picture can shift quickly. Check the US travel advisory and the UK travel advice before booking and again before departure. Everything that follows is written for a normal trip.

The short version

Most of what visitors do in Ma’an Governorate happens in Petra District, a short walk or drive from the town of Wadi Musa. The wider governorate is the largest in Jordan and mostly open desert, with no sea, so beach and reef plans belong to Aqaba. The main activities:

  • Walk through Petra Archaeological Park, a UNESCO site.
  • Take an evening cooking class at Petra Kitchen.
  • Have a drink at the Cave Bar, which is set into a Nabataean tomb.
  • Float above the site in the tethered Petra Balloon.
  • Drive north to Shobak Castle.
  • Spend a free half day at Little Petra and Beidha.

What each costs

Petra entry depends on how you arrive. Anyone who spends at least a night in Jordan pays 50 JD for a single day, 55 JD for two days and 60 JD for three, while children under 12 get in free during daylight. Day visitors who sleep elsewhere, such as travelers coming over from Eilat for the day, are charged 90 JD. Jordan Pass holders pay 70 JD for one Petra day, 75 JD for two and 80 JD for three, and a pass bought ahead of arrival with at least 2 nights in the country removes the 40 JD visa fee. See Jordan Pass .

Evening options in Wadi Musa

Petra Kitchen is on Tourism Street in the Petra Boutique Hotel. Classes cost JD 35 each, including dinner, soft drinks and the recipes. They begin at 6:30 PM between March and October and at 6:00 PM from November to February, and booking ahead is wise. The Cave Bar, at the Petra Guest House Hotel next to the Petra gate, serves in an original Nabataean tomb every day from 2:00 PM until midnight. Because it is licensed, it is an adults’ stop. The balloon rises about 300 m on a tether, runs 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on the listing and stays down in poor weather.

Beyond the park

Shobak Castle charges 1 JD to foreign visitors and lies north of Wadi Musa on the King’s Highway. Little Petra and Beidha cost nothing and need no Petra ticket. The Jordan Tourism Board publishes the fee table.

Animals in the park

Visitors can hire horses, donkeys, mules and camels, and welfare groups report overloaded animals. Settle the total price before you start, or say no and walk, which works everywhere on the main route.

Seasons and hazards

Spring and autumn are the busiest and most comfortable times. From June to August the heat reaches 35 to 40 C and above, with no shade. Winter brings cold at about 1,000 m and occasional snow. Flash floods are a genuine risk because the Siq is a drainage channel, so stay out of it during and after heavy rain and follow the ranger and Civil Defence instructions.

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