Petra Tourist Traps

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The walk is spectacular through the Siq and to the treasury and then you have the choice of walking on to the Monastery. I did it all last August. It was hot but I am Australian so I do not mind the heat. You can use donkeys, horses and/or camels for part of the way but if you love animals this may not be an option for you. Some handlers treat them pretty badly by Western standards. Beware of anyone wanting to take you off the regular tourist walks because they are probably scammers. They want your money - big time and they will do or say anything to get it. Mostly they are not to be trusted. If you are a solo female traveller be especially wary as you are number one on the scammers' list of targets. I have told my story many times to the Jordan police and on the net so I will not repeat it here. Just be very careful but the Walk is a must to do when in Petra. Petra is magnificent.

The Tourist Trap here is the local men who prey on unsuspecting female tourists, especially those travelling alone. They are expert, well-practised and devious with what they do and say. It can be dangerous e.g. rape or very costly e.g. embezzlement.

Unique Suggestions: Do not take too much money when you visit Petra.
Do not go off the beaten tourist path.
Do not believe anyone who tells you "You have beautiful eyes", It is usually their opening line!

Fun Alternatives: You must go to Petra as the whole experience is magnificent but always use a government of Jordan registered tour guide and stick to the main tourist routes.

I am not saying that this is very bad but this place is very popular and so also very crowded, if you can, try to get as early morning as possible so you can to avoid the crowed as well as the desert heat.

If you are planning to go to Petra by a tour operator from Eilat it is going to cost nowadays around 240 US. But, if you go by yourself...how? by taxi to the border, cross the border, and a bus on the other side to Petra, you are going to spend around 140 US. But to make it cheaper you have to make a reservation on a hostel for 2 nigths in Petra and with that you pay less fee on the border visa.

There is a lot of pressure to use the donkeys to carry you up the 1000 or so steps... Please don't be tempted!
Many donkeys are over-worked and under-fed and are in a poor state. The maximum weight for a small donkey to carry is 50kg. Almost every tourist who climbs on these poor, wretched animals is well above 50kg (8stone) in weight. Please don't add to the abuse of these donkeys for the sake of a photo or because you can't face the journey on foot!

A tax is added to drinks in the large restaurant in the middle of the Petra site. Beware!
The maths of some of the waiters is rather... mmm... creative!

In our Petra by Candlelight visit one waiter had made an 'error' for over twenty people ---it was nearly a day's pay for him in 90 minutes! Of course the manager knew nothing of it...

Unique Suggestions: Check the calculations and demand a refund of the 'little extra'.

Just like at Giza at the Pryamids, here there are tons of people trying to sell you all kinds of junk !!!! I don't have a problem with people trying to make a living but they should be seperated in an area just to sell stuff...they approach you from all sides !!!! dirty chains, old coins, you name it they try to sell to you....not a pesty as in Eygpt but still they are everywhere....also there are camels, horses, donkey's everywhere...that means there poop is eveywhere also, so you must watch your step so you won't step in it !!!!!!

What a shame if only the Jordian goverment would do something about it !!!!!

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It is not permitted for motorized vehicles to enter the site. But if you don’t want to walk, you can hire a horse or a horse-drawn carriage to take you through the one kilometre Siq. For the elderly and/or handicapped, the Visitors' Centre, close to the entrance of the Siq, will issue a special permit (at an extra fee), for the carriage to go inside Petra to visit the main attractions. Once inside the site, you can hire a donkey, or for the more adventurous, a camel - both come with handlers and take designated routes throughout the site.

No surprise that the prices vary enormously but i just want to give an example with the famous donkeys in Petra. The starting price for foreigners for a donkey to get you up the 900 steps to one of the temples was 35 JD (app. 33 euro) while my local guide hired one for 2 JD (!). Since getting some form of transportation after hours of walking around by foot is very tempting, I recommend you do some serious bargaining before. You may not manage to achieve the success of my local guide but try to get closer to that amount ....

Fun Alternatives: The alternative is to walk both ways by foot which is certainly not impossible .... but really exhausting.