Are you contemplating the Petra by Night experience? Want to know what to expect or if the event is worth it? As Petra by Night only happens three times per week, timing your Petra visit becomes more critical if you want to experience the night version.
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This insiders guide explains everything you need to know about the Petra by Night experience with recommendations.
Table of Contents
What is Petra by Night?
One of the most impressive parts of Petra is its unique natural setting. The Petra by Night “event”, takes place only at the Treasury. Which is around 2km (1.2Miles) into the park (from the Visitors Centre).
However, the walk to the Treasury through the tall cliffs of the “Siq” is quite remarkable at night. Candles are placed along the path edges that wind through the mystical rock caverns and lead you back in time.
Respect the silence
The staff at the Visitor Centre will ask you to remain quiet during the walk. This does not mean dead silent, but there is a definite feeling amongst those walking that the movement deserves some quiet.
Out in the middle of nowhere, it feels even more magical when you can hear only your footsteps echoing up the rocky cliff faces.
BYO light
While the pathway is fairly well lit, you might want to have your own light source too. Especially for those with walking difficulties. A phone light will do.
The Treasury
If you’ve seen photos of Petra by Night before, you’ve seen the array of candles laid out on the ground in front of the Treasury building.
If you haven’t seen it, this is quite a scene. Some 100 candles in paper lining are arranged on the ground. They are spaced far enough apart that people can walk through them, which is great in one sense as you can get some interesting photos amongst the candle light. On the other hand, there are people walking through all the lights which can interfere with your photos.
Once the “event” starts the hosts ask that people get out of the candle area and allow everyone a clear view of the lit-up Treasury building.
Local Music and Story
The main “event” at Petra by Night is a combination of story telling and music. Once all of the tourists make their way into the area around the Treasury, the host asks that everyone is seated in a large circular formation.
A couple of Bedouin type characters play some gentle music as colourful lights make their way across the Treasure building. They tell a story (in English) of the days in which Petra was at its full capacity.
A local Tea for All
During the event, there are a couple of workers handing out fresh-made mint tea to the crowd. It is a perfect way to warm up your hands. Yes, it gets cold out there at night.
The event lasts around 30 minutes. After the music, story, and tea, tourists are allowed some more time to get their last-minute photos before being guided back to the path.
The event is relatively low-key. Don’t expect any high budget, Disney inspired performance. In staying true to the Bedouin culture the event is very raw. A couple of guys telling a story and playing an instrument.
The event is not really the draw card though. It is being out there amongst the incredible wonder and experiencing a different side of it.
When is Petra by night?
Petra by Night is not on every day. It is only three nights per week. This is critical in deciding which days to visit the park if you are considering doing the Petra by Night experience.
Petra by Night is on:
- Monday Nights
- Wednesday Nights
- Thursday Nights
What Time?
Petra by Night is between 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM.
It takes around 30 minutes to walk to the event area (The Treasury) from the Visitor Centre. The event ends at 9:30 PM. This allows an extra half an hour for people to get their photos, before being guided back out to the path by 10 PM.
Is Petra by night included in Jordan Pass?
Petra by Night is not included in a Jordan pass or even the Petra Pass. It is a separate ticket altogether that needs to be purchased at the Petra Visitor Centre.
Cost of Petra by Night
The ticket to Petra by Night is 17 JD/per person (approx. USD$24/ 21 Euros).
Is Petra by night worth it?
Yes. For many people, traveling to Petra is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Adding the Petra by Night experience is a memorable touch to an already amazing experience.
Could you come to Petra and not do the Petra by Night? Yes, of course.
The main thing to keep in mind with the night time event is that you don’t actually see anything new (that you wouldn’t see in the day). In fact, if you are just arriving at Petra in the afternoon it would be better to do Petra by night after you have seen the park by day (if the timing allows for it).
This is because you can’t really get a sense of the scale of the Petra Park area at night. Due to the limited candle lighting, you can really only see fragments of the natural landscape and one area of the carved buildings.
It is not a good representation of the park as a whole (for scale).
It is like going back in time
It is, however, a unique experience. The ancient, carved building lit up with candles does have a somewhat transformative effect. It really is like taking a step back in time.
