The Treasury in Petra

Marhaban! مرحبا
It’s already been 2 months since I have been back from my incredible trip to Jordan and some of it seems like a dream. Was I really there? Did I really get a chance to see the Lost City of Petra, the newest member of the family of Wonders of the World? It’s a good thing I have a camera with me to get some proof of the fact that I was in one of the most spectacular places on the face of the planet. Jordan was full of wonderful surprises and Petra was no different. Of course I had known about Petra, but I wasn’t aware at how incredibly vast the site is and that there is so much to see.
Petra, the capital of the Nabataean empire of King Aretas IV, was in it’s prime around 9 B.C. to A.D. 40, but the kingdom had been in existence since the 6th century B.C. The Nabataeans were masters of irrigation and other water technology, and this is a skill that comes in handy in such an arid environment. This was a very modern civilization with brilliant engineers and craftsmen, as is well evidenced by the photos you are about to look at.
The Treasury or al-Khazneh at Petra in Jordan

Petra played a vital role as a centre of trade and commerce for the silk, spice and other caravan trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome in ancient times. The Seleucid king Antigonus, the Roman emperor Pompey, and Herod the Great all tried to gain control of Petra without much success, and the city remained in Nabataean control until Petra was finally absorbed into the Roman Empire in 106 A.D.

Sadly, in 693 A.D. Petra was hit by a terrible earthquake that devastated its water management systems and many of its buildings were destroyed. After Saladin and his armies took over this part of the middle east, Petra was largely abandoned and faded from memory in the western world, thus earning it’s nickname of the “Lost City”. This incredible city, that was craved out of mountains, was lost to the west for hundreds of years until a Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, disguised as an Arab scholar, infiltrated the Bedouin-occupied city in 1812.
Camels resting at Petra’s Treasury in Jordan

Petra’s ruins are among the world’s most renowned archaeological sites. While many, if not most, of the buildings that were not directly carved into the mountains are now nothing but rubble, the ancient city remains standing today, thousands of years later. This is a testament to the ingenuity of the Nabataean people, who were able to construct towering structures half-built and half-carved into the rock.
Today, Petra is Jordan’s most popular travel and tourist destination and for good reason. I hope that the photos will give you a good idea of the immensity, beauty, and history of this archeological treasure, but needless to say being there is an experience of a lifetime and photos just can’t capture the feeling of standing amongst such incredible ruins. I would encourage everyone to visit this unique and magical place. If you are a fan of history and love to travel, then Petra just has to be on your list of must see places. Trust me, you will be in awe from the moment you arrive, and will have wonderful stories to tell when you get back home.
The Treasury stands over 40 meters high.

As you meander along the dusty and narrow Siq (the gorge leading to the Treasury) you will see the remnants of the water delivery system that the Nabataeans engineered. The Siq is at it’s widest approximately five meteres wide, however it reaches hundreds of meters upwards. It zigs and zags for nearly a kilometer and the first view that you get of the fabled city is the view in the very first photograph at the top of the page. What a great way to build up the suspense, hiking for a distance in an impressive gorge, until you are faced with the Treasury! What a sight to behold, it is an incredible feeling to stand there and take slow steps towards the entrance to Petra and have the Treasury be revealed in such a spectacular fashion. Those Nabataeans had a bit of flair for the dramatic. :)
Popular belief has it that the Treasury, also known as al-Khazneh, was constructed in the first century B.C. However, the true purpose of the structure remains a mystery to today. One thing that most archeologists and scholars agree upon is that it was not a treasury. More likely it was a temple or royal tomb. The facade is adorned with ancient god figures believed to be El-uzza (associated to the Egyptian goddess Isis) as well as Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus. The inner chamber is 12 square meters and in the rear you can find an ablution basin that was used for ritual washing. This would give credence to the hypothesis that the Treasury was a temple of sorts.
In ancient times, and all the way to the 19th century, there was a stream that flowed in front of the Treasury, but it was diverted and the plaza was leveled off to make it easier for tourists to get around safely.
The Urn Tomb was one of the Royal Tombs of Petra

