Petra & Shobak Castle Tour Review: A Real Look at the Day Trip

So, you’re thinking about a big day out from Amman, right? You literally see pictures of Petra everywhere, and you kind of want to see what all the fuss is about. I was in the exact same spot, trying to figure out the best way to see these amazing places without getting totally exhausted or lost in a crowd. I looked at a bunch of options and decided to go for a private tour that covered not just the main event, Petra, but a little something called Little Petra and Shobak Castle too. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if packing so much into one day was a good idea. Still, the thought of having my own car and driver seemed like a pretty good deal. This is more or less my story of how that day went, the good bits, the tiring bits, and whether it’s the right choice for you, you know?

Basically, the idea of a private tour is comfort. You have a car, a driver who knows the roads, and you pretty much set the schedule. There’s no waiting for other people or sticking to a rigid bus timetable, which is honestly a big plus. The day starts really early, well before the sun is even up, which is actually a good thing. The drive from Amman down the Desert Highway is a long one, so you want to get a move on. I mean, you can see the landscape change from the city to these wide-open spaces, and it’s a pretty neat way to start the day. Anyway, let’s get into what you actually see and do on this very full day trip, and I’ll give you my honest thoughts on each stop along the way.

The Main Event: Standing Before Petra’s Treasury

Okay, so after a few hours of driving, you finally get to the Petra visitor center. You’ve seen the photos, right? But seriously, nothing quite prepares you for the real thing. The first part of your walk is through the Siq, this is almost like a very long, winding canyon with super high rock walls. It’s pretty amazing on its own. The way the colors in the rock change is just beautiful. Then, you know, you see that famous crack of light ahead. As you get closer, you see it – the Treasury, Al-Khazneh, framed perfectly by the dark rock of the Siq. It’s honestly one of those moments that you sort of just have to stop and take in. It’s much bigger in person, and the detail carved into the rock is kind of mind-blowing when you think it was done thousands of years ago. It can feel like you’ve walked right onto a movie set, really.

Of course, Petra is way more than just the Treasury. You could literally spend days here and not see everything. After that first big moment, you’re free to explore the wider area. You walk out into this open valley filled with tombs, temples, and old Roman-style streets. A lot of people, for example, make the long climb up to the Monastery, which is another massive building carved high up in the mountains. I mean, it’s a serious hike, but the views from up there are absolutely worth it. You should just be prepared for a lot of walking on uneven ground. So, I guess what I’m saying is that you need some pretty good shoes and a lot of water. You can find some more information about being prepared that might be a bit helpful for your own planning. Anyway, on a private tour, you can decide how much you want to walk and when you’ve had enough, which is a big benefit, to be honest.

“Frankly, that first look at the Treasury is one of those travel memories that just sticks with you. You’ve seen it a thousand times in pictures, but nothing, I mean nothing, compares to standing there yourself. The scale of it is just hard to get your head around.”

I found myself just sort of wandering down the Colonnaded Street, trying to picture what it was like when it was a busy place full of people. There are these huge temple ruins and an amphitheater, all cut from the same red rock. You just have to remember that a private tour day is long, so you have to manage your time. You probably won’t see everything, so you might want to decide ahead of time what your must-see spots are. For me, it was really just about soaking in the feeling of the main valley and getting that iconic Treasury shot, you know? At the end of the day, that alone was pretty much worth the entire trip.

A Quieter Moment: Discovering Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)

After the crowds and the sheer scale of the main Petra site, getting to Little Petra feels very different, you know? It’s just a short drive away, but it’s like a completely different world, more or less. Its name in Arabic is Siq al-Barid, which means the ‘cold canyon’. I mean, it’s a good name because it’s much shadier and narrower than the main Siq. There are way fewer people here, so you can actually stop and look at things without someone bumping into you, which is honestly a relief after the main site. It’s not about grand temples, really. Instead, Little Petra is sort of like a suburb of the ancient city. It’s believed this was a place where trading caravans would stop and rest before entering the big city.

The really cool thing about Little Petra is getting to see the insides of some of the carved rooms. You can climb right into these rock-cut spaces that were supposedly used as dining rooms for merchants. In one of them, the ‘Painted House,’ you can actually see the faint traces of ancient paintings on the ceiling, with vines and birds and stuff. It’s apparently one of the only Nabataean paintings like this that has survived, so that’s pretty special. You get a much more personal feeling of what life might have been like. This spot gives you a much better understanding of the human side of the Nabataeans, rather than just their big, impressive monuments. I’d definitely check out some historical background on this smaller site, it’s quite interesting. It doesn’t take very long to see it all, maybe an hour or so, but it adds a lot of context to your visit, and it’s a nice, quiet break in a very long day.

You can literally poke your head into all these little carved rooms and imagine people cooking and eating there. There’s a particular point at the end of the small canyon where you can climb up some stairs for a view of the surrounding mountains. It’s a very peaceful view. As a matter of fact, I almost enjoyed the quiet atmosphere here more than the busy main site. It felt a little more undiscovered, a little more personal. It’s just a nice addition to the tour that gives you a different perspective, you know what I mean? So, if you see it on a tour itinerary, don’t think of it as a small, unimportant stop. It’s actually a really great part of the experience.

