Petra Tour from Sharm El Sheikh | Sharm El Sheikh to Petra

Sharm El Sheikh to Petra Highlights:

• Explore the archaeological wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra.
• See the treasury of Al Khazneh, the Roman theater, and the 13 graves of the famous King Wall.
• Enjoy a delicious lunch after your explorations.

Program:

1. We will pick you up from your hotel (around 01:30 Am depending on the Hotel location in Sharm) and drive you to Taba Port.
2. You will enjoy the nature of the Sinai desert and a mountain of AL Aqaba golf while driving for about 2 and a half hours to Taba port.
3. You will take the ferry at around 5:30 am to sail across Aqaba golf and arrive in Jordan at around 8:45 am. Then you will drive for 2 more hours to reach Petra and start your adventure with your English-speaking guide.

Petra

In addition to, our guide will meet you at the arrival hall and start your journey with you.

You will marvel at the past wealth that’s lavishly displayed in its arts and architecture, nowhere more dramatically than in elaborate buildings, such as the Treasury, which were carved directly into the soft sandstone cliffs. The Nabataean capital was also a remarkable feat of urban planning. Some 30,000 people once lived in this dry desert, quenching their thirst by a channel and cistern system that harvested and stored winter rains for future use. The scheme worked well enough to accommodate many gardens.

The Canyon of Siq

Your first walk in Petra will be through the Canyon of Siq, a natural geological feature formed from a deep split in the sandstone rocks and serving as a waterway flowing into Wadi Mosses. This Canyon is one of the main reasons why Petra was such an amazing attractive site for the Nabateans behind a narrow and easily defensible canyon known as the Siq.

The Treasury of the Pharaoh

Your next visit will be to the great Treasury of the Pharaoh, known as Al Khazneh. This structure, one of the most elaborate buildings in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra, features classical Greek-influenced architecture. It was originally built, most likely between 100 BC and AD 200. The Arabic name, Treasury, derives from one legend that bandits or pirates hid their loot in a stone urn high on the second level. Additionally, another legend suggests it functioned as a treasury for the Egyptian Pharaoh of Moses’ time (Khaznet Far’oun).

Roman Theater

Next, you will proceed to the Roman theater. This period reflects a combination of Greek, Egyptian, and Syrian elements, which clearly points to the age of the Ptolemies. Towards the close of the 2nd century BC, as the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms faced decline, the Nabataean kingdom emerged prominently.

Under Aretas III Philhellene (c.85–60 BC), royal coins began to be minted. It is likely that the theater was excavated during this time, and Petra must have taken on the appearance of a Hellenistic city. Moreover, with the amazing skill of the Nabateans as excellent engineers, they constructed water conservation and irrigation systems. They also carved their homes, temples, graves, and tombs right out of the rocks.

Lunch

Next thing to do will be to get something to eat so your guide will take you straight to the city center to have lunch in an amazing restaurant.

Al-Habis Fort

After lunch and before we head back to the port, you will visit Al-Habis Fort, on top of Al-Habis, from there you have a fine view over the entire central Petra basin where Al-Habis Crusader Fortress is located. It is a secondary fortress, designed and sited to control the strategic communication route within the Petra basin that was not in sight of the Al-Wu’eira Fortress.

Back to Sharm El Sheikh

By the end of the day By, you will drive back to Aqaba port to sail by ferry back to Taba and then drive back to your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.