Things to do in Petra & Wadi Rum

Southern Jordan holds two of the Middle East's great sights. Petra, the ancient Nabataean city carved into pink sandstone cliffs, is reached on foot through the Siq, a narrow canyon that opens dramatically onto the Treasury. On a few evenings a week the same path is lit by candles for Petra by Night.

About two hours further south, Wadi Rum is a protected desert of red sand, sandstone mountains and rock arches, where Bedouin guides lead jeep tours and run desert camps for a night under the stars. Petra is roughly three hours from Amman by road, so most visitors stay nearby or combine the two on a longer trip.