"Frais (10°C), tarifs bas, Wadi Rum glacial."
Expert on Petra · 1 contributions
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Mediterranean Desk — Mowando·Editor
Mediterranean Desk — Mowando·EditorThe best periods
The best time to visit Petra is March to May and September to November. The most recommended months are Avril, Mai, Juin, Juillet, Août, Septembre, Octobre.
Mar, Avr, Mai
Printemps — saison idéale absolue
- ✅Températures parfaites (15-25 °C) pour les longues marches dans le Siq et vers le Monastère (800 marches)
- ✅Lauriers-roses et acacias en fleur dans les wadis autour de Pétra, paysages exceptionnels
- ✅Lumière dorée idéale pour la photographie du Khazneh (Trésor) en milieu de matinée
- ❌Foule maximale (Pâques européennes, vacances scolaires) — Khazneh photographié bondé
- ❌Hôtels de Wadi Musa souvent pleins, prix en pic (réserver 3 mois à l'avance)
- ❌Bus de groupes saturant le Siq à partir de 9h30
Juin, Jui, Aoû
Été — chaleur extrême à éviter
- ✅Soirées douces (Pétra à 800 m d'altitude, plus fraîche que la Mer Morte)
- ✅Pétra by Night plus accessible (réservation moins difficile)
- ✅Site relativement moins fréquenté par les Européens (préférant le printemps)
- ❌Chaleur diurne dangereuse (35-42 °C, sans ombre dans le wadi du Khazneh ni au Monastère)
- ❌Risque de déshydratation et coups de chaleur, montée au Monastère déconseillée après 10h
- ❌Foules de croisiéristes asiatiques en remplacement des Européens
Sep, Oct, Nov
Automne — la deuxième saison idéale
- ✅Températures redevenues douces (18-28 °C), lumière dorée magnifique sur la roche rose
- ✅Baisse de fréquentation après septembre, sites plus calmes en semaine
- ✅Possibilité d'enchaîner avec Wadi Rum (2h de route au sud) dans les mêmes conditions climatiques
- ❌Pluies parfois soudaines en novembre — risque rare mais réel de crue éclair dans le Siq (site temporairement fermé)
- ❌Jours qui raccourcissent rapidement (coucher vers 17h en novembre)
Déc, Jan, Fév
Hiver — froid mordant mais site calme
- ✅Site quasi vide, expérience contemplative unique sans la foule du printemps
- ✅Tarifs hôteliers à Wadi Musa au plancher (40 % moins cher qu'en avril)
- ✅Lumière hivernale très claire, ciel pur, photographie spectaculaire
- ❌Froid mordant (5-15 °C le jour, proche de 0 °C la nuit), neige possible une à deux fois par hiver
- ❌Site temporairement fermé en cas de fortes pluies (risque de crue éclair dans le Siq)
- ❌Pétra by Night annulé en cas de pluie ou de froid trop intense
Month-by-month climate
Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine in Petra across the 12 months.
| Jan | Fév | Mar | Avr | Mai | Juin | Jui | Aoû | Sep | Oct | Nov | Déc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 7° | 7° | 9° | 14° | 17° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 21° | 17° | 13° | 9° |
| Max | 13° | 14° | 18° | 24° | 28° | 31° | 32° | 32° | 30° | 26° | 20° | 16° |
| Mer | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pluie | 47mm | 48mm | 38mm | 11mm | 8mm | 1mm | 0mm | 0mm | 0mm | 4mm | 23mm | 22mm |
| Soleil/j | 9.2h | 9.6h | 10.6h | 11.9h | 12.7h | 13.1h | 13.2h | 12.8h | 11.5h | 10.6h | 9.9h | 9.2h |
Tourist crowds
Monthly attendance levels (0 = empty, 100 = saturated).
Jan
40
Fév
45
Mar
75
Avr
85
Mai
75
Jui
45
Jui
40
Aoû
40
Sep
75
Oct
75
Nov
65
Déc
50
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need at Petra?+
Two full days minimum are essential. Day one covers the classic itinerary: Siq → Treasury → Roman theatre → colonnaded street → Royal Tombs (5-6 hours). Day two allows the long ascent to the Monastery (800 steps, 2-3 hours round trip) and exploration of the High Places of Sacrifice. An optional third day allows you to add Little Petra (Siq al-Barid, 9 km north) and off-the-beaten-track hikes (Jebel Haroun, Tomb of the 53 Niches). Many travellers only give a single day to Petra: that is a mistake.
