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Petra Jordan. The only city carved in the rock
Rocks and desert have protected it for centuries, as a precious treasure: and indeed Petra is undoubtedly the greatest treasure of all the Jordan, a gem of stone famous all over the world, a wonder of nature and human history, which every year leaves millions of visitors breathless. Visiting Petra, in fact, is pure emotion, a dream that comes to life one step after another, as you venture into the narrow and deep canyon of sandstone that leads to the "pink city". Walking the two kilometers between the high and winding walls of the siq, where the rays of the sun fail to penetrate, the sensations alternate between amazement, subjugation and finally wonder: suddenly, after a curve, suddenly the Treasure, the famous tomb carved into the rock that has become the symbol of all Jordan, stands before us. And then spas, theatres, monasteries, colonized streets, royal tombs and temples raised to gods with powerful names. A succession of incredible places concentrated in a city that is legendary and that still today leaves an indelible mark in the heart. It is not difficult to imagine, even for us contemporary travelers, what was the surprise for Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, the Swiss explorer who in 1812 made the incredible discovery of this archaeological complex, revealing to the whole world Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabateans, laborious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. The history and culture of this ancient people are carved here, still intact and ready to tell fascinating stories to travelers who venture into the desert: in the following paragraphs we have gathered for you a taste of what to see in Petra, between
Programme in detail:
Day tour to Petra directly from Sharm by bus and ferry
• One day tour to Petra by bus from Sharm El Sheikh.
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Jordan’s main treasure and most popular tourist attraction.
• This city was excavated into the rock more than 2000 years ago. You can access the city only through Sik, a narrow gorge more than a kilometer long, set between steep cliffs 80 meters high.
• Petra is the most popular tourist destination in Jordan and, quite rightly, the immensity, beauty and history of this archaeological treasure make it one of the most renowned archaeological sites in the world.
• Enjoy the incomparable city of Petra, excavated directly in the mountains, the silent monument to the powerful civilization that flourished nearly 2000 years ago in this remote desert place surrounded by rocky mountains, gorges and cliffs. Petra has gained the reputation of exotic scenery, but her true story is just as incredible.
• And many new stories are still waiting to be told, because archaeologists have explored only about 15% of the vast site with our one-day tour of Petra.
The price includes:
• Transport.
• Ferry tickets.
• All entrance tickets.
• Lunch in a local restaurant.
• Professional English language guide.
Price does not include:• Drinks.
Return to Sharm El Sheikh:
• By the end of the day, you will return to the port of Aqaba to board a ferry to Taba and then return to your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.
Note: We will send you the time and meeting point the day before by email or WhatsApp.
Hiking itinerary:
Withdrawal:
• From your hotel (around 1:15, depending on the location of the hotel in Sharm) to reach the port of Taba.Bus to the borders:
• Enjoy the nature of the Sinai desert and the Al Aqaba Gulf mountains driving for about 2 and a half hours to the port of Taba.
Ferry to Petra:• You will take the ferry around 5:30 to cross the Gulf of Aqaba and reach Jordan around 8:45. After another 2 hours of travel, you will reach Petra to start your adventure with your English language guide.
Petra:• In Petra you will meet our guide who will wait for you in the room arrive with our sign Sharmers to start your journey.
Petra Tour:• Admire the richness of the past, lavishly shown in its arts and architecture, in a more spectacular way than in elaborate buildings, such as the Treasure, excavated directly in the soft sandstone cliffs. The Nabataean capital was also a remarkable urban enterprise.
• About 30,000 people once lived in this dry desert, quenching their thirst through a system of canals and cisterns that collected and stored winter rainwater for future use. The system worked well enough to accommodate numerous gardens.
The Siq Canyon:• Your first walk to Petra should be through the Siq Canyon, a natural geological feature formed by a deep rift in the sandstones and serving as a stream that flows into the Wadi Mosses. This canyon is one of the main reasons why Petra was such a fascinating site for the Nabateans, located behind a narrow and easily defended canyon known as Siq.
Pharaoh's Treasure:• Your next visit should be to Pharaoh’s great treasure, known as Al Khazneh, one of the most elaborate buildings in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra. This structure was also excavated in a rocky sandstone wall. It has a classical architecture of Greek influence and was originally built probably between 100 B.C. and 200 A.D.
• Its Arab name, Treasure, comes from a legend that bandits or pirates hid their spoils in a stone urn high on the second floor. Another legend is that it served as the treasure of Egyptian Pharaoh in the time of Moses (Khaznet Far’oun).
Teatro Romano:• After Roman theatre, a period followed when the dominant civilization combines Greek, Egyptian, and Syrian elements, clearly indicating the Ptolemy era. By the end of the second century B.C., when the Ptolemaic and Seleucian kingdoms were equally in crisis, the Nabatean kingdom took on a prominent role. Under Areta III Filelleno (about 85–60 BC), royal coinations began.
• The theatre was probably excavated at that time and Petra had to take on the appearance of a Hellenistic city. Thanks to the extraordinary skill of the Nabateans, excellent engineers, they built water conservation and irrigation systems and dug their homes, temples, tombs and tombs directly into the rock.
Lunch:• The next thing to do is eat something, so your guide will take you directly to the city centre for lunch in a fantastic restaurant.
Fort Al-Habis Visit the fort of Al HabisSuccessively, we continue our tour to the hill of the fort of Al-Habis Petra, which dates back to the Crusaders' times, for a breathtaking panoramic view of deep ravines and uniquely coloured rock formations.
Return to Sharm El Sheikh:
We will return to Al Aqaba at 18:45, where you will have an hour’s free time for shopping. Then we get back on your return boat to Taba Marine, then return to Sharm El Sheikh by bus arriving after midnight and you will be transferred to your hotel at approximately 23:30.
From 230€ per person
