Petra Packing List: What Should You Wear to Petra in Jordan
Petra is the highlight of traveling in Jordan. If you want your visit to be as smooth as possible, it is also time to think of your outfit and clothes to pack. What should you wear to Petra to feel comfortable and to adapt to the conservative culture? Here's our ultimate Petra packing list.
Are you traveling to Jordan soon? Then we believe that your carefully crafted Jordan itinerary includes the ancient Nabatean city of Petra, which is the top attraction of this Middle Eastern kingdom.
But before you set off, it is necessary to deal with the practical stuff. One of the most important things before you start your travels is to decide what to pack and what to wear to Petra.
Because your packing list for Petra (and Jordan in general) should not only take into account seasons but also the Arabic culture.
For us, Jordan was the first country we've ever visited in this part of the world therefore, in the beginning, we were not entirely sure what clothes we should pack with us and what is better to leave behind.
The first thing you should consider before you start creating your packing list is the fact that Petra is vast. We spent there the entire day and walked more than 30 kilometers.
No matter if you prefer to take it slowly, and you will just leisurely explore the best places in Petra, you still should know that most of the time you will be walking on dirt paths, stone stairs, and narrow sandy trails.
Another must-know thing is that when the sun shines, it is extremely strong, and there is not that much shade.
Third, you should always dress respectfully. Even though we saw a few tourists wearing shorts or a very short dress, we still think that when traveling to a foreign country, we, as temporary visitors, should always wear appropriate clothes as an expression of respect to the locals who are often welcoming us warmly in their home country.
In this travel guide, we would like to share with you our Petra packing list and answer the repeating question of what should you wear in the Lost City of Petra (and Little Petra).
This packing list includes tips on what to wear in Petra in every season (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), and what you should have in your backpack, to enjoy your time in Petra unconditionally.
PETRA PACKING LIST
Our Petra packing list is practical. We want you to feel comfortable, and our aim is that you will have everything you might need for the all-day in Petra, prepared for all weather possibilities.
It is necessary to say that we are not Instagrammers, and the things we usually pack are functional.
If you are seeking a beautiful photo of yourself with one of the stone tombs on the backdrop, then you might add to your packing list your favorite jacket, casual clothes, or loose dress, which you think is photogenic.
Just remember that your knees and shoulders should be always covered.
When we think back of our trip to Jordan and how to dress, now we see that the key to success are layers. Dress smartly, and only adjust the number of layers to the time of the year.
We've written a full blog post on best time to travel to Jordan, where you can get a better idea of how the weather is like in different seasons.
Footwear | As we've already mentioned, there are many walking trails in Petra. Even if you want to see only the best of the site such as Treasury or Monastery, you will have to walk several kilometers.
Therefore comfortable shoes are a must.
We spent the whole day in our runners and found them fine, but you won't make a mistake when you pack your hiking shoes. We recommend hiking boots for multi-day hikes (you can for example hike from Dana Natural Reserve to Petra), or when it is too cold or rainy (rocks can be slippery, so shoes with better grip are useful).
We would not wear for Petra only flipflops, but sturdy sandals might be just fine for those of you who are used to wearing them.
Daypack | To pack all the extra layers, sunscreen, water, and snack, you will need a quality backpack with a waist strap. 15 - 20 liters backpack per person should be enough.
Except for the extra clothes and water, do not forget to bring cash. You might want to buy in Petra a tea from bedouins, refreshments, or hire a camel or donkey.
You can also leave some extra space in your backpack for souvenirs as the stalls with various clothes, scarfs or other decorations are plentiful.
Sunscreen & Lip Balm | The sun in Petra can be really unforgiving, not only in summer but later in the afternoon in winter as well. Sun protection is something that should not be missing in your daypack, so you can reapply it during the day.
We recommend to you sunscreen and sun lip balm (protects against the wind as well) with high SPF because we know that having a sunburn can ruin a vacation.
Sunglasses | To protect your eyesight, having sunglasses in Petra is a must. The sun here is strong, and you will find it useful even when the sun does not shine that day because the trails are dusty.
Trekking poles | Trekking poles are not necessary, but we saw quite many travelers walking with them. If you are used to walking with the poles, do not forget to pack them for your trip as well.
Bandana or Scarf | It is not compulsory to cover your head in Petra, even though for most of the locals it is a traditional component of their outfits. Either way, we think that having a bandana or scarf for visiting the Lost City is a must.
In general, you should always have it with you for the entire stay in Jordan. First of all, it protects you from the sun or swirling dust, and second of all, you can always use it when you want to enter a sacred place.
If you do not have a scarf with you, no worries. You can buy one in Petra, for example, the traditional keffiyeh.
Hat | Good old hat is also a wonderful thing to pack for visiting Petra.
You can choose whether you prefer a scarf or a hat, but regardless of your preference, you should have at least something to cover your head, at least for the time between midday and 3 PM when the sun is the strongest.
Multifunctional headwear will also do the job.
Socks | It might seem unreasonable, but we know that still, quite many travelers do not know what to expect from visiting Petra.