A Change of Scenery: The Rugged Shobak Castle

Okay, so after being totally immersed in the world of the ancient Nabataeans, the last stop of the day, Shobak Castle, is a bit of a historical gear shift. You can see this castle from miles away. It’s basically this big, brooding ruin sitting on top of a lonely hill. It’s a Crusader castle, built in the 12th century, so it feels completely different from Petra. There are no delicate carvings here. Instead, it’s all about thick walls and strategic views. Honestly, after all the walking in Petra, just looking at it from the car park is pretty impressive in its own right.

Once you’re inside, you are pretty much free to just explore the ruins on your own. It’s not as preserved as some other castles, and in a way, that’s part of its charm. You can scramble over fallen walls and peek into dark chambers. The best part, I think, is just walking along the outer walls. The views of the surrounding hills and valleys are just incredible. You can really understand why they chose to build a fortress right here. There’s this one part, for example, where a guide might show you a secret escape tunnel that leads all the way down the hill to a water source. We didn’t go down it, but just knowing it’s there is kind of cool, right? You get a real sense of a totally different period of history in this part of Jordan.

Frankly, by this point in the day, you might be feeling a bit tired. This is where the private tour really comes in handy. You can tell your driver you only want to spend a short amount of time here, or you can stay longer if you have the energy. Unlike the Nabataean sites, Shobak is about power and control over the landscape. Seeing it on the same day as Petra is interesting, because you see how different cultures left their mark on the same region. As a matter of fact, understanding a little about the history of these forts adds a lot to what you are looking at. It’s a very atmospheric place, especially as the sun starts to get lower in the sky. It’s a really fitting, rugged end to a day full of ancient wonders.

The Private Tour Experience: Was It the Right Call?

So, at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself if the private tour option is the way to go. To be honest, for a day this packed, I think it really is. The main reason is flexibility. When I felt tired in Petra, I knew I could just head back to the meeting point, you know? There was no pressure to keep up with a group. If you’re a serious photographer, for instance, you can spend an extra twenty minutes getting the perfect shot of the Treasury without worrying you’re holding everyone up. You literally own your time, and on a long day like this, that’s incredibly valuable.

The comfort level is just so much higher too. The drive from Amman to Petra is about three hours each way. Being in a comfortable, air-conditioned car where you can stretch out or even nap is a pretty big deal. A knowledgeable local driver is almost like having a mini-guide. They can tell you little things about the areas you’re driving through and handle all the logistics like tickets and finding clean restrooms. Basically, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the sights. Of course, this option is generally a bit more expensive than joining a big bus tour, so you have to weigh that up. You could compare it to the cost of different travel styles to see what fits your plan. But for the ease and personalization, I felt it was a good value, particularly for getting to three very different sites in one go.

Another point is just the pure convenience. Trying to arrange your own transport to Shobak and Little Petra after visiting the main site would be pretty complicated, to be honest. This tour just bundles it all together in a logical way. The driver knows the best order to see things and how to avoid the worst of the traffic. You just get to sit back and watch the desert scenery go by. For me, taking all the stress out of the transportation and planning allowed me to focus on just how amazing the places were. I was completely exhausted by the time I got back to Amman, but it was that good kind of tired, you know? The kind you feel after you’ve really seen and done something special.

A Few Quick Tips for Making the Most of the Day

Alright, so if you do decide to go on this tour, or one like it, here are a few things I learned that might help you out. It’s a really long and active day, so being a little prepared makes a huge difference. You just want to focus on having a good time, not on being uncomfortable, right?

• Shoes are Everything: Seriously, I cannot say this enough. You will be walking a lot, often on sand, gravel, and uneven stone steps. Basically, wear the most comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots you own. Your feet will thank you, you know?
• Dress in Layers: The day can start off chilly in the morning and get very hot in the middle of the day, especially inside Petra. Then, it can get cool again in the evening. As a matter of fact, having a light jacket you can take off and put back on is a really smart idea. Modest dress is generally a good plan too.
• Hydration is Key: You’re in the desert, so you need to drink a lot of water. Your private driver will probably have bottled water for you in the car, which is super helpful. Still, it’s a good idea to carry your own bottle into Petra with you.
• Snacks and Cash: While there are places to buy food, having your own snacks can be a lifesaver when your energy dips. You can get more insights on local food experiences around Petra. You also might want to have some small amounts of local cash for things like tipping, buying a souvenir from a local vendor, or using a restroom.
• Pace Yourself: It’s a marathon, not a sprint, you know what I mean? Especially in Petra, don’t feel like you have to see absolutely everything. Pick a few key areas you want to explore and take your time. Remember you have two more stops after this!
• Manage Your Photo Expectations: Honestly, you will take hundreds of photos. Just make sure your phone or camera is fully charged, and maybe bring a portable power bank. That shot of the Treasury is famous for a reason, but sometimes the best pictures are of the little details you notice along the way.