If Petra is in your future, you might consider…

           —things to check out, before and after you arrive—

Petra Fig Tree Villa

This incredible B&B, is a winner of Tripadvisor’s “Traveler’s Host Award,” being voted one of the top 25 B&Bs in the entire Middle East! What sets the best B&Bs apart from mere hotels and lodging?—top-notch personal attention to making you feel right at home. Petra Fig Tree Villa is hosted by its very congenial and sunny proprietress Jolanda Koopman, a transplanted Dutchie, who came to do voluntary work, fell in love with Jordan, and stayed to open a bed and breakfast. She devotes herself to making her home yours.

The establishment is just a ten minute walk from Petra’s main entrance, offering three guest rooms to choose from. The property also boasts an oasis-like garden, frequented by the many species of birds in the region. If you need knowledgable advice on reliable guides, transportation, birding and hiking opportunities, or anything else the region has to offer, Jolanda is ready to help. And she has the angel wings to prove it! (just ask her…)

— check out the Petra Fig Tree Villa website

— or check out Jolanda’s blog on the Petra area

The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Jordan, the Kingdom of Time, has a beautiful and useful site that outlines many of the attractions in Jordan, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city of Petra.

Before visiting the Kingdom, you should first:

• get to know Jordan,
• get to know its people, and culture,
• find out about entrance visas,
• and tourist site entrance fees

Jordan Pass— save on entrance fees!

When traveling to Jordan, the Jordan pass can save you some money. It comes in three versions, depending on the number of days you wish to spend exploring Petra. And beyond saving on Petra entrance fees, if you spend at least three nights in Jordan, you can avoid tourist visa fees if you purchase the pass before arriving. You also gain free entry to 40 other wonderful attractions in Jordan, and can download free digital brochures.

Jordan Wanderer— 70 JDs:

• 1 day visit to Petra
• Free entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan
• Free downloadable digital brochures
• Waiving of tourist entry visa fees if you purchase the Jordan Pass before arrival to Jordan and stay a minimum of three nights (4 days)

Jordan Explorer— 75 JDs:

• 2 day visit to Petra
• Free entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan
• Free downloadable digital brochures
• Waiving of tourist entry visa fees if you purchase the Jordan Pass before arrival to Jordan and stay a minimum of three nights (4 days)

Jordan Expert— 80 JDs:

• 3 day visit to Petra
• Free entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan
• Free downloadable digital brochures
• Waiving of tourist entry visa fees if you purchase the Jordan Pass before arrival to Jordan and stay a minimum of three nights (4 days)

Attractions in Jordan

Jordan Pass has a beautiful, explanatory and comprehensive catalog of attractions in Jordan. The photo-catalog also links to many Google-Street-View tours of many of the historic sites and museums.

Map of Jordan

Jordan Pass has a very useful map of the Kingdom of Jordan which you can download. 

Who were the Nabataeans?

• Ask Dan Gibson; Dan Gibson, historian and author of The Nabataeans, Builders of Petra relies on his several decades of studying the Nabataeans, and 60+ trips to Petra, to give us a video introduction to the Nabatu. He talks about who were they, and how were they able to perform the amazing things they did in becoming the economic powerhouse of the Mediterranean world. (about 30 minutes)