After pickup from your central Amman hotel, settle into your private, air-conditioned vehicle with your private driver, who doubles as your guide on your journey to and from Petra.
When you book, take care to list any special interests you have, such as art, history or culture, so your driver can prepare for your private tour in advance if necessary.
Then, sit back and relax as you journey south through Jordan. As you travel, gaze at the desert landscapes and hear tales of Petra’s history. Hewn into a sandstone valley by the Nabataean people some 2,000 years ago, this ancient rose-red rock city was located at the crossroads of age-old trading routes.
After a while, pass by Little Petra, a small rocky valley of carved Nabataean-era buildings that archaeologists believe was a suburb of Petra, and acted as an accommodation stop for the traders who traveled through the city.
See some of the carvings here, and then continue to the main Petra site. On arrival, leave your vehicle, and enjoy a 2-hour tour of this UNESCO-listed wonder with a local guide provided by the Authority of Petra under the Ministry of Tourism.
Walk or ride a horse through the famous Siq, the narrow 1-mile (1.5 kilometer) rock fissure that was once the city’s entrance, and marvel at your first glimpse of the hauntingly beautiful Treasury (El Khazneh) as the canyon suddenly opens up.
Admire this rose-pink masterpiece, originally built to house priceless treasures and capture it on camera. Then, walk through the widening canyon to witness other buildings such as the 3,000-seater Theatre, Royal Tombs and the High Place of Sacrifice, a clifftop altar that was once used for animal sacrifices and other ceremonies.
As you explore, listen as your guide describes how the Nabataeans sculpted the buildings, and learn how they mastered the harsh desert conditions to make their lives here.
After around two hours of exploring, return to Petra’s entrance and rejoin your private vehicle and driver. Then, journey back to Amman, where your day trip ends with a hotel drop-off.
Please note: please wear comfortable shoes and bring a sunhat for this unforgettable adventure.