The city of Petra is the prized possession of Jordan. Rediscovered to the west in 1812 by a Swiss explorer, the 2000 year old city is a legacy of the Nabataean Arab inhabitants whose rich culture, ingenious architecture and sophisticated city life remains well preserved and etched into the heart of southern Jordan. It is without doubt a magnificent city that stirs the human spirit and exemplifies the heights of world civilisation and therefore is the most spectacular tourist site in all of Jordan.

Located deep within a narrow desert gorge, Petra's most striking features are the towering temple facades carved into cliff faces and dramatic tombs. To enter the city visitors must first arrive on foot or horseback (or camel) and pass through the main gate called Bab Asiq. This leads to a mile long chasm that ripped through the mountain in a prehistoric quake. Weaving your way through the Siq and flanked by 200m cliff walls you pass inscriptions of ancient scripts and rock-cut chambers carved in sandstone.

At the end of the siq, Petra's most fabulous monument, the Treasury, appears in all glory and magnificence. Local legend has it that the urn on top of the monument held the Pharoah's treasure, hence the name. Probably built for the Nabatanean King Aretas III, this towering facade was used in the final sequence of the Hollywood epic Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. However the journey does not end here.

There are numerous walks and tours that reveal the many wonders of Petra and that lead you to the beautiful theatres, facades, tombs, water works, rock drawings and various other monuments and antiquities. These sites are best visited during the early morning and late afternoon when the sun warms the multi-coloured stone and a full week's stay is required for anyone wanting to get the most out of Petra. There are also many high places to climb, some more demanding than others, that provide panoramic views of the city and some amazing desert scenery.

Accommodation in Petra ranges from a number of five star hotels to cheaper hostels for the budget traveler. During the high seasons in spring and autumn booking in advance is highly recommended. There are also many places to eat from markets and streets stalls to expensive restaurants.

A short distance away are several historical sites well worth visiting. Within an hour's drive from Petra is the 12th century Wu'eira Crusader Castle, abandoned when Salahideen routed the Crusaders in Jordan in 1189. Ten minutes north is Siq al-Barid, a once prosperous area that now hosts a number of tombs, temples, staircases and other interesting structures. A trip further in time yet only five minutes southwest is the Neolithic town of Beidha. Here you can see examples of early settlements whose walls, staircases, grinding stones and doorways remain to this day though built around 7000 BC. Other sites within close proximity include the ancient site at Udruh and the Roman Fortress at Danjaniyaa.