the sun is setting over the ocean on the beach
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Visiting Petra in December

BySunMed Guide

Visiting Petra in December

# Petra in December: What You’re Actually Getting Into

December sits in an interesting spot for Petra. The summer crowds have genuinely thinned out, which sounds great until you realize Jordanian school holidays and a steady stream of European winter-escape travelers mean it’s not exactly empty either. You’ll share the Siq with plenty of people, but you won’t be shoulder-to-shoulder the way you would in March or October.

The weather is the thing nobody warns you about properly. December in Petra can be genuinely cold, especially once you’re walking in the shade of those canyon walls. Nights drop close to freezing, and even daytime temperatures can feel biting when wind moves through. More importantly, rain is a real possibility. The region gets most of its annual rainfall in winter, and when it rains in Petra, it doesn’t mess around. Flash flooding has closed the site before, and the Siq becomes genuinely dangerous in heavy rain. You could arrive on a gorgeous, crisp, blue-sky day, or you could arrive to find the site shut or partially inaccessible. That uncertainty is real and worth accepting before you book.

Everything is open in December. The Treasury, the Monastery, the High Place of Sacrifice, the museum — no seasonal closures to worry about. Petra by Night runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings as normal.

So is it worth it? Honestly, yes, for the right person. If you hate heat, handle cold fine, and have some flexibility in your schedule in case weather disrupts a day, December is a solid choice. The light in winter is softer and lower, which is genuinely beautiful against that rose-red sandstone. Photographers often love it. Budget travelers benefit from slightly lower accommodation prices in Wadi Musa compared to peak season.

If you need guaranteed conditions and have limited days, shoulder seasons like October or April give you more predictable weather without the summer crowds or summer heat.

**One practical tip:** bring more layers than you think you need and keep one dry set back at your hotel. The Monastery climb in cold wet clothes is miserable in a way that’s completely avoidable.

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