I will be visiting Petra and so far have only one day booked. I will be staying at the Marriot before and after the visit. I am wondering if one day will suffice.

Background info: I will be alone with my guide for a part of the morning then will be on my own. I am mid thirties and very mobile.

My plan was to get there at opening and do the tour thing to the treasury and citadel etc, then hoof it up to the monastery, and over to the temple of sacrifice if possible. Is this doable in one day or am I dreaming.

Thanks for any advice.

doc

Yes, you can do it in one day. Provided it is a full day. Two days is better but we cannot always manage that. Enjoy.

Yes, you can do that if you're energetic. Try to get there really early, so you can get to the Treasury before the crowds. I spent two days, and got to do Petra at night as well, which I enjoyed. Click on my name for my TR, pix including the High Place of Sacrifice at http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/C...ddle-East-2009

We did that itinerary in a day and it was exhausting (and hot!) but definitely doable. Get there early not just to avoid the crowds, but beat the heat! Info and pics in our Petra post at http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the advice!

I'll be there next month so it shouldn't be that hot. I plan on being there from the moment it opens till closing.

Thats what I did for Machu Picchu and it worked out well.

Anyway, check the weather! We were there mid March of last year and it was COLD and grey in Petra. We had only taken a sweater while we could have used a winter coat. The week before we went the tour (from Aqaba) hadn't even taken place because of blocked roads due to heavy snowfall!.
IMO one day in Petra is plenty. My expectations may have been too high, but I found it far less impressive than I had imagined.

I am thinking after my Petra visit I'll need a food massage or two!

Be sure to hike as far as you can up the canyon walls and ionto the caves. From up high, you'll look down on the ruins in the narrow canyon and get a fantastic perspective. I'd read up first, too, so you know what you're looking at, but the guide should be informative. Most of them are modern Bedoin.
I don't agree with the "far less impressive" comment. I can't imagine how it can be more spectacular. It is HUGE, much bigger than I had imagined, and really interesting. And to think people were living here just a few short years ago!
Next time, I'll pack a picnic lunch. The restaurants at the end are buffet and very touristy, though the food isn't awful. You can buy water there.
There's also a jewelry store (I forget the name) that sells crafts made by local women that was set up as a non-profit by Queen Noor, so I mmight avoid the other gift stores and shop there if your thinking of buying anything.

Ou family did two nights but one day only at Petra and it worked out well. Even my two grown kids said that they didn't know if they could have hiked another day there without a break. Just arrive early and take advantage of this fabulous place!

Kathy and Katrina, I loved going through both of your photo sets.

That I could see things full-screen made it feel as if I were there again. Some wonderful shots there.