A few months ago, I booked tickets to go to Jordan with the main goal of seeing the Lost City of Petra, also known as the City Carved in Stone. And I did! Visiting Petra was one of the highlights of my year.
Once I arrived in Jordan, I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep. The next day, we travelled to Wadi Musa, the closest city to the archaeological site of Petra, where a tour guide was waiting for us at the entrance to the old city.
I was impressed to learn that Petra was so big. It’s located in a vast valley and there are eight different trails that you can take to explore the city. We chose to follow the main one which is also considered to be the easiest.
The first big monument carved in stone that we passed by was Bab al-Siq. Right after it, we came to the entrance of the Siq, a one-kilometer long, natural passage between the rock mountains that leads to the valley of Petra. Everything there looked magical: the different colors of the stone layers, the wall carvings of camels showing the way, the paved road. It felt so sacred. I was transported 2,000 years back in history, right there, in the heart of Shara Mountains, among the bedouins.
At one point, the tour guide stopped us and told us to turn around and see what we had left behind. We saw the curves of the Siq and how beautifully Mother Nature had created them. Then he told us to look at what was ahead of us. We were stunned! At the end of the Siq we could see a bit of the Treasury, perhaps the most famous building in Petra. It was an absolutely jaw-dropping moment. The Treasury stood there majestic, completely justifying my reasons to travel to Jordan.
After spending some time taking photos at the Treasury and enjoying the view, we continued our walk towards the Street of Facades, a row of monumental Nabatean carved tombs. A few more steps away, we saw the Nabatean Theatre which is the only theater in the world carved in the side of a mountain. It used to accommodate around 4000 spectators.
Next came the Royal Tombs, four magnificent facades carved next to each other in different styles. To reach them, we had to climb a few steps.
Walking forward, we saw the Colonnaded Street that was used as the principal shopping street in ancient Petra. Next to it was the Great Temple, representing one of the biggest architectural and archeological monuments in the centre of the city.
We decided to take one more trail and go up to the Ad-Deir Monastery. It was quite a difficult path that required a lot of climbing and hiking. When we reached the top, we were quite exhausted but the view was well worth the effort. The Monastery itself was a stone monument where religious associations used to meet. It was later turned into a Christian chapel.
Exploring Petra on foot was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. I got to see a magnificent old city and learn interesting facts. If you’re planning to do the same, I would suggest wearing comfortable running or hiking shoes, or anything with good support. The beautiful Petra is a long walk and hike (almost seven hours!), so if you want to see everything, comfort is key. Don’t forget to bring water, a scarf or a hat to protect you from the sun and wind, and sunscreen. The weather in Jordan between June and November is hot and sunny. If you feel tired, you can also rent a horse, donkey, or camel to take you up to the Monastery. Be prepared to negotiate for the price!
Have you ever explored an ancient city? Do you have any tips? Share your experiences and photos in the comments below.
