Outstanding Explore! holidays in the mid-east now include Israel and Jordan. e.g. Backroads of Jordan [Cycling] | Spice Trails of Petra [Walking] Mid-East Tours | Beyond Jerusalem's Walls [Israel]

Petra, ' a rose-red city, half as old as time,' is in the middle-eastern country of Jordan, an Arab monarchy, and one of the friendliest countries on the planet - despite some quite barking neighbours. Petra is an ancient wonder of stunning grandeur and beauty set in an arid rockscape.
Rose Macaulay wrote in Pleasure of Ruins: 'If ever a dead city held romance it is Petra....hewn out of ruddy rock in the midst of a mountain wilderness, sumptuous in ornament and savage in environs, poised in wildness like a great carved opal glowing in a desert, this lost caravan city staggers the most experienced traveller.' Right. And staggeringly difficult to get evocative pictures of the place too, it covers such a large area. See what I mean...

Jordan Travel Information: Jordan Travel Guide | Jordan Map | Asia Map

Petra Pictures Jordan © Julian Loader

Photos of interesting nearby countries: Turkey Pictures | Syria Pictures

Yemen Pictures | Egypt Pictures | Oman Pictures