adventures6

We are traveling to Petra in August. I'm wondering if it would be a good plan to start early
in the morning planning to leave when it gets too hot and then return later in the evening? Is it too difficult to leave and come back later, distance too great? I'm trying to figure out how to best deal with the heat. Our hotel is near the entrance. Also is Petra by Night worth seeing?

Thanks!

tripplanner001

I think you have the right idea in planning to start early. The first part of your walk into Petra, through the Siq, is not likely to be too hot as the high cliffs on either side provide adequate shading. Once you get past the Treasury is more open space, but there are plenty of places to rest and stay out of the sun for bits of time amongst the ruins. Towards the far end of the city, near the entrance to the hike up to the Monastery, is a restaurant where you can spend some time during the hottest part of the day. As for Petra by night, I enjoyed it in that the experience is different.

Ozarksbill

Yes, this is a long day likely accessed by donkey (which DW didn't much like). Where else are you going however? In Israel, Jordan?

adventures6

We don't have much else planned for Jordan. I hear mixed reviews about Wadi Rum tours and we think it will be too hot in August for any camping. The rest our of time will be spent in Israel.
Any recommendations for August?

tripplanner001

Wadi Rum did not impress me. Perhaps it was the guide we had or the area of the desert we were taken, but we did not see much during our trip there and felt my time would have been better spent with an extra day at Petra.

I assume you will not be travelling to the Jordanian north, but I really enjoyed by time at Jerash, an ancient Roman city about 30-45 minutes from Amman, the capital. The ruins are in decent shape, and there were almost no tourists when we were there.

ashwinb

I always found a cave or some shade where I could sit back,relax, watch a movie or a documentary and wait for the sun to go down. So 10 AM to 2 PM were always in shade. While 6 AM to 10 AM and 3 PM to 6 PM were the best times, no people and no heat.
And Petra by night is def. a must. So is Wadi Rum, I found it very exciting, but again only the morning s and evenings were great, at mid day you just need good shade to relax. A day in Wadi Rum is a good idea.

sandi

Do a few hours early in the day, as soon as they open. Then leave to return to your hotel to relax around the pool or somewhere indoors as it will be awfully hot in August. Then return in time for Petra at Night, depending on what time this is scheduled.

When we visited my friend took the donkey from entry to opening of the Siq but I didn't... nasty looking donkey. Rather walked with guide, then the 3 of us leisurely walked thru the Siq which is amazing (be sure to look up as the granite walls are so colorful). Did the same when exiting... I, of course passed on the donkey and so too did my friend. One way for her was interesting, but not twice.

thursdaysd

I wasn't wowed by Wadi Rum either, but I didn't have a very good guide, and I'd already seen deserts and ridden camels elsewhere. I would certainly second a recommendation for Jerash, and also add the mosaics in Madaba (not just the map).

FREDMADCEL

The fees? Somewhere I saw $132. True and if so what does this cover? Border fees? How does Israel look at Jordan / Egypt passport stamps?

thursdaysd

A more pertinent question would be how Jordan/Egypt looks at Israeli stamps.

Fees for what?