Things to Do in Wadi Musa Beyond the Ruins
Travel advisory, October 2026: Jordan is affected by the wider regional conflict involving Iran that began in 2026. At the time of writing, the US State Department rates the whole country Level 3, “Reconsider Travel”, and Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, for the borders with Syria and Iraq and a few named areas. The UK FCDO advises against travel only within 3 km of the Syrian border and gives no warning for Petra, Wadi Musa or Wadi Rum. Petra and Wadi Musa are open, but flights can be disrupted and conditions can change at short notice. Read the US State Department advisory and the UK FCDO advice before you book and again before you fly.
Wadi Musa is the town at the Petra gate, and it has more to do than most visitors expect. Prices below are in Jordanian dinars (JD), and the list is built for the hours when you are not walking among the tombs.
Cook a Jordanian meal
Petra Kitchen runs an evening class on Tourism Street, inside the Petra Boutique Hotel, a few minutes’ walk from the Petra entrance. It costs 35 JD per person, about 50 USD, and covers the cooking lesson, the meal, non-alcoholic drinks and the recipes. Classes start at 6:30 pm from March to October and 6:00 pm from November to February. Seating is limited, so book ahead through petrakitchen.com . Typical dishes include hummus, baba ghanoush and makloubeh.
Try a tethered balloon
Petra Balloon is a tethered helium balloon on Petra Balloon Street in Wadi Musa. It rises to about 300 m on a cable and can carry up to 30 passengers, so it is a view over the valley rather than a free flight. The listed hours are 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, and wind can stop it. Ask on site for the current fare, or see petraballoon.com .
Have a drink in a Nabataean tomb
The Cave Bar sits at the Petra Guest House Hotel, a few steps from the Petra gate, in an original Nabataean tomb. It is open daily from 2:00 pm to midnight, later on busy summer nights. The bar claims to be the oldest in the world. It is a licensed bar, not a restaurant, and it is outside the archaeological park. Details are on petraguesthousehotel.com .
Learn a craft
The Shaqilah Centre for Traditional and Creative Crafts in Wadi Musa teaches silver work and pottery with lessons in Nabataean history. Hours are about 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and you arrange a session by contacting the centre first. Taybeh, a village near Wadi Musa, has women’s pottery cooperatives where you can watch and buy work.
Visit Ayn Musa and the hammam
Ayn Musa, or Moses’ Spring, is free to see on the edge of town. A modern three-domed building covers the spring, which tradition links to Moses. After a long hike, the Al Yakhour Turkish Bath and the Petra Turkish Bath offer a scrub and steam. Agree the price before you start.
What you will not find
Wadi Musa sits in dry mountains at roughly 1,050 to 1,150 m. There are no rivers, lakes, beaches, waterfalls or hot springs, and no scuba or white-water trips. Water sports belong to the Red Sea at Aqaba, about two hours away, and any dive there must be followed by at least 12 hours before you drive up to Petra.
Plan around the park
Most of these activities fit the evening, after the park closes. For the ruins themselves, read more: Wadi Musa sightseeing and walking routes in Petra . To compare listed experiences, browse Viator activities in Wadi Musa .