Being away from the hustle and bustle of the Petra Town, out in the middle of the chilly desert under the stars. This is where you will really be able to experience Petra as it was.
Fewer Tourists than through the day
The Petra Park is huge. You can always walk away from the crowds and find a small area to have to yourself. But it does have an amusement park feel around the entrance, especially the Treasury area.
At night time there are far fewer people and therefore the whole experience is much more intimate.
How to Photograph Petra by Night
It is dark out there at night. Lit by candles, the natural landscape view is fairly limited. So you will be taking photos up close of people and or the candlelit area in front of the Treasury.
The keys to taking night photography are:
- Be still – if you are using a phone to take your photos, it’s likely the automatic flash will come on. In this case, you will likely only capture the person up close in the shot and not really get the background. You as the photographer needs to stay as still as possible for the phone to work its magic and try to capture the moment in little to no light.
- Use a tripod – a tripod will do a much better job of staying still that you (as the phone/camera tends to move when you press the capture button).
- Use long exposure – if you are using a camera, pre-trial the camera settings and try to get the longest exposure as possible. This means that the camera will let in the most amount of light that it can.
- Post edit in Lightroom – if you manage to take a decent shot on your phone, good job! If not, don’t worry, night shooting is some of the most difficult to master. There are filters and preset settings in Lightroom which you can use to better spread the photo’s light and colour.
How to Get to Petra from Amman
If you’re not interested in an organised group tour, one of the best ways to get around Jordan is by renting a car. There are several rental car companies at the airport (Budget, Thrifty, Payless) with various car options.
Prices will vary depending on the time of year, model or car, length of hire. But prices can average at around USD$100/day.
Do your own tour
There are some amazing places to see in Jordan. And you’d be surprised just how quick it is to get from one end to the other. It takes roughly 3.5 hours to drive from Amman to Petra. However, there are some places that you are going to want to incorporate into your tour, like:
- Jerash – an ancient Roman Empire site in the north. This site is in great condition and is far less busy that any Roman ruins you would explore around Rome itself.
- Ma’In Hotsprings – nestled in the rocky mountains above the Dead Sea is this set of thermal waterfalls. At around -250m (820ft) below sea level (that in itself is mind-blowing) you can bath under these naturally hot waterfalls and enjoy a night at the amazing hotel.
- Wadi Rum – This amazing natural desert area is so photogenic you’ll wonder why more people aren’t talking about it. Stay in one of the amazing Wad Rum Camp Sites (many of them have the dome/bubble rooms with full views of the desert scene).
- The Dead Sea – no trip to Jordan would be complete without a swim in the Dead Sea. But with your own car, you are not limited to any one place. Most people only visit and swim at one or two locations on the huge body of salty water. In fact, the Dead Sea is huge. It takes hours to drive from the north to the south. There is plenty of amazing roadside stops you can do in your own car.
Where to Stay in Petra
The main town of Petra itself is fairly small. You can walk around and see shops and restaurants on a much more local scale than those by the entrance gates to Petra Park. The town is, however, surprisingly chaotic and busy (mostly with traffic on the road).
You can walk from the middle of the town to the Park Entrance in around 25 minutes. The roads are dusty and busy and it is easy to catch a local taxi for a couple of dollars.
For all the walking that you will do in the park itself, it is worth getting a ride (or driving yourself) closer to the park entrance (there is free car parking near the entrance).
- Petra Sella Hotel – has a nice room and is reasonably priced in the centre of town.
- Movenpick – This is for those that want to splurge and stay in a 5-star resort right next to the park entrance.
- Nomads Hotel Petra – Is a funky hostel with dorms and private rooms close to the Petra entrance (around 15 minute walk)
If you can make it for Petra by Night then do it!
In summary, Petra by Night is a great experience. It is one that will really top off your Petra experience. But due to the nature of it being only three times per week, it makes it difficult to plan for.
If you are able to incorporate the event into your weekend in Jordan trip, then we’d recommend doing so.
If not, camping out in the desert at one of the Wadi Rum Camp Sites may be just as memorable an experience.
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