Plain World

Today we visited Petra, one of the Seven NEW World Wonders, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and without a doubt one of the most iconic places in Jordan.It’s a place we had seen in Indiana Jones, admired countless times on Instagram, and dreamed about for months. So yes — our expectations were high. Very high.

And Petra did not disappoint.

A city carved in Stone
Long before camera clicks and guided tours, Petra was built by the Nabataeans around 800 B.C. They were traders, entrepreneurs, and ingenious architects.
Their city lay right on the trade routes between North Africa, Europe, and the East — a perfect crossroads of cultures and commerce.

But what makes Petra truly magical is that it’s not simply built on stone it’s built into it. Entire façades, houses, tombs, temples and even a theatre are carved out of rose-red cliffs.At its peak, 25,000 people lived here, surrounded by art, wealth, and the hum of caravans passing through.

When sea trade took over around the year 700, the people slowly drifted away.And Petra, once a bustling city… fell silent.
Until explorers rediscovered it centuries later, sleeping between the mountains.

Our visit
We visited Petra in May a month when the sun wastes no time heating the desert.
So we set off early, just as the light began to spill into the valley.Entering through the main gate, we passed the first sandstone cliffs and walked toward the Siq — Petra’s famous narrow gorge. Here you’ll find many “local guides” offering to show you the “best Instagram spots.” Trust us: kindly decline. Petra’s magic doesn’t need filters or tricks.

Instead of heading straight for the Treasury, we decided to take on the hardest challenge first:
the hike to the Monastery.It’s a long climb — about an hour and a half of stairways carved into the mountains. Our legs complained, the sun pressed down, and the path seemed endless. But then, suddenly… the Monastery appeared.

Massive. Silent. Perfectly carved.
A stone giant watching over the cliffs.

We sat down for a moment, catching our breath and letting the view wash over us — layers of mountains stretching into the horizon. The kind of view that makes you forget time exists.After taking some amazing photos, we made our way back toward the center, where the city opens up like a maze of tombs and caves. One of the best things about Petra is that you can walk into many of the carved houses yourself.
Touching the cool stone walls felt like shaking hands with history

Visiting Petra, what do I need to know?
The town next to Petra is Wadi Musa. We stayed at Infinity Lodge, perched on a hill with beautiful views over the canyon. They serve delicious local breakfasts and dinners, and for a small fee they’ll prepare a lunch box so you’re all set for your day in Petra.

If you’re driving from Aqaba, you’ll take the King’s Highway — a route that winds through canyons, past small towns, and through Madaba, the mosaic capital of the world. Along the way you can visit Kerak Castle, a medieval fortress used during the Crusades, or stop at Little Petra, a smaller but charming preview of the main site.

We recommend spending one or two days in Petra to soak in everything, especially if you want to hike more routes.
After our visit, we continued our journey to Wadi Rum and Aqaba, but Petra could just as easily be your final southern stop before heading back north.