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What are the latest Scams to Avoid in Petra in 2025? Don’t get caught out by these tricks and ruin your trip!
If you are planning to visit Petra, it’s very important to spend a little time researching some of the scams and problems that people run into. We’re definitely not trying to put you off visiting Petra. Petra is a stunning and beautiful destination. It is not a wonder of the world by accident!
However, being scammed in Petra can make the whole experience feel very negative and leave you with bad memories of Petra. So it is important to recognise that there are a few scams you need to be aware of. If you are savvy and equipped with some knowledge, you should have an amazing experience in Petra.
Petra is one of the most significant and prestigious tourist attractions in Jordan. So it’s no surprise that there are a few scams around. We hope that this article helps you enjoy your trip and make the most of your experience.
On a positive note. You really can get a lot for your money in Petra. Check out these amazing luxury hotels in Petra.
ALSO don’t miss our step-by-step guide: How to travel from Amman to Petra – independent and on a budget
Who Are We and Why Should You Listen to Us?
We are the Backpacking Family, a full-time travel family with over 60 countries of experience. Having traveled the world extensively for over 15 years, we are well aware of scams and challenges that you can face when you are traveling. Through our experience, we have become very savvy and quick to read situations. When we visited Petra, we found it very interesting to watch and learn and spot some of the scams. We wanted to share this experience to help protect you from being scammed.
Before we share Scams to Avoid in Petra – please don’t get our tone wrong here. Yes, Petra can be intense, and yes, there is a risk of being scammed. But the locals in the area were all so very friendly, warm, and hospitable. As a family, we found them to be welcoming and kind. So please don’t get us wrong. We are not badmouthing the locals. We just want to help equip you with the knowledge and information you need to protect yourself from scams when you visit Petra.
For more in-depth information and inspiration don’t miss our FULL guide to Petra Jordan
1 “Free” Animal Rides
Once you have entered the Petra archaeological site, you need to walk around 2 km to reach the Treasury. Along the way, you will see locals offering animal rides. For example, there are several locals who offer horse rides along the section. They will often claim that they are offering free horse rides. However, nothing is really free, so what’s the catch?
Although these locals will let you take the horse ride for free, they are also likely to ask for very large tips. And they wont be happy unless you give a large tip, normally 5JOD – 10JOD (£5 – £10 or $6 – $12). Effectively, this would be a fair price for riding the animal. It is also important to recognize that animal riding in Petra is not ethical, especially if you are planning to ride horses or donkeys. We did find that the camels were reasonably well looked after.
Either way, it’s always nice to know where you stand. If you want to take an animal ride in Petra make sure you agree on a cost and time or distance before you jump on. Otherwise it’s “free to get on the camel and $100 to get back off!”
2 Expensive Entry Fees to Photo Spots
One of the biggest and most common scams in Petra is the entry fees to the photo spots which are situated on cliff ledges opposite to the Petra Treasury. Officially, no local should be charging extra fees for entry to any part of the Petra archaeological Park. But what’s “official” can be quite subjective in Jordan. This local practice of charging additional fees is allowed to continue unchecked. Worse still, the locals can be very intense in enforcing this unofficial charge. In the end, we were able to visit the cliff ledge viewpoints for free because we built a friendly rapport with one of the local guides. He just ushered us through.
We also saw one confident, strong lady insisting that there was no entry fee. She also got through for free (remember – a gentle strength goes a long way in Jordan!) She was not aggressive, which would be a mistake, but she was very firm and calm and just walked through. The locals can be very intense and may not let you do this. The guides in the area are extremely keen to make money from letting people visit the photo spots, and we heard quotes between 5JOD and 20JOD to go up (£5 – £10 or $6 – $12). This really is a scam, especially at the high end of this price range. The best thing to do is just to ask around. If you’re feeling confident, you could just walk through calmly. There are also some locals situated at the cliff ledge. They charge 1JOD and will give you a cup of Black Tea and Sage.
3 Unofficial Tour Guides
And finally, we highly recommend that you watch out for fake tour guides. You can take an official tour guide from the entrance to the Petra archaeological site. Official tour guides have an identification badge and are registered to do tours. However, it is worth recognizing that tours are quite expensive (The price of an official tour itself is almost a scam costing around 50JOD for a few hours. This is £50 or $60).
If you do take a tour with a non-registered local, they will probably offer a lower price than the official price. Always barter and agree on timings and locations you want to see. It is important to recognize that unofficial guides may not have good local knowledge. These unofficial tours could also be shorter and limited. In our opinion, Petra is best explored independently and at your own pace. However, if you do want to take a local guide, this can add some value to your trip.
TOP TIPS to avoid being scammed in Petra
- Be friendly and confident – the locals respect a friendly strength
- Be suspicious of offers (you don’t need to share your suspicion with the person!)
- Avoid aggression and anger – try to keep interactions short, friendly and lighthearted
- Don’t feel like you need to have a conversation with to everyone who talks to you
- You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to
- If you do pay for something check exactly what is included (timings, location etc…)
- Don’t pay until the end – make sure the service is delivered
- If the price is too high barter or walk on
Prices in Petra
Finally, we just wanted to take a moment to discuss prices in Petra. The fact that the prices in Petra are much higher than outside is to be expected. This is not technically a scam; it is just locals cashing in on a popular tourist attraction. And this happens the world over. If you are hoping to get a fair price for products and drinks inside Petra, you will need to be willing to barter. Bartering is completely acceptable in Jordan and is a good way to get a reasonable and fair price for things.
If you are bartering in Petra, we recommend keeping it friendly and positive and not paying more than you are willing to. Here are a few examples of prices in Petra to help give you a picture of how much things may cost:
- Small bottle of water – 1JOD (around £1 or $1.20)
- Large bottle of water – 2JOD (around £2 or $2.50)
- Can of soda – 2JOD – 3JOD (around £2 – £3 or $2.50 – $4)
- Cup of tea – 1JOD – 2JOD (around £1 – £2 or $1.20 – $2.50)
- Small gifts – 3JOD (around £3 or $4)
- Larger gifts – 10JOD or more depending (around £10 or $12)
Although the prices are high, we don’t technically call it a scam because locals will be very clear about what they are trying to charge for things, and it is up to you whether you purchase them. If you are hoping to save money in Petra, we recommend bringing plenty of water and bringing your own food. There is no problem with bringing your own food and drinks into Petra, and this is a good way to save money.
AND FINALLY… if you’re planning to visit Jordan don’t miss our guide: Is it safe to travel Jordan?