Petra the New Wonder of the World
Petra was recently selected as one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”! A well deserved honour, if you ask me, and it is in good company. Here is a list of the finalists that were selected and a list of the 7 winners of the prestigious title of Wonder of the World.
The 20 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World, alphabetically:
- Acropolis, Athens, Greece (450 – 330 B.C.) Civilization and Democracy
- Alhambra, Granada, Spain (12th century) Dignity and Dialog
- Angkor, Cambodia (12th century) Beauty and Sanctity
- Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge
- Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness
- Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 – 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering
- Easter Island Statues, Chile (10th – 16th Century) Mystery and Awe
- Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (1887 – 89) Challenge and Progress
- Great Wall, China (220 B.C and 1368-1644 A.D.) Perseverance and Persistence)
- Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey (532 – 537 A.D.) Faith and Respect
- Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto, Japan (749 – 1855) Clarity and Serenity
- Kremlin/St.Basil’s, Moscow, Russia (1156 – 1850) Fortitude and Symbolism
- Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication
- Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Germany (1869 -1884) Fantasy and Imagination
- Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. – 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection
- Statue of Liberty, New York, USA (1886) Generosity and Hope
- Stonehenge, Amesbury, United Kingdom (3000 B.C. – 1600 B.C.) Intrigue and Endurance
- Sydney Opera House, Australia (1954 – 73) Abstraction and Creativity
- Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion
- Timbuktu, Mali (12th century) Intellect and Mysticism
And the winners are…
The New Seven Wonders of the World
- Great Wall, China (220 B.C and 1368-1644 A.D.) Perseverance and Persistence
- Petra, Jordan (9 B.C. – 40 A.D.) Engineering and Protection
- Christ Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1931) Welcoming and Openness
- Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru (1460-1470) Community and Dedication
- Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico (before 800 A.D.) Worship and Knowledge
- Colosseum, Rome, Italy (70 – 82 A.D.) Joy and Suffering
- Taj Mahal, Agra, India (1630 A.D.) Love and Passion

Petra’s theater, which was also carved out of solid rock, was built in the 1st century A.D. and has a seating capacity of over 6,000 people. The theater’s 45 rows of seats are divided horizontally by two diazomata. To keep the sun out of the spectators’ eyes, its cavea faces north and east. The front of the theater, including most of the stage, was badly damaged by floods and earthquakes. Many people believe that Petra’s theatre was built by the Romans, this is not so, as the construction was completed well before the arrival of the Roman Empire in the region.

View from inside one of the Cave Tombs in Petra

Petra
They seem no work of Man’s creative hand,
Where Labour wrought as wayward Fancy planned;
But from the rock as if by magic grown,
Eternal—silent—beautiful—alone!
Not virgin-white—like that old Doric shrine
Where once Athena held her rites divine;
Not saintly grey—like many a minster fane
That crowns the hill, or sanctifies the plain:
But rosy-red,—as if the blush of dawn,
Which first beheld them were not yet withdrawn:
The hues of youth upon a brow of woe,
Which Man call’d old two thousand years ago!
Match me such marvel, save in Eastern clime,—
A rose-red city—’half as old as time!’
John William Burgon
Tourists walking through Petra

How to visit Petra
The Petra Archaeological Park is big… And I mean BIG! The Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA), established in 2009, controls the entire Petra Region (755 km2) including the Petra Archaeological Park, which covers 264 km2 of the land. I did say big didn’t I? Granted, the site that is open to tourists is much smaller than the above mentioned lands, but even so it is large enough to require some pre planning in order to see the site properly.
I was fortunate to have a guide from the Jordan Tourism Board taking me to all the great places I saw in Jordan, so I’m able to relay some of the information that he shared with me about Petra and how to take advantage of your time there. If you would like your own guide at Petra, licensed tour guides can be booked from the Visitor Center to take you through the site. The guides speak Arabic, English, French, Greek, and Italian.
Let’s begin with the passes that you will need to purchase to visit Petra.
- They do not accept credit cards, so bring Jordanian Dinars only
- You can buy one, two, or three day passes
- Children under 15 enter free
- Locals, Residents, Students with a valid Jordanian university ID, and Arab Nationals pay only 1 JD for access to Petra
- Camel and donkey rides are also available on the site after the Treasury, at extra cost.
Ticket Prices
Tourists spending only one day in Jordan, like daily visitors from neighbouring countries, will be charged different (higher) entrance fees than those spending more time in Jordan (overnight visitors). Cruise ship passengers are considered overnight visitors too.
Visitor Type Price
- 1-Day Visitor 90 JD
- Overnight Visitor 1-Day Pass 50 JD
- Overnight Visitor 2-Day Pass 55 JD
- Overnight Visitor 3-Day Pass 60 JD
- Children under 15yrs Free
- Locals, Residents, Students, Arab Nationals 1 JD
In my opinion, you will need at least two days to see Petra properly, and I would highly recommend the three day pass if you have the time.
The Monastery or Ad-Deir at the top of an 800 step climb

