Explora Journeys in Aqaba (Petra)

Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport, a Red Sea resort town that exists on the cruise map for one reason: it is the closest harbor to Petra, the Nabataean rock city carved into rose-colored sandstone. The town itself is low-key, with a 16th-century Mamluk fort and a long beachfront, but the day is built around the roughly two-hour drive north to the Siq and the Treasury.

What to do on a day in Aqaba (Petra)

• Petra: the 1.2 km Siq gorge that opens onto the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), the single most famous facade in the desert
• The Street of Facades, the Roman-era Theatre, and the Royal Tombs along Petra's main trail beyond the Treasury
• The Monastery (Ad-Deir) for those fit enough for the long uphill stair climb, roughly a three-hour round trip from the visitor center
• Aqaba Castle (Aqaba Fort), the Mamluk-era fortress near the town waterfront if you skip the long Petra drive
• The Red Sea waterfront and beaches at Aqaba for snorkeling over coral, an option for travelers who have seen Petra before

Getting ashore

Ships use the Aqaba cruise facility about three miles south of the city center, with shuttles into town. Petra is around 128 km north, a two-hour drive each way via the Desert Highway, so a one-day call means a long transfer bracketing a half-day at the site; it is enough for the Siq, Treasury, and main valley but not the Monastery plus everything else.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• Spring (March to May). Typically warm and dry, daytime highs in the upper 20s to low 30s C, comfortable for the open desert walk into Petra.
• Autumn (September to November). Typically hot easing to warm, dry and sunny, among the most popular months to call; little to no rain.
• Winter (December to February). Typically mild by day, around 20 to 25 C, cooler in the morning at Petra's elevation; bring a layer for the early start.