Getting There

Petra is located in the rocky wilderness near the southern extreme of the Kings’ Highway about 280km from Amman, or 260km via the Desert Highway. Air-conditioned JETT coaches leave Amman daily at 6:30am (arriving about 3W hrs. later and returning at 4pm from Petra; one way JD5, round-trip JD10; complete tour including (unch, guide, and horse JD30). Reservations should be made at JETT stations well ahead of time, especially during the busy fall and spring seasons. You’ll be dropped off at the visitors center in Petra.

Service to Petra from Wahadat Station takes about five hours, plus a wait in Ma’an (JD2, JD1.65O if you take the bus that goes directly from Amman to Wadi Musa, but not to Petra). Drivers will drop you off at either the Af-Anbat or the Wadi Musa Hotels; from Wadi Musa you could walk for 5km or take a private taxi (JD 1) to Petra. Some hitch. From Aqaba, the two-hour trip costs JD2 by minibus. Start early in the morning to make any of these connections. Leaving Petra, you can catch minibuses or service to Aqaba (JD1.500), Ma’an (400fils), or Amman (JD2) at the center of Wadi Musa, near the post office, between 5:30am and 6am. A local bus to Ma’an leaves at 6am, returns at 2pm, and costs 400nls one way.

To reach Petra from the Kings’ Highway, take the well-marked turn-off and head west into the colorful, steep-sided town of Wadi Musa. You’ll pass the main traffic circle and travel through the main market area of Wadi Musa. A tortuous 5km from Wadi Musa, the spur road leaves town and ends at the entrance to Petra. The cluster of buildings here includes the visitors center, the government Rest House, the lavish Forum Hotel, and the gatehouse to the valley that leads to the siq and Petra proper.