Petra in January
Good time to visit
January offers comfortable hiking weather and smaller crowds, but you'll need to bundle up for those chilly desert mornings. Perfect for photography without the harsh summer shadows.
Weather
January brings cool, crisp mornings and pleasant afternoons to Jordan's desert landscape. Expect lows around 5°C at dawn and comfortable highs reaching 15°C by midday. Rain is rare but possible, with occasional winter showers that can make the sandstone slippery.
15°C high5°C low4 rain days
Crowds & Cost
moderate crowds
~$85/day average
Events & Festivals
- •Orthodox Christmas celebrations (January 7)
- •Jordan Winter Festival
January Tips
- •Pack layers - mornings are genuinely cold but afternoons warm up nicely
- •Book the Treasury at night tour if available - fewer crowds and magical lighting
- •Carry a small flashlight for early morning entries when it's still dark
All Months
March through May and September through November hit the sweet spot. Daytime temperatures hover around 20-25°C, perfect for hiking. Summer is brutal — temperatures can reach 40°C and the rocks radiate heat like an oven. Winter brings occasional rain and chilly mornings, but fewer crowds. The best time of day is sunrise or late afternoon when the sandstone glows and tour groups thin out. Petra opens at 6 AM in summer, 7 AM in winter. Get there early. By 10 AM, the Treasury area becomes a circus of tour groups and Instagram photographers. Friday mornings are quieter since it's the Muslim holy day. Ramadan affects restaurant hours but not Petra itself. The site stays open during Islamic holidays, though some services may be limited.
Petra Scores
Solo
8/10
Couples
9/10
Families
6/10
Adventure
8/10
Budget
5/10
Luxury
4/10
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