Day One:
Plan on visiting “Little Petra” which is not far from Petra itself. Visiting the smaller and lesser known part of Petra will give you an idea of what to expect and if you have a car it’s just a short drive away. I’m guessing that you’d have no trouble getting a taxi to take you there as well. I found it to be an interesting tease on what was to come at “Big” Petra. I’ll have some photos of Little Petra in a future blog post.
After taking the time to visit Little Petra and having settled into your hotel, go purchase your (hopefully 3 day) pass to Petra. At this point I would suggest doing only Petra by Night on the first day and leaving the exploration of the site to the two following days. Petra by Night is a magical experience, one deserving of it’s own series of photos, so look for that soon on my blog as well.
The Siq and Treasury are lit by over 1,500 candles plus whatever moonlight is available, and it will take your breath away. The experience (especially if everyone is quiet) is one you will never forget. I found it to be the perfect introduction to the Lost City and I was transported back thousands of years in my mind as I sipped on tea, took my photos, and listened to the narrative and music. Needless to say, I was ever so eager to see sunrise the next morning, knowing full well that I would be seeing so many more astonishing historic sites in Petra.
The facade of the Monastery measures 47m x 48m

Day Two:
Yes, that’s your alarm clock and wake up call at 5 AM! Do yourselves a favour and get to the entrance by 6 AM. You’ll be one of the few people that take advantage of the quiet solitude of strolling through the Siq while it is devoid of voices, other than your own. It is a truly beautiful thing to experience and approaching the Treasury while there are no (or few) other people around; it will amplify the awe that you feel. It is a totally different experience in the day as it is at night. If you don’t want to (or can’t) walk the site, hire a horse-drawn carriage to enter the site and then you can hire a donkey, horse, or camel inside the site (the donkeys are quite useful for climbing).
Be sure to pace yourselves and understand your level of physical fitness. While this isn’t a mountain climbing experience, you will be walking (or riding) quite a bit, usually under a hot sun.
Spend the day exploring Al-Siq, The Treasury, Street of Facades, The Theater, The Royal Tombs, The City Center, Qasr Al-Bint Temple, and Al-Habees Museum; then have lunch and relax for a spell, your feet will love you!

After lunch and a rest, stay indoors and check out the Petra Archeological Museum while the sun is still high in the sky. The best time to attempt the 800 plus step climb to the Monastery (Al-Deir) is late afternoon when it is in the shade. It is well worth the climb! (see photos below). Once at the top, you can once again relax in a rest area partly inside a cave just in front of the Monastery. There is a gift shop that sells beautiful silver jewelery and other items that are made by the local Bedouin people. Relax, have a cup of Arabic coffee or tea to boost your energy before the trek back down. The return is all downhill and that’s a nice way to end the day. You’ll experience the most beautiful golden sunset light in Petra on the tail end of day two if you manage to be leaving close to the closing time of 6 PM.
What a day!
I couldn’t resist a self portrait at the Monastery

Day Three:
Today would be a great day to forget to set your alarm. Sleep in you brave explorer, you deserve it! Today’s trek back into Petra will be a shorter one but still exciting. You’ll once again enter via the Siq, Al-Siq, see the Treasury, High Place of Sacrifice, The Lion Monument, The Garden Temple Complex, The Triclinium, The Renaissance Tomb, The Broken Pediment Tomb, The Roman Soldier Tomb, and then with a great big smile on your face head back to your hotel for a well deserved dinner of local Jordanian food.
That’s 3 days that you’ll never forget!
The lounge at the Monastery in Petra

The lounge at the Monastery in Petra
Tips for your visit to Petra
- The ideal time for photography is like in most places, early morning and late afternoon.
- Stay hydrated! Make sure that you drink at least a couple of litres of water a day. Dehydration will ruin your trip, trust me.Wear a hat or head scarf, the sun can be brutal, even if you don’t immediately feel it.
- Wear sunscreen SPF 45 or higher. This is not the place to work on your tan. Seek the shade wherever possible, it’s easy to get sunstroke in the desert areas like Petra.
- Comfortable shoes and good wool hiking socks are a must. Be kind to your feet, they take you everywhere you go.
- Wear quick drying clothes, cotton is not your friend when hiking.Bring a light jacket, it actually does get cool even if the sun is out.
- Be respectful and keep in mind that this is an Islamic country. Modesty in dress code is recommended.
- Bring snacks like trail mix. You may find yourself in need of a quick energy boost.
- Have coins available for tipping.
- Bring your camera!
- Stop and talk to the Bedouin people, they will likely ask you to join them for tea and a chat. Please tip them something appropriate like 1-2 JD.
- Be quiet and respectful at the Petra by night ceremony, talking during the proceedings makes you the tourist that everyone hates.Don’t try and do the tour in one day, trust me.
- For an enhanced experience, hire a guide.
The Monastery or Ad-Deir

