Petra in 2 days, it's perfect timing to be able to enjoy the site and see most of it. Today is December 31st and I look forward to spending the last day of the year in Petra! 2 full days on the large site of Petra: it's not too much!
After story of our 1st day in Petra well loaded, here is the organization of our 2nd day on the Nabataean city (much lighter) with my advice and maps of 2-day tours.
How to see the facade of the Trésor lit by the sun?
As I absolutely wanted to see the facade of the treasure illuminated by the sun, I set the alarm clock at 5:30 am to be at the entrance to the site at 6:6 am and arrive at the treasure at 20:6 am. Indeed, the local guide with whom we had spoken yesterday had told us that the time of sunrise was between 20:7 am and 00:XNUMX am.
So, it was at a run and the torch on our forehead that we crossed the Siq to arrive right at 6:20 am facing the Trésor. So yes, the sun was starting to rise. As for the timing, it was perfect but a big disappointment: the facade was not lit!
So, we climbed on the rock in front of the Trésor (very small rather steep passage) and we settled down next to a donkey, in the 1st lodges in front of the Trésor. There, in the cold, we waited until 7:10 am and saw that the Treasury does not light up with the sun.
In fact, in winter the sun is too low and the Treasury too deep and surrounded by high rocks to allow the sun to shine its rays on the walls ...
How to visit Great Petra in 2 days?
As a reminder, we had organized our visits to Petra in 2 days following the advice of a local guide who had given us a 1st loop to do on the 1st day and another circuit for the 2nd day (see below).
Thus, we had the opportunity to see the majority of the most beautiful sites in Petra.
Petra in 2 days - Our tour of the royal tombs
It is this second loop that we are tackling today very early in the morning. The site opens to us almost without tourists and under a blue sky, so in perfect conditions!
This 2nd circuit begins with the as then, take a path to the right just after the Theater. It's the Al Khubtha Trail (the thin light green line on the map) that we will take for a small magnificent hike of 3 hours (we will take 4 hours) which allows you to discover the royal tombs. Then we will resume the classic main trail (Main trail drawn wide road on the map) to return to the as.
Grande Petra in 2 days - Stages of the circuit
The route of the 2nd loop day passes through the following sites:
- The Siq
- The Treasury (Al Khazna)
- The street of facades or the row of tombs
- Theatre
- Jabal Umm al-Amr (viewpoint over the mountains and overlooking Petra)
- The Tomb with the Urn
- The Silk Tomb
- The Palace Tomb
- the Corinthian Tomb
- Unayshu Tomb
Grande Petra in 2 days - Royal Tombs tour map
Great Petra in 2 days - Royal Treasury and Tombs
For our second day of visit, we went up at 2 am in front of the Trésor to admire it from a little more height. But it was at the beginning of the afternoon (on our return from the trail) that we went back up because the light on the Trésor was fantastic. Admittedly, the sun did not illuminate the facade but the colors were of an orange and a golden simply magnificent! Finally the Al-Khazneh's Treasure was displayed as I imagined it!
Throughout this trail, we will go through small, steep paths, we will climb all the way to the top of the site to have a spectacular view and we will discover the famous royal tombs ...
Here are a few photos of our 2 days in Petra and I am holding back because the desire is strong to publish them all ...
December 31st New Years Eve party in Petra
I had asked the local guide the day before how to book the Petra by night for December 31st in the evening. He replied that we could not take tickets in advance and that it is by going to the ticket office on December 31 that we could take our tickets.
Discovering Petra by the light of 1800 candles and with a background of traditional music played by Bedouins… I dreamed of it even though I had read on many blogs and forums that it is a tourist trap.
Yes, but what the guide did not tell us was that there was no PETRA BY NIGHT on the evening of December 31!
What a disappointment when we are told that the sound and light show only takes place 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 20:30 p.m. to 22 p.m. And on December 00, we were on a Tuesday ... and there are no exceptions and therefore nothing planned for the evening of December 31 in Petra !
We console ourselves by telling ourselves that in the end we were too exhausted but deep down, I blame myself and I also blame the guide who should have warned us ...
Anyway, we will still have a great New Year's Eve because our hotel had prepared things in a big way! Festive meal, beautiful decoration of the room, Jordanian singer, party favors and dancing evening with DJ!
More information about our hotel in Petra
To continue the journey with me, here is our 6th day