Best time to visit Petra and Wadi Rum
Spring and autumn are the main season. Winter brings cold nights in the camps and the risk of flash floods, and in 2027 Ramadan falls in February and March.
The short answer
The best time to visit Petra and Wadi Rum is spring, from March to May, or autumn, from September to November, which the Jordan Tourism Board names as the high season. In winter the nights in the desert camps are very cold according to guests, and the German Federal Foreign Office warns of flash floods in the wadis in autumn and winter.
Ramadan 2027 is expected from about 8 February to 9 March. Petra by Night runs on selected evenings only, so check the dates before you plan an evening in Wadi Musa.
See which Petra tours still have places on your dates
Petra and Wadi Rum can be visited all year, and the tours run in every month. What changes is how the nights in the desert feel, how crowded the Siq gets and whether rain can close the paths. The sections below follow the year.
Spring and autumn
The Jordan Tourism Board names March to May and September to November as the high season. Check availability early for these months, and plan an early start on day one if you want the Monastery as well. In autumn the season overlaps with the first rains, which the next section covers.
Winter and the cold desert nights
Guests who stayed in a Wadi Rum camp in December and January describe very cold nights, tents without heating and cold water in the showers; one camp hands out extra blankets on request. A reviewer of a day trip warns that Petra can be cold in February and March. If you travel in winter, choose a deluxe tent with heating where the tour offers it, and pack warm layers and a hat for the evening around the fire. Tent types on Wadi Rum camps.
Flash floods in autumn and winter
The German Federal Foreign Office warns that heavy rain in autumn and winter can cause flash floods in the wadis, and in 2025 numerous visitors had to be evacuated from the gorge in Petra (as of 2 November 2026). Tours may then be changed or cancelled at short notice. Keep to tours with free cancellation in these months, and follow the instructions of the staff on site.
Ramadan in 2027
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and to end with Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March, depending on the sighting of the moon (projections as of November 2026). Petra and Wadi Rum stay open to visitors, but many shops and restaurants keep shorter hours during the day, according to Lonely Planet's guide to Jordan in Ramadan, and it is polite to eat, drink and smoke discreetly in public during daylight.
Petra by Night
Petra by Night starts at the Visitor Center at 20:30 and lasts about 2 hours, with the Siq lit by candles as far as the Treasury. The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority listed it on Sunday to Thursday evenings in 2025; the dates for the coming season should be checked on visitpetra.jo. On a two-day tour you spend that evening in the Wadi Rum camp, so Petra by Night needs a night in Wadi Musa or the separate evening trip from Amman. See Petra day trips.
FAQ
What is the best month to visit Petra?
The Jordan Tourism Board names March to May and September to November as the high season. Winter brings cold nights in the camps and the risk of flash floods.
Is it cold in Wadi Rum at night?
In winter, yes. Guests who stayed in December and January describe very cold nights and tents without heating. Choose a heated deluxe tent where the tour offers one and bring warm clothes.
Can rain close Petra?
Yes. The German Federal Foreign Office warns of flash floods in the wadis in autumn and winter; in 2025 numerous visitors were evacuated from the gorge in Petra. Tours can change at short notice on those days.
When is Ramadan in 2027?
It is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and to end with Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March, depending on the moon sighting. Many shops and restaurants shorten their daytime hours.
On which evenings is Petra by Night?
In 2025 it ran on Sunday to Thursday from 20:30 for about 2 hours. Check the current dates on visitpetra.jo.
Tours to Petra and Wadi Rum
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