The couple in the photo above are totally dwarfed by the immense facade of the Monastery, which measures 47m x 48m. Similar to the Treasury, the Moanstery’s name is misleading and is not, nor ever was, an actual Monastery. Inside the Monastery you will find a single room with double staircases and the actual past use of the structure is still debated today. Some say that it may have been dedicated to the deified Nabatean king Obodas I, who ruled in the 1st century BC.There is a path that leads to the top of the urn, at the top of the center column of the facade, but it is generally not permitted for anyone to access it without special permission.
The Siq, the principal route into Petra

United Nations (UNESCO) World Heritage Site
UNESCO’s World Heritage mission is to:
- Encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their natural and cultural heritage
- Encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List
- Encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites
- Help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and professional training
- Provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger
- Support States Parties’ public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation
- Encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural heritage
- Encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world’s cultural and natural heritage.
The Petra Archaeological Park (PAP) covers a 264 dunum (264,000 square metres) area within Wadi Musa, which is considered a tourism and archaeological site and a World Heritage Site registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1985.
You can read more about Petra on the official UNESCO World Heritage Centre website.
Who else is on the list? World Heritage List
Light and shadow areas of the Siq in Petra

Light and shadow areas of the Siq in Petra
Personal thoughts on Petra
There are a lot of special places on the face of the planet, and then there are the exceptionally amazing places like Petra that defy description. Even with all the photos I have posted today, I have just scratched the surface of the sights to see in the Lost City. I could have shown hundreds of photos, but I’m saving some for a few future articles that I’ll be posting here on my blog. I could have used a week, if not more, to truly capture Petra’s charm and beauty with my camera, but that just wasn’t possible. Just for this reason I’d love to go back one day to continue what I started there.
One of the things about this job is that I rarely get the chance to just absorb the feelings in a place like Petra. I’m too busy trying to get my shot, and then moving to the next one. While I realize that I’m lucky to be visiting such incredible historic sites, sometimes I wish that I could do it with no camera and just enjoy the serenity, beauty, and grandeur of the place. Then again, I would never forgive myself for not taking the best possible photos that I can in these types of places, since I never know if I’ll be fortunate enough to return in the future. This way, with the photos that I have, I am always able to take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the places that I have travelled to and loved. As I take a look at my images, months and years later, my mind races with the incredible memories of the people I met, the sights I saw, the foods I enjoyed, and the feelings that I experienced.
With these photos, that I have shared with you today, I hope that I was able to convey some of what I believe makes Petra such a fantastic and unique place. Jordan was a trip filled with historic and natural wonders and I would urge anyone with a love of history, sense of adventure, or a curiosity of different cultures to consider Jordan for one of those trips of a lifetime.
Ma’a salama!
مع السلامة