When should I buy the Petra entry ticket?+
The simplest is to buy the __Jordan Pass__ (70-80 JOD depending on the version, €85-100) before departure, which includes the Jordan entry visa and Petra entry for 1, 2 or 3 days, plus 40 other major sites (Wadi Rum, Jerash, Amman Citadel, Mount Nebo...). The Jordan Pass pays for itself on day one at Petra (single-day ticket 50 JOD i.e. €65, two days 55 JOD, three days 60 JOD). Buy online at jordanpass.jo. Without Jordan Pass and without prior visa, the Petra ticket jumps to 90 JOD (€115) — major saving.
What time should I arrive at Petra?+
At opening, absolutely: 6am in summer (May-October), 6:30am in winter (November-April). The Treasury is in shadow until about 9:30-10am (golden light arrives mid-morning), but the empty Siq before 7am, the absence of noise, and the morning coolness are unique experiences. Coach groups arrive around 9:30-10am and saturate the Siq and Treasury until 2pm. An alternative is to arrive after 3pm and stay until closing (5-6pm depending on season), with sunset light on the façades.
Is Petra by Night worth it?+
Yes, absolutely — it is a one-of-a-kind experience. Three nights a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:30-10:30pm), the Siq is lit by around 1,500 candles placed on the ground along the 1.2 km canyon, and the Treasury is lit by hundreds more candles while a Bedouin musician plays the flute. The atmosphere is magical, almost mystical. Count 17 JOD (€22) in addition to the daytime ticket (free with Jordan Pass... but NO: Petra by Night is NOT included in the Jordan Pass, beware of the confusion). Book the same morning at the ticket office.
Do I need a guide for Petra?+
Strongly recommended for the first day. The site is huge, the history complex (Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines, Crusades), and signage limited. An official qualified guide costs 50-70 JOD (€65-90) for 4-5 hours. Otherwise, English/French audioguides available at the ticket office for 6 JOD (€8), or a good guidebook (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide). Many Bedouins offer guide services at the entrance — check their official qualification and negotiate the price upfront to avoid disappointment.
How do I climb to the Monastery (Ad Deir)?+
The Monastery sits at the top of a plateau reached by about 800 steps cut into the rock from the centre of the site (Qasr al-Bint). Count 45 minutes to 1h15 of climbing depending on your fitness, 30-45 minutes down. Several Bedouin cafés line the way for resting. If you are tired or struggling, donkeys (15-20 JOD one way) can take you up — avoid in peak summer when animal conditions are concerning. Prefer morning or late afternoon to avoid heat and crowds. The panorama at the top fully justifies the effort.
Are there restaurants at Petra?+
Inside the site, several small Bedouin cafés (Qasr al-Bint, near the Roman theatre, at the foot of the Monastery) serve sandwiches, falafels and drinks at tourist prices (8-15 JOD). The __Basin Restaurant__ (buffet cafeteria at the centre of the site) is more complete but lacks charm (20-25 JOD). It's best to plan a picnic (sandwiches bought in Wadi Musa, water, fruit) and have lunch at the foot of a cliff. In Wadi Musa (the nearby village), many restaurants serve authentic Jordanian cuisine: __My Mom's Recipe__ (excellent family mansaf), __The Cave Bar__ (Jordan's first troglodyte wine bar), and the Mövenpick and Marriott hotel restaurants.
Which hotel should I choose in Wadi Musa for Petra?+
Wadi Musa (the village next to Petra, 5-10 min by shuttle from the main entrance) offers all categories. Budget: __Petra Gate Hotel__ (€25-40/night, mountain view, warm welcome). Comfort: __Petra Moon Hotel__ (€60-90/night, 200 m from the entrance), __Petra Marriott__ (€120-180/night, exceptional panorama). Luxury: __Mövenpick Resort Petra__ (€180-300/night, just opposite the entrance), __Marriott Petra__ (renovated), or the new __Old Village Resort__ and __Petra Guest House Hotel__. Book 2-3 months ahead in high season (March-May, September-November).
Our verdict
Petra is one of those destinations you don't tell, you live. No photograph, no film, no story prepares you for the first visual shock of the Treasury appearing at the end of the Siq, nor for the feeling of grandeur felt before the Monastery after the 800-step ascent. Our advice: plan two full days minimum (ideally three if you want to add Little Petra and the desert tombs), buy the Jordan Pass before departure (which includes the visa, 2-day Petra entry and 40 other sites), arrive at opening (6am in summer, 6:30am in winter) to enjoy the Treasury without crowds and the golden morning light, and book Petra by Night absolutely (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays). Stay in Wadi Musa, the nearby village, in a hotel with breakfast included so you can leave early. The experience is physically demanding but remains one of the great moments of modern travel.
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