You should know that the site is not only about the walk through Siq to Treasury, where the day ends. No, you will most likely walk tens kilometers in order to see the best of this place.
Therefore, not only quality shoes but also comfortable socks will make your day troubleless.
For hiking, we love using socks from merino wool, but you can choose a material that suits you the best.
T-shirt | Except for sleeveless t-shirts, you can pack your favorite piece to feel comfortable in Petra.
From our experience, it is great to start a day in a light t-shirt with long sleeves, because it can get really cold in Petra when the sun is down, and then you can change to a t-shirt with short sleeves.
Again, it depends on the time of the year you are going to be in Jordan.
Winter months are really cold, so you might stay in the long-sleeved t-shirt all day, and there will be no need to bring the option for the warmer weather. Nowadays, most of the functional t-shirts are breathable and pleasant to wear, even when it is too hot.
Travel pants | Martin wore his light hiking trousers in Petra all day, and it was the best decision he could make.
It is fine to travel in Jordan in jeans most of the time, and you can, of course, wear them in Petra as well, in case this is the piece you never leave your home without, but as the visit of Petra requires quite a lot of walking, we think hiking trousers are a much better choice.
Linen Pants | Even though Petra is the most touristy place in Jordan and local people are used to seeing western travelers in tight leggings and sleeveless t-shirts, we think this is not appropriate clothing here.
If you do not want to wear hiking trousers, in shops there is a large selection of loose, comfortable linen pants, that are often quite fashionable.
Again, if you did not find suitable pants before your trip, this item can be easily bought in any Jordanian city, Petra including.
Fleece jacket | Petra opens at 6 AM, and no matter the time of the year, it is quite cold that early in the morning.
On the day of our visit, at the beginning of March, we needed a jacket for the first two hours before we started our climb to the High Place of Sacrifice, and then around sunset when it was quite cold in Siq during our way back to Wadi Musa, but still, we were glad we had a warm layer with us.
According to us, a fleece jacket is a must. If you plan on visiting Petra in winter, this item should not be missing in your packing list for sure.
Rain poncho or umbrella | Even though we all want to have clear skies when visiting Petra, the truth is, it can rain, and you should be prepared for all possibilities.
It does not rain that often in Petra, and most of the precipitation fall in the winter between December and February, yet we would not try our luck, and always pack a rain poncho, or at least an umbrella.
When it rains in Petra, it can surprisingly rain hard, and there are not that many places where it is possible to hide. The rain will not ruin your time in Petra, but the improper equipment could.
Waterproof jacket or windbreaker | In the summer, we think rain poncho is all you need for the bad weather, but during the colder months, we would pack a waterproof jacket as well.
It will not only keep you dry, but it is yet another layer that will keep you warm.
Regardless of what is the weather forecast, we always pack a windproof jacket. We simply do not want to be caught off guard, and we know that sometimes we carry a bit more than we should, but prefer to be well-prepared and enjoy the place than to feel sorry later.
Down jacket | For winter months, we would definitely pack a down jacket with us to Petra.
We did not have it for our visit in spring, even when the mornings were colder, it was enough to have a fleece jacket, but again, if you plan on visiting Petra in winter, we think you will find down jacket useful.
Said that, we actually wore a down jacket in Wadi Musa later in the evening as well.
Snack or energy bars | We spent in Petra all day, and because we do not like spending on food significantly more only because it is served near a tourist attraction, we bought snacks the day before in Wadi Musa.
There are restaurants and cafes in Petra, so you do not have to carry food with you if you do not want to, but you can at least pack energy bars because exploring Petra can be quite exhausting.
In Wadi Musa we bought bananas and pack of spiced buns, which was enough, and in the evening we enjoyed a traditional dinner consisting of hummus and baba ganoush.
Water bottle | There are no streams in Petra where you could refill your bottle, so this time your reusable water bottle will not be that useful.
We bought enough water in Wadi Musa for the entire day (we had 5 liters with us), but if you do not want to carry the extra weight all the time, you can buy water, tea, coffee or fresh juices within the site.
One of the biggest dangers in Petra is dehydration, so make sure you have always enough water, or there is always a place where you can buy it.
Hand Sanitizer | Obviously, you do not need cosmetics or items such as deodorant, but one thing we would pack in a backpack, is a hand sanitizer.
Camera | Petra is one of the most photogenic places we've ever been to. There are incredible stone tombs, wonderful viewpoints, and beautiful nature around, so make sure you have your fully charged camera ready.
For traveling, we have switched from a bulky DSLR camera and started using a compact mirrorless camera, the batteries are smaller, and do not last that long, we also always pack spare batteries (two to three), to make sure the camera will not run out of energy.
Also, extra memory cards are always a must.
Phone | There are not many people who set off on a day trip without a fully charged phone. We found having a phone in Petra quite useful because we downloaded the Maps.me app, and thanks to it we could navigate the trails in Petra more easily.
Guidebook | If you do not want to have a guide, but still want to know more about the history of the Nabatean city and about the architecture, you can either download a book in your phone or purchase Jordan Lonely Planet, where the most notable structures in Petra are described briefly, but understandably.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
