Travel experiences are incredibly important for a variety of reasons, as they contribute to personal growth, cultural understanding, and broadening perspectives. Lonely Planet has ranked in the top 500 unmissable global travel experiences, helping to satisfy your wanderlust from the safety of an armchair. Have you visited Petra yet? visit petra

According to leading global travel authority Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List, Petra in Jordan has been named as the number 1 place in the world to experience outdoor adventures in the rankings, and a total of 34 of the world’s best travel experiences can be found in the UK, making it home to more of the planet’s must-see places than anywhere else.

Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List is the 2^nd edition of the travel powerhouse’s bestselling coffee table book. It’s the definitive wish list of the 500 most thrilling, memorable, and interesting travel experiences in the world, ranked in order of brilliance.

“We’ve all got a list of places that we want to see for ourselves: places friends have enthused about, places we’ve read about, dreamed about.  This is our list,” says Lonely Planet.

“And this second edition contains over 200 new entries,” the publisher boasts, with the highest new entry Ireland’s West Atlantic Way, in at No. 21. According to Lonely Planet the experiences and destinations are “a mix of knock-out new openings, sights that have upped their game, or places more relevant to the way we travel now.”

“We also changed the way we calculated the list,” says Lonely Planet’s VP of Publishing Piers Pickard.  “For this edition we rewarded extra points to sights that are managing tourism sustainably.” visit petra

The Top 10 travel experiences on Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List 2^nd

1. Petra, Jordan – channel your inner adventurer and explore the enigmatic “lost city”
2. The Galápagos Islands – see the islands that changed the course of science
3. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia – take life lessons from the traditional owners of the world’s most dramatic rock
4. Okavango Delta, Botswana – experience slow travel on the sprawling flooded ecosystem
5. Yellowstone National Park, USA – sniff out geysers and grizzlies in the world’s largest geothermal area
6. Lake Bled, Slovenia – emulate erstwhile pilgrims by journeying to the planet’s most photogenic lake
7. Iguazú Falls, Argentina–Brazil – marvel at the astounding power and furious force of this natural wonder
8. Temples of Angkor, Cambodia – find Hindu heaven at the sprawling monument to devotion
9. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia – with clouds above and clouds below strike out on the salt of the earth
10. Annapurna Circuit, Nepal – take the classic Nepalese teahouse trek

A showcase of the Top 10 destinations featured on the list can be viewed at lonelyplanet.com/landing/ultimate-travel-list

The Petra experience is unlike any other, offering a fascinating blend of history, culture, adventure, and natural beauty. Visiting Petra, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an unforgettable journey that immerses travelers in the ancient world and the stunning desert landscapes of Jordan.

Here’s what makes the Petra experience so unique:

1. Historical and Archaeological Marvel

Petra, once the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, is a city carved into the rose-red sandstone cliffs. The intricate architecture and clever engineering of the Nabataeans can be seen in the Al-Khazneh (The Treasury), Ad-Deir (The Monastery), The Siq, and countless tombs, temples, and structures. It’s a true marvel of ancient engineering, where nature and human creativity intertwine.

• Al-Khazneh (The Treasury): The most iconic site, a grand façade carved directly into the rock, illuminated beautifully by the sun’s changing light.
• The Siq: A narrow, winding canyon that leads to the heart of Petra, offering a sense of mystery and anticipation.
• The Royal Tombs: A series of tombs carved into the rock, showcasing incredible craftsmanship and offering insight into the lives of ancient Nabataeans.

2. Visit Petra is like Walking Through History

The experience of walking through Petra feels like stepping back in time. As you explore the vast site, you’ll encounter impressive monuments, tombs, and places that tell stories of a long-lost civilization. The Siq, a narrow gorge that acts as the main entrance, is particularly atmospheric, with towering cliffs on either side. The moment you emerge from the Siq and catch your first glimpse of the Treasury is often described as awe-inspiring.

3. Natural Beauty and Scenic Views

Petra isn’t just about its ancient structures. The surrounding landscape is breathtaking, with rugged mountains, desert valleys, and vast open skies. Hike up to the High Place of Sacrifice for sweeping panoramic views of the site or venture to Ad-Deir (The Monastery), which offers a rewarding and scenic climb with fewer crowds. The desert’s serene beauty complements the historical significance of the site.

4. The Cultural and Spiritual Experience

Petra holds deep spiritual significance, and for many, the experience is not just about exploration but also reflection. The site, once a thriving trade hub, now stands as a symbol of endurance and cultural richness. Its sacred places, including The Great Temple, resonate with a sense of peace, while the Bedouins—who still inhabit the region—add to the cultural vibrancy of the area, sharing their stories and traditions with visitors.

5. Adventure and Physical Challenge

Petra is a place for adventurers, too. There are many ways to explore the site—on foot, by camel, or even by horseback. For those willing to hike, there are many paths that lead to high viewpoints and hidden corners of Petra, such as the Monastery, which requires a bit of physical effort to reach. The experience can be a thrilling challenge, and the reward is the stunning scenery and tranquility.