I love this post Ken. Not only are your photos incredible as usual, the information and tips are awesome. You are providing people with great information on visiting Petra and I loved the little lists that you did, I didn’t know who the other finalists were for the 7 wonders of the world. Excellent post, I think it is one of your best. The photography, writing and information what a great package!
Wow, quite the epic post and a great writeup after your visit. Petra looks amazing and I am sure you will be one of the ones to say that as great as the photos are, they don’t do Petra justice. That is just how grand some places around the world are.
Thank you for sharing
The pictures and your description make me speechless. I have been to Petra but your post had the effect of making me not even been there. Your ability to catch the beauty of the place with your camera is just awesome.
Great work keep it up. I will be following you on twitter to keep informed with such great posts.
Ken, you’ve outdone yourself! First, these photos are BEAUTIFUL. You really captured the magic of Petra. Second, you provided all of the information a traveler needs to visit this destination. A very thorough and handy guide. I haven’t written my Petra post yet, but will link to this when I do. Thanks for taking the time and energy to create this!
incredible stuff. so many mamories coming into my head… you did get the sanctuaries with no people. so you woke up early… great pics, congratulations.
Fantastic post! Seriously, it has everything: great photography and some really informative advice and tips.
Wow, your photographs are amazing, stumbled on your blog via Mia Starr…. and a lovely insight into your trip, will definitely be back… Stay blessed!
Happy to find you on Twitter, Ken. Your photography is stunning. I’ve got a lot to learn from your blog!
You are such a genius, it truly blows me away!!!
Ken,
Absolutely fantastic post. Incredible photos as always. Thanks for sharing with us all!
This IS “epic” Ken, you were right! I love your blog more and more every day :) I even feel the urge to get a ticket and go to Jordan right now! You are invited, let’s go!
Thank you for all the wonderful photos. I have been to Petra, but my camera did not capture what yours did!
Great post. I love your photos. Thanks for sharing.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Wow, gorgeous shots, Petra is truly stunning.
You put a lot into this post and it’s much appreciated. Loved the blend of sweet photos with interesting info. Great work Ken. Take a break once in awhile man.
Great post. Very informative and beautiful shots, of course!
Real nice pictures you have here Ken. It’s very informative too! After absorbing all the info on this historic place I guess it’ll very likely be my next getaway place. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, Ken! Awesome photos of Petra!
Amazing pictures and such comprehensive writeup! We are bookmarking this for when we make our trip to Petra in the future! Nice job!
I highly recommend Jordan for vacation. I have been all over the world, but Jordan was my favorite trip of all time.
Stunning shots. And good advice not to try it in a day. There are few wonders of the world you can do it in a day, and when you try to, you spoil the experience utterly.
Petra is just simply amazing and wonderful, just best destination of the tourists. the camel rides is another exciting thing to be experienced there.
Gorgeous photos! Makes you feel like you have actually gone back in time.
Wow, what a post? The photos are great but the info and research are on par. Well done. Could not help but comment and stumble.
Tips hat,
I’m Jordanian, and I would like to tell you that people from all nations are most welcome in Jordan, we are more than happy to help any tourist explore our Home-land of Jordan, it’s small yet rich in history and culture. please contact me if you are thinking about visiting Jordan, visit this website for more info :) http://www.visitjordan.com/
Love the photographs. We’re going to Israel and have 2 days planned in Jordan. Need to check if this is on the itinerary.
Did you have any issues with your photography equipment at customs or security? I’ve looked at different websites and there were a few stories about equipment being confiscated but I can’t find anything about not being able to take photography equipment except to be respectful of different areas and times.
Thanks again for the beautiful photos! Kitty :)
This is my favorite post of yours too! Love the photos as always. We were just in Petra last month and I was amazed that it is such a fantastic place for family travel.
Hard not to love Petra eh? Even for someone who has seen much of the world. It’s one of those great places that still surprises no matter how many photos or videos one sees.
WOW! I read this almost without blinking. My compliments for this amazing description of Petra. As for the photos, they are awesome, as always.
Thanks sooooo much to everyone who left a comment here. I’m really touched by all the nice things you said.
_
I had such a great time in Petra that I wanted to write a special article that would do a good job of enticing everyone to go and experience this wonderful place. Over ten thousand views in less than 48 hours… How nice to see that it was well received.
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Now what are you waiting for… Go see Petra for yourselves already!
:)
Ken, I looked in the thesaurus for a word to describe your photo essay and found none. Your masterful pictures, your informative essay, your entire presentation is just “stupendous”. That is the closest thesaurus word that I could find. THANKS TO YOU I WANT TO GO TO JORDAN.
Your perspective from the cliff tops is amazing! I’ve never seen the site from that view before. It looks giant.
Some great photos Ken, as expected! ;-)
Hi Ken,
Fantastic photos, I love them all.
Lots of very usefull informations.
Keep the good work coming.
Maciek
It s my dream!!so lovely,i want to see Petra:))
I am sure many people have commented on how awesome your photos are. And they are right! But they wouldn’t be half as amazing if you hadn’t included all the info and tips! Real good stuff. First it was Wildjunket and now you: you guys convinced me I HAVE GOT TO go to Petra. :)
*I seem to be having issues trying to comment so my apologies if you see this more than once.
I really enjoyed the photos and descriptive read …
What an amazing experience and you captured it so beautifully! Thank you for sharing your trip and tips—Petra is definitely on my list of places to visit!! ~Tricia
Excellent post for information, tips and photos. I love the perspective shot of the monastery with the 2 people in front of it. Really gives you an idea how massive it is.
Wow this is really incredible! Your pictures are absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing them as well as the travel information, it’s always good to get firsthand tips that you don’t always hear in travel guides. Definitely hope to go someday, but at least I have one world wonder checked off my to-see list (Chichen Itza)! And I must add that Mexico has many other impressive ruins besides these!
WOW! Those are some awesome pictures…I know where I want to go for my next trip! :)
Thank you for capturing this truly magnificent place so beautifully and sharing it with us.
Such beautiful landscapes.Love all of your pictures and petrajordan so much.Nature is so wonderful.Thanks for your sharing
I have seen a lot of travel blogs highlighting the beauty of Petra and Jordan lately, but this is one of the best. Gorgeous photos!
Wow Ken. It’s not all that often that I’m as moved by a travel post the way this one did. Great combination of amazing photos, great information, and the je nesais qua…thanks. ~Vago
FANTASTIC! I love the pictures you captured Petra the way it should be and thank you for the great post along with every picture you posted. You are just awesomely talented :))
I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days..
Looks like you had an awesome time there, so much information!
I have always wanted to go there, your pictures have just made me want to go even more :)
This is amazing! The photos are just incredible, the colours are amazing!
I hadn’t considered Petra until now… great work :)
this is really a great post.. very informative Look forward to reading your next post.
Wow!..it’s beyond wonderful! I surely would want to visit Jordan too…You are a great photographer..I am loving Petra now..thanks to you.
Looking for info on 3-day passes for Petra I ‘stumbled’ on your site. Stumbled into an imperial heaven. The most fantastic and mind soothing photos of Petra I have seen. Compliments wont even do them justice. I cant wait to go there. Great blog!
I think I enjoyed this post like never! Great job Ken!
Ken, these are gorgeous photos! The information you provide is very comprehensive. My favorite shot: View from inside one of the Cave Tombs in Petra – a tricky shot to compose!
Wow, what a wonderful bunch of kind comments!
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Thanks everyone, it’s so nice to know that the work that went into the photos, and the research I did on Petra was so well received. This is one of the best parts of the job, sharing the beauty of the places that I visit, with so many people from all over the world.
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I truly appreciate each comment that you take the time to share with me. Look at me… I’m grinning ear to ear :D
Wow wow wow! This post is really something…quite a treat to the senses…not just the images, but the entire story built around your trip. This is very very good Ken…would love to see many many posts like this from you :)
Did I mention earlier that I am a BIG fan already :)
Thank you so much for your tips and sharing your experiences. I am visiting Jordan next month so I will be putting them to good use. Now if only I can convince my traveling companions to get up at 6,
Great gigantic pics ….as if I am looking at the real things..you must have enjoyed every minute of the scene…
An idiot abroad went there before you did.
Awsome pictures! Thank you.
No wonder why it should be on 7 Wonders of the World. Petra is just amazing as others.Too bad for the Philippines has no entry, but those places that was on the list are simply great.
Stunning photos and amazing perspectives in those images. Glad I stumbled across it :)
Hi Ken,
Thank you for sharing your experience and photos in Petra. I agree with you – Petra is worth is. It is stunning!
I had the chance to see Petra last month but very hurriedly – 4 hours as it was not part of my itinerary. It really helped to have a guide.
My friends and I are planning of going together and we would like to arrange our trip and have a tour guide in Petra and Wadi Rum. May I know how you arrange for your tour guide ahead of time? Who do we contact for arrangements?
I look forward to hearing from you.
More power to you!
The pictures are simply STUNNING! I was fortunate enough to go there last year with my daughter. We crossed the border from Egypt, then entered from Israel. SOOO glad we made the extra effort to go. I want to go back!
Love, LOVE the pictures! So glad I was able to see this place.
I’m from Jordan. And I would like to THANK Ken for the stunning pictures of the Rose City. The best I’ve seen for the incredible city of Petra. I would like to master that photography technique!
Hi ken
Great blog, you have captured this Oh so well,great pics, loved it.
this is an amazing post and the pictures are so great i like it
wonderfull pics
wow, you have beaautiful memories:) I am going to Jordan in two weeks and your post and specially pics just make even more impatient to get there.
I’m glad I saw this blog. Photos are gorgeous, the notes and tips are very helpful. I will print this out when I visit Petra. Thanks for sharing!
#1 on my list of places I need to shoot. I’ve shared this blog many times via both Twitter and Faceback. Your photos of Petra incite my always smouldering wanderlust … it’s only a passport, a camera and a tripod away …
I am a tour guide of petra and jordan, i was impressed in what you’ve done and posted ken… well done.
i enjoyed it as if i never been to petra!!!
please anytime you come back or wants any help, it will be my extreme pleasure to help.. i may add something to your experience.
thanks for saying all this about my town petra.
Ken, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed such a site as this! Wonderful and so informational. Now I want to go to Petra more than ever. Thanks so much. You’re awesome!
It’s a beautiful city. Loved the post and the pictures.
Wow! Nice blog. Good information here. I really enjoy reading them.
These are some of the most beautiful pictures i’ve seen for Petra! Thanks for the wonderful post.
Inspiring photos. For a moment … or longer … I returned to Petra. I traveled with a photographic group. We climbed to the Holy Mount to photograph “sunrise over Petra”. Climbing the goat trail (tiny steps up the side of the mountain), who would appear? The goats, of course, and the Bedouin herders, one in brilliant attire that stood out (with no need for a spotlight) amid the Earth tones of the nature-scape. Descending the mountain along those same tiny steps, my leg muscles were stiff. By the time I was walking through the Siq, the muscles locked up. Sitting on the side of the road, I pictured myself dying of thirst. (Those were days before mobile phones!) But, along came a young Jordanian lad with his horse. I knew a few Arabic words, but not enough. Hand gestures eventually worked, along with the equivalent of yes, no, please and thank you. For about $3USD and a small bag or 2 of M&Ms (my emergency food stash in foreign lands) “we” negotiated my horse ride to my lodging. My life was saved! (That’s an exaggeration, but at the time it seemed possible.) Petra is on my Top 10 wonders … and travel memories! Thank you, Ken Kaminesky for sharing your extraordinary talent and generous spirit!
I am interested in doing a photography trip to Jordan. May I guide with who your tour provider is?
Hi Henry,
I run photo tours in Jordan.
http://dreamphototours.com/jordan-photo-tour/
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks so much Sandy for the kind message and for sharing your memories. It put a smile on my face :-)
UNBELIEVABLY amazing photos..
Love them
it seems they’re a blend of more than one shot to get all the details as it’s shown
great job
Oh what great wonders!! I am awe struck and must visit this ancient place on Mother Earth. Thank you for sharing these spectacular photos. They sweep me away and stir emotions beyond words.
i love petra it is great and wonderful
i love petra too
What a fantastic post Ken! Beautiful photos and loads of key info. I’m going for the first time this month and this is a really useful taster, really can’t wait now! Thanks for sharing!
Petra is a fantastic place for visiting.I am intrested in visiting this place again.
i would like to see petra how pretty is it
You completed some nice points there. I did a search on the subject and found most folks will go along with with your blog.
I love your pictures of Petra. I have been there myself, and it truly is remarkable, very hard to put into words how magnificent it really is. You did a great job in the writing and photography, made me relive the experience, for that I thank you!
Great to see pictures of Petra. Brought back some very happy memories. Diolch!
ilike It and love it. pictures of Petra This would be one of the best tours to Petra
Many thanks for you and for this photo, Petra Very nice from your eyes and cam, by this photo you will help us to have more tourist in Jordan, thank you
we are tour operator in Jordan and we understand this very well.
thank you again
Wow! These pictures are stunning. I came back from Petra not longer than one week ago and they truly show the beauty of this place.
How did you manage to take pictures without people? When I was there it was crowdy like hell…
J.
http://one-penny-trip.com/
Such beautiful photos…total sensory overload!
Wow!! Those were brilliant pictures!!
May I ask in which month of the year did you go?
Ashwin, These images were all shot in April
basically, don’t visit Petra because you will feel in love with this superb ancient city.
love hurts!
mike
Another photographic proof that Jordan is a beautiful country worth to visit :)
Thanks for sharing the experience!
You know, this place is really amazing. I am sorry about that last comment my three year old is challenged. I am really looking forward to visiting!
Thanks so much! We are visiting in the spring. Great information and photos!
amazing photos! congrats :)) I have so many memories in petra!
Amazing Blog and exquisite photography #KenKaminskyPhotography of one of the new 7 wonders of the world!! I will be in Jordan before end of week – thrilled to have had the opportunity to share your blog post!!
Great post…excellent quality of pictures.
Here is the link to my blog…we loved Petra as well.
http://tickingthebucketlist.blogspot.in/2014/06/petra-rose-red-city.html
Hi Ken,
Your blog was a great inspiration. I found the cave where you’ve clicked one of the pictures. Was amazing, and no one seemed to know about it. I did click some pictures, ofcourse no where close to your pictures, but definitely satisfactory for me. Do have a look here : http://wp.me/P3AkL9-eg
As seen in the movies, the way you shown the location to us here is much incredible. Hats off to your photography.
Unbelievable experience for me and my family, Because they were always wanting to remarkable tour and I decided to go to Petra ,Because I came to know about the place and tour details from one of my friends ,when I got my experience ,I have no words to say , best time to arrange your Israel Petra tours is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), which offer best climate. April month is the peak time in this aspect. However, the best time to enjoy the grandeur of Petra by early morning and the middle of the morning or by late afternoon.Thanks so much to mantis-tours.com for their service and ambience .
great post and gorgeous pics of petra ,i always want to go petra in jordan.
Thank you for posting these pictures. I’m reading (again) the Left Behind series. In it the Jews go to Petra where the Lord protects them from Antichrist. Your pictures help me to visualize what I’m reading about. My greatest dream is to visit Israel and Petra. I pray the Lord will allow me to before He returns. God bless.
Super photos! Petra has been on my list for the longest time and looking at your photos I have pushed it up several notches on my list. :)
Petra is there for ever , i went there last month from Amman to Petra by a private car and a driver it is only 3 hours in a very nice ssenic road trough the kings high way , Amman and Petra is a must do place in his lifetime
Trust me whatever you have written is so true to the tea.
I am still not able to come to terms with myself that I did the entire 12.5km trek with some 800 steps.
Pls note you never have to come through the same way down.
I had got an amazing tour guide by the name of Abdullah, who took us through this trek and later we walked another 40-45 mins and there were 2 cars waiting for us.
These cars are also 4×4 and if you have been to Dubai safari, the ride back will remind you of the same.
I feel it was a dream, but I dnt know if I ever dreamt such a place in my dreams also.
MUST MUST AND A MUST VIAIT PLACE.
I feel this place should be among one of the places to see before you die !
Lost city of Petra ! Wow ! U left me speechless, awestruck and in love with you.
A part of me is left behind here i feel !
I first heard of Petra when I saw that Indiana Jones movie. I still haven’t made it there yet, but these photos are convincing me that I really need to go there.
Hi really Petra is full of incredible places which very famous for their rich culture. Last month I visited Petra with my friends. According to one of my friend\’s suggestion we took the service of mantis-tours.com, a local travel agency of there which helped us to visit all the places of it at an affordable price. Thanks to it for making our trip so memorable and enjoyable.
hi this is a good site
The photography, writing and information what a great article! Thank you sharing. We love travel.
Thank you for these wonderful photographs of Petra. However, I enjoyed your writing just as much!
Thank you author for this amazing post. It’s a beautiful city. Loved the post and the pictures.
I value the post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
I show same zigzag water engineering srilanka. That. Older than Petra.
Question:
I am looking at an article on MSN.com from today saying that Petra would have had to have used scaffolding and that it had not been invented yet at the time it was built.
My question is, why couldn’t they have simply started carving it out from the top down including carving out the hollow before the building?
Comments?
Ken,
I don’t usually comment on anything but considering Petra is at the top of my list to see I have to say that you did a wonderful job describing it and your feelings of it. Your pictures are wonderful. HDR? I am going to save this post for when I do go to Petra and I will be taking your advice on the 3 or more day stay. Thank you so much! This post is awesome and is going to make my trip there fantastic based on all of the knowledge and advice you have shared.
Thank you deeply,
Robyn
Hey Robyn, You should come with me in October! Details: https://www.discoveryphototours.com/photo-tours/jordan-photo-tour-with-petra-2017/
good article. nice photos, very informative.
Ken,
Thanks so much for the great article. We will be traveling to Petra in November. I am trying to learn all I can so we can have the best experience possible….your blog and pictures were amazing!
Thanks!!!
The place looks all the more beautiful through your eyes. Nice reading about your fantastic experience.
Amazing pictures and beautiful places !
Thanks Ken Kaminesky, Agreed, Petra is an incredible location. We have been to a lot of the great ruins on earth…the Pyramids, Angkor Wat, Tikal, Machu Picchu… and Petra is something very different and unique from anywhere else.
We do believe that our country is one of the most beautiful countries around the world. It’s located in the heart of the Middle East and has a great history. Jordanian people are proud of their identity and they are very friendly.
Grat photos, I would love to visit Petra some day. I wonder how much 1 Jd in American Dollar
Wow! Nice blog. Good information here. I really enjoy reading them.
Such a beautiful country! Thank you on a detailed impressive guide! Saved your post for the future 🙂