Petra, Jordan

Why We Love It

Petra isn't in the Bible, but it's close enough to Israel that a huge share of our Holy Land travelers add it on — and almost none of them regret it. You walk through a narrow, half-mile stone canyon that opens, all at once, onto the Treasury's carved facade. It's the kind of arrival photos genuinely undersell.

It takes a border crossing and two or three extra days, so it's a real decision, not an afterthought — but for travelers who've made the trip already, tacking on Jordan tends to feel like the one thing they'd have regretted skipping.

Highlights

• The Siq — a narrow canyon walk into the city
• The Treasury, Petra's famous facade
• The Monastery, a steeper hike with a smaller crowd
• Wadi Rum's desert landscape, often paired nearby