6. Sunset and Nighttime Atmosphere

Visiting Petra during different times of the day adds to the magic of the experience. Sunset over the ancient city is a truly mesmerizing sight, as the fading light casts shadows and highlights across the monuments. You can also experience Petra by night, when the site is illuminated by thousands of candles in an event called the Petra by Night tour. Walking through the Siq and into the Treasury, surrounded by candlelight, creates a mystical and unforgettable atmosphere.

7. Personal Connection to the Past

There’s something profoundly personal about visiting Petra. The scale of the ancient city and the effort it took to carve such grand monuments into the rock makes you reflect on human ingenuity and perseverance. Whether you’re admiring the intricacy of the carvings or pondering the history of the Nabataeans, Petra invites you to connect deeply with the past.

8. Wildlife and Flora

Although Petra is famous for its archaeological wonders, it’s also home to unique desert flora and fauna. If you take the time to look around, you’ll discover colorful wildflowers, desert plants, and perhaps even wildlife such as ibex and lizards, adding another layer of wonder to the experience. visit petra

9. Meeting the Locals when visit Petra

One of the most enriching aspects of visiting Petra is meeting the Bedouins who have lived in the area for generations. You can interact with them in a more personal way, whether buying handmade jewelry, learning about their way of life, or even enjoying a traditional cup of tea in one of the local Bedouin camps.

In summary, the Petra experience is an unforgettable combination of adventure, history, and awe. It’s not just about seeing a famous site; it’s about immersing yourself in the energy of an ancient civilization, exploring stunning desert landscapes, and making a deep connection with the past. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an adventurer, or someone seeking reflection, Petra offers a transformative experience that will stay with you long after you leave.

Where to stay in Petra visit 

A whole town – Wadi Musa – has grown up to cater for visitors coming to Petra. The town has hotels of all types and budgets, which start right next by the entrance and stretch up into the hills, as well as plenty of places to eat, souvenir shops and travel agencies.

Luxury: The Mövenpick Resort* is just across the street from Petra. It’s a big five-star hotel with over 180 rooms and seven restaurants, bars and cafés on site, as well an outdoor pool and a roof terrace with amazing views where there’s often live music at sunset.

Mid-range: The four-star Petra Guest House, is a close as you can get to Petra, located right next door to the visitor’s centre. It has a mix of rooms and self-contained chalets overlooking the mountains around Wadi Musa, along with a restaurant, terrace and cave bar.

Budget: If you have a car then the hotels a bit further away up on the hillside are good value and come with stunning views. The Rocky Mountain Hotel is a simple, family-run guesthouse with free tea and coffee on the roof terrace and free shuttles to Petra.

Visit Petra: How to get there?

If you’re staying in the centre of Wadi Musa, Petra is just a short walk away. Or the hotels further out often run a free shuttle to the visitor’s centre a couple of times a day, though it does mean you’re limited to fixed times. Otherwise, there are plenty of taxis outside the visitor’s centre, especially in the afternoons, and you’ll pay about JD5 within Wadi Musa. visit petra

If you are driving to Petra, it’s 236km (around 3 hours) from the Jordanian capital Amman to Petra via the faster Desert Highway or 255km (4.5 hours) via the slower but more scenic King’s Highway. Or from the coastal resort of Aqaba to Petra is a 126km drive (2 hours). There’s a free car park in Petra opposite the bus stop just in front of the Petra Moon hotel.

This bus stop is also where you can catch the JETT buses to Amman and Aqaba if you’re travelling around Jordan by public transport. Or if you are limited on time and looking for a convenient way to get to Petra, there are tour packages including transport and tickets available from Amman and Aqaba in Jordan or Eilat and Tel Aviv in Israel.

There’s a decidedly alfresco flavour to Lonely Planet’s list, with almost half of the dream recommendations outdoors or wildlife experiences, reflecting the growing desire from travellers to experience the natural world.

The UK provides a delicious mix of open-air experiences and cultural highlights. Home to England’s deepest lake and highest peak, the beautiful Lake District topped the list of UK experiences ranking at No. 40 and natural attractions including the long-distance Wales Coast Path, which traces the Celtic country’s entire coastline, scored the UK’s highest new entry on the list polling at #82,

While UK cultural attractions such as the British Museum beat some of the world’s most iconic sights including the Eiffel Tower, Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, and China’s Terracotta Warriors.

The following brilliant UK travel experiences made the list;

How did Lonely Planet rank the 500 best places in the world?

The longlist was compiled from all the highlights found in every Lonely Planet guidebook over the years. Each attraction and sight recommended by Lonely Planet authors was included, before being whittled down to a shortlist. Everyone in the Lonely Planet community was then asked to vote on their 20 top travel experiences. With hundreds of votes cast, we ended up with a score for each entry and a definitive ranked list of the top 500 places to see around the world.

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