Best Pet-Friendly Hotels and Stays in Petra for Travelers With Furry Companions

Wadi Musa has changed a lot in the last decade, but the warmth of its people toward animals hasn't, and that matters enormously when you're searching for the best pet friendly hotels in Petra with a four-legged companion in tow. Most of the town's lodges sit within a five to ten minute drive of the Petra Visitor Center, spread across the quiet hillsides that rise behind the main commercial strip. I've walked these roads with my own rescue mutt enough times to know which owners actually welcome dogs, which ones simply tolerate them, and which rooms come with outdoor space where a tired pup can collapse after a long day at the Siq. Below is my honest, lived-in guide to every property in and around Petra where your dog will be treated like a guest, not an inconvenience.

The Old Village Hotel & Spa, Wadi Musa

Tucked into the hillside just off the road that climbs toward the Moses Spring area, The Old Village is one of the most genuinely welcoming dog friendly hotels Petra has to offer, and I say that after bringing my dog there four separate times. The reception staff keeps a stash of dog biscuits behind the desk, and the tiled-floor deluxe rooms on the lower level open directly onto a stone terrace where you can sit with your coffee while your dog snoozes in the morning sun. Request a room facing the back of the property, away from the main road, because the front-facing ones pick up some traffic noise from tour buses in the early hours. Their buffet breakfast runs from 6:30 to 10:00 AM, and they will quietly bring a plate of boiled egg and rice to your room if your dog skipped dinner the night before. Book at least three weeks ahead if you're coming in March or October, when the light over the Treasury is at its best and the hotel fills up fast. A small downside, the spa's indoor pool does not allow pets even on the adjacent sun deck, so plan your pampering session for an early morning walk.

Petra Moon Hotel, Wadi Musa Town Center

If you want to be within stumbling distance of the restaurants and souvenir shops but still want your pet to have a quiet night, Petra Moon Hotel sits right on the main road about 400 meters from the Petra entrance gate, and they explicitly welcome dogs in their standard and family rooms. What most travelers don't realize is that the back wing of the hotel opens onto a small walled garden shaded by an old olive tree, and that's where the local Bedouin staff often gather in the evenings with the hotel's resident Saluki. Ask specifically for a room in the back wing with garden access, since those rooms have direct ground-floor exits that make late-night potty walks painless. Their rooftop terrace serves fresh mint tea and argileh from 5:00 PM onward, and they've been known to bring out a small bowl of lukewarm water for dogs left waiting at tables. The real insider tip, the night manager Ahmed will sometimes walk you down to a tiny local falafel stand on the parallel side street that stays open past midnight, a place that doesn't appear on any map but serves the best fava bean ta'amiya in Wadi Musa. Parking can be tight on Fridays, so if you're driving in, loop around to the back lot rather than the main entrance.

La Maison Hotel, Wadi Musa

La Maison sits on a quiet residential lane about a ten minute walk uphill from the Petra Visitor Center, and it is one of the most quietly stylish pet allowed accommodation Petra options for travelers who want a boutique feel without sacrificing practicality. The owner, a French-Jordanian woman named Camille, has two rescue cats and a friendly greyhound named Zouzou, so dogs are not merely tolerated here, they're celebrated. Each of the eight rooms has a private terrace with a ceramic water bowl already placed near the door, and Camille keeps a basket of spare leashes and poop bags in the lobby for guests who forgot theirs. Order the homemade labneh at breakfast, served with olive oil from their family grove near Ajloun, and ask for the table on the upper terrace where the morning light hits the far mountains. The hotel does not have an elevator, which matters if you're traveling with a senior dog, so request a ground-floor room when booking. The minor downside, the nearest paved walking path is two blocks down, and the in-between streets are gravel, so bring a towel to wipe muddy paws after evening walks. Weekday rates drop noticeably compared to weekend ones, and Tuesday mornings are the calmest time to enjoy the rooftop.

Petra Guest House Hotel, Just Outside the Petra Visitor Center

Petra Guest House sits literally across from the main entrance to the archaeological park, and while many travelers know it for its cave-style rooms carved into the sandstone, what they don't always realize is how accommodating the property is with dogs. The cave rooms on the lower terrace level stay cool even in August, and the flagstone patio outside each one gives your dog a private patch of shade to stretch out on. The Cave Bar attached to the hotel is one of the rare bars in Wadi Musa where you can sit outside with a dog at your feet without anyone raising an eyebrow, and their wood-fired pizza, particularly the one with local za'atar and goat cheese, has been consistently good across three visits. My insider tip, the bartender Youssef keeps a small fridge of cold water and a couple of dog treats under the counter specifically for canine guests, and he'll happily refill your dog's bowl without you having to ask. The Cave Bar itself fills up after 8:00 PM when tour groups return from the site, so come for an early dinner around 6:00 PM if you want a quiet table with your dog at your feet. Parking is plentiful in their private lot, which is a relief compared to most hotels in Wadi Musa.

Amra Palace Hotel, Wadi Musa Residential Quarter

Set on a hillside a short drive from the Petra entrance, Amra Palace is a mid-range option that consistently delivers on pet friendliness without the boutique markup, and it's one of the hotels that allow dogs Petra travelers recommend most often on local expat forums. The hotel's outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by tiled lounging areas, and dogs are welcome on the patio furniture, just not in the pool itself, which is fair. Rooms on the third floor and above offer views over the town toward the Sharah mountains, and the marble floors are kind to arthritic dog joints in winter. Their in-house restaurant does a surprisingly good mansaf on Friday and Saturday lunch service, and the kitchen staff will prepare a plain grilled chicken breast for your dog if you phone reception an hour ahead. The best time to dine here is actually midweek, when the hotel hosts fewer tour groups and the dining room stays calm enough that your dog can settle under the table without being stepped on. The minor catch, the road leading up to the hotel is steep and poorly lit at night, so bring a flashlight for evening walks back from town.

Taybet Zaman Village, Taybeh, Jordan (South of Petra)

About a 15 minute drive south of Petra proper, in the small village of Taybeh, Taybet Zaman is a converted 19th-century village turned boutique retreat, and it's one of the most atmospheric pet friendly places to stay in the wider Petra region if you have a car. The individual stone cottages are spaced out across the hillside with enough distance between them that dogs can bark without disturbing other guests, and several cottages have private fenced courtyards where small to medium dogs can be left safely while you explore Petra for the day. The hotel arranges shuttle transfers to the Petra Visