A visit to Petra, the rose-colored ancient city is on many travelers’s bucket list. Have you seen Indian Jones and the Last Crusade when they enter the temple that houses the holy grail? That is the treasury in Petra. It is a splendid sight. The experience of walking through the siq (narrow canyon of rose-red walls) into the opening, and suddenly seeing the huge facade of the treasury as the glow of the rising sun lights it up, is as magical and mysterious as it sounds. As famous as this tourist sight is, you still feel like you are discovering a secret, holy place. And, yes, you can visit Petra with kids! We did it with children ages 4, 2, and 6 months. I was breast-feeding even and carried the baby in a ergo baby carrier the whole time. (The baby was the best behaved boy actually!)
The rising sun hits the treasury in Petra
Tips for Petra with Kids
Go Early
Go as early as possible to beat the crowds and stay out of the mid-day heat. We visited in October which was lovely weather, hot but not oppressive, few bugs, not too dusty. But still, by mid-day it was toasty. Also in the morning you get a great photo of the treasury as the rising sun reaches just over the canyon walls to light it up.
Walk in. Ride Out.
Camel Caravan Carving
Have your children walk into the site. This is downhill and their
legs are fresh and they are excited for adventure. Then on the way back out feet start to drag.
This is where I highly recommend hiring the ponies, camels,
Through the narrow siq
carts, and horses to help pull you back. It is very worth it to keep cranky and exhausted children moving. Otherwise bring your sleeping bags! Going to Petra with kids will be a good workout, but there are spots to stop, sit, rest, and buy a cold drink.
I saw some people with strollers, so I guess they are allowed. We weren’t sure, so we didn’t use one. It would have been nice at times, but I don’t think we could have done horse rides out if we had been hauling the stroller. Plus the road in is not smooth.
Let exhausted feet rest on the way back. Plus kids love donkey rides.
Don’t Over Do It.
There are so many cool hiking trails that branch off to different sites and vistas. We knew our children could only handle so much walking, so we stuck to the main areas. Families with older children might be able to venture farther, but for those with the babies like us, don’t feel like you have to see absolutely everything.
Let your children explore.
It is fun to sometimes say “Okay – where should we go next?” and let them dictate your next move. My kids
loved scrambling in and out of caves and holes and climbing over rocks.
They also each got a bottle of sand art with a desert scene and camels to take home as a souvenir. We don’t usually go for souvenirs, but these were so cool to watch being made, and cheap, and a nice way to remember a trip. Plus my boys were such troopers!
Watching a man make sand-art bottles
Hire a guide
At least through the Treasury. We were so happy we did this and felt we really understood so much more about the site, like – what it might have been used for, what the people who created it lived, the religious beliefs they had and how they treated death, etc. Our guide was about $45 for 1.5 hours. He was very knowledge, spoke great English, answered questions, and was patient with our children.
We warned him before hiring him that with children along we might be a bit slower than most other clients. He understood.
Hotel & Food
Stay at the Movenpick Hotel. I am not sponsored in any way to say this. It was just the nicest hotel there and across the street from the park entrance, which made it perfect for an early start and a place to crash afterwards. We also loved the Jordanian/Palestinian restaurant behind the hotel, up the hill and up the side road. Wish I knew the name – it was nothing fancy but so delicious.
Overall Petra with kids is possible…and awesome! Do it – do it now.
Palestinian Food in Petra, Jordan
Have you been to Jordan and have something to add? Dream of visiting Petra? Don’t be shy – let me know in the comments!
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This looks wonderful! I’m a big advocate of travelling with children and tips like yours show everyone how it’s done. My two would love venturing into Indiana Jones territory and the donkey ride out is a brilliant idea. #MondayEscapes
Thanks Clare. I think it is impossible to visit and not hum the Indian Jones theme song the whole time 🙂
I loved Petra but visited way before I had children. I remember being surprised at how big the site was, particularly as you never tend to see many photographs of anything apart from the Tresury. It looks like your family had a great time! #Myfavouritetrip
We were amazed at how huge the site is too. We’d like to return one day and explore more off the main path and see Petra at night too! One day….
Great photos! #MondayEscapes
Kate | http://www.petiteadventures.org/
Thanks Kate!
Wow, wow and wow! I would absolutely love to go to Petra one day. It looks like you had a great trip. #MyFavouriteTrip
Yes – It’s awesome and I do hope you make it there! Thanks!
I’m quite pleased to read that you brought your 3 young kids to Petra – that’s amazing! I was in Petra a month ago and have seen a few families with very young kids with them. I don’t know how you did it but kudos to you! Petra is awesome, isn’t it? 🙂 #MondayEscapes
It is AWESOME. Yes, to be honest it was a physically taxing visit with the kids …but then I didn’t feel so guilty about how much Jordanian food I ate afterwards!
I have been to Petra and agree, it is stunning. I went long before having my son though and yours is the first post I’ve read about visiting with kids. Such an interesting account! The kids look like they had a great time and well done to you for taking three kids! It must have been an amazing experience for them and even if they don’t remember they will have photos to treasure forever. I think we stayed at the same hotel you mention! Thanks very much for joining in with #MyFavouriteTrip Polly
Thanks Polly. It isn’t the first place you might think to visit with young kids and it made for a good workout! But it was something we just HAD TO SEE while living in the Middle East, and I am so glad we went! The kids did end up loving it, and yes I do a photo book each year and the memories live on.
Such great tips – and Petra is somewhere I so want to do. Brilliant that the kids enjoyed it, too. I think I would definitely have to hire a guide. Thanks for sharing on #MondayEscapes
The guide was really helpful in explaining the different theories of what Petra was used for and pointing out features that we would have walked right past (like the water tunnel system). Thanks Ting!
Thanks so much for this super informative post. We are looking at Jordan for next Easter as we have an aunty now living there and of course Petra is high on our list. How did you get around between the airport & major sites?
Hi Keri! Definitely go for it. We LOVED Jordan and found it very doable with kids. And for you, having an aunty to visit there is a big bonus too! We hired a private van driver for the duration of our trip. We felt it was definitely worth the expense for the ease of movement and his expertise with the roads, parking, security checkpoints, etc. Plus the ease of traveling with kids and car seats and strollers. I will email you the contact info for our driver Khaled – he was great and very nice to kids. You can also drive yourself or take buses, especially to the main attractions like Petra. It has modern roads and signage. But we like the flexibility of our own transportation without the anxiety of figuring it out in a new country.
Great post dear. Thank you!!! Could you please email me also the contact details for the driver? We are looking to visit Jordan with our 6 month’s old son (after reading your post I feel reassured this is doable) 😉 Thanks a lot
Great post dear. Thank you!!! Could you please email me also the contact details for the driver? We are looking to visit Jordan with our 6 month’s old son (after reading your post I feel reassured this is doable) ? Thanks a lot