Two Days in Petra and Longer Jordan Routes

October 31, 2026

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.

Option 1: two days in Petra

A two-day visit is the standard advice, because the Monastery climb alone is 800 to 850 steps. The 2-day ticket is 55 JD if you stay at least a night in Jordan, and the Jordan Explorer pass is 75 JD.

Day 1: the Main Trail, the Treasury and the High Place of Sacrifice.
Day 2: the Back Door route or the Monastery, then Al-Khubtha.

Sleep in Wadi Musa on both nights.

Option 2: Dana to Petra on foot

The Jordan Trail section from Dana to Petra takes 4 days and covers about 72 km, split into stages 601 to 604. The start is in Tafilah Governorate and the finish is in Ma’an Governorate. The Petra pass is bought at the Nabatean Cultural Village office, and trekkers are strongly advised to hire a guide. Bookings for the Dana end go through RSCN .

Option 3: Petra and Wadi Rum

Allow 2 to 3 days. Stay in Wadi Musa for the Petra days, then move on for a night in a desert camp in Wadi Rum, which lies in Aqaba Governorate. Wadi Rum is 1.5 to 2 hours south of Wadi Musa. Choose and book a named camp rather than a generic one, and expect the protected-area fee of roughly 5 to 7 JD per person.

Option 4: southern Jordan loop

The King’s Highway links Amman, Madaba, Karak, Dana, Shobak and Wadi Musa, which is about 4 to 4.5 hours of driving without stops. A typical loop spends 2 nights in Wadi Musa, calls at Shobak on the way north, and adds Dana and Karak, with Wadi Rum and Aqaba as the southern extension. Shobak is north of Wadi Musa and Wadi Rum is south, so each needs its own day. The Desert Highway from Amman to Petra is faster, at about 235 km and 3 hours.

Visa and pass notes

The Jordan Pass removes the 40 JD visa fee when bought before arrival and used with a stay of at least 2 nights. Find the terms on jordanpass.jo . Petra closes between 4 and 6 PM, so put the long walks in the morning.