← All articles · Jordan ·

Petra

Petra beyond the postcard: the Siq, the Treasury, hidden viewpoints, the colourful chambers of the Royal Tombs, and the candlelit magic of Petra by Night.

Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and it earns the title within the first ten minutes. Walking the dramatic Siq canyon and catching that first sliver of the Treasury through the rock is a travel moment nothing quite prepares you for.

Hidden tombs, secret viewpoints, and Petra by night. Watch on YouTube

We spent the day going well beyond the postcard shot: the Royal Tombs with their colourful chambers hidden inside, the Roman Theatre, hidden viewpoints above the Treasury, and lesser-known corners that many visitors walk straight past. Along the way we picked up fascinating stories about the Nabataeans, the people who carved this entire city directly into the sandstone cliffs, and drank freshly squeezed pomegranate juice beside the Treasury, which we can highly recommend as a resting strategy.

Petra by Night

The highlight, though, was Petra by Night. Hundreds of candles light the path through the Siq before revealing the Treasury completely transformed. The evening builds into a show of music, storytelling and light projections, with complimentary sweet tea passed around, an atmosphere unlike anything we’ve experienced anywhere else.

If you’re building a Jordan itinerary, give Petra more than a flying visit, the hidden corners and the night show are what turn it from a photo stop into a memory.

Photos from Petra

Proof, from February 2026, that the place is as ridiculous as we keep saying: the walk in through the Siq, the Treasury from ground level and from above, the night show, and the slow morning after at our camp up the road.

Inga and Dileep standing in the narrow Siq canyon at Petra with the sun bursting through the gap in the rock walls above
The Siq, mid-morning, with the sun forcing its way through the crack above us. No filter, the canyon just does this.
Inga and Dileep standing between the giant columns at the entrance of the Treasury at Petra
Standing at the foot of the Treasury. The columns make you feel exactly as small as the Nabataeans intended.
Inga and Dileep lounging on striped Bedouin rugs and cushions at a clifftop viewpoint above the Treasury at Petra
One of those hidden viewpoints above the Treasury: rugs, cushions and the best seat in the ancient world.
Inga in a striped scarf standing in front of the Treasury at night, its facade glowing orange above rows of candles
Petra by Night. Candlelight, storytelling, and a facade that looks carved out of fire.
Inga drinking tea outside a white geodesic dome tent on a tiled terrace under a blue morning sky near Petra
The morning after, outside our dome tent up the road from Petra. Tea first, wonders of the world second.

There’s more from this trip on our YouTube channel, we film the real sights and sounds, no fluff. You’ll also find us on TikTok and Instagram.