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Sunrise

Sunrise at the Monastery

Beat the heat and the crowds by arriving before dawn. This route focuses on the rare alignment where the sun rises directly behind the Monastery’s façade, followed by a quiet breakfast once the area wakes up.

Best time: 05:56About 120 min

Timeline

  1. 04:16

    Monastery

    Start the climb to the Monastery. The more than 800 steps take over an hour, so begin well before sunrise. You will walk and climb for about 10 minutes near the end even if you take a donkey.

  2. 05:46

    Desert View

    Walk 8 minutes WNW from the Monastery to Desert View. Find a spot with a clear view of the desert to the west. Arrive here to watch the sun rise directly behind the Monastery from 06 Nov to 14 Nov and 28 Jan to 05 Feb.

  3. 06:56

    Monastery

    Return to the Monastery area. The early light is perfect for photography and quiet reflection before the main tourist crowds arrive. Check the route if you need to retrace your steps or find a different path down.

Local tip

The alignment is specific to early November and late January through early February. Plan your visit for those dates to see the sun rise directly behind the Monastery from Desert View.

Check before you go

  • The climb is steep and takes over an hour. Start early.
  • Desert View is 8 minutes walk from the Monastery.
  • Opening hours for food and drink are not provided in the context; check local availability once the sun is up.

Worth knowing

  • Sun position is calculated. We have not confirmed the view is unobstructed.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Petra (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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