Petra Travel Guide

Poet Dean Burgon called Petra, the ancient city of dazzling facades tucked into the mountains of southern Jordan, the "rose-red city, half as old as time." Situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, Petra is about two hours north of Eilat, and four hours south of the Jordanian capital Amman. Its boulevards, temples, and splendid tombs (800 in all) secreted among the high cliffs, evoke incomparable mystery and grandeur. Once inaccessible to all but an intrepid few, it is now easier to reach and has become an increasingly popular destination since the Israel-Jordan border was opened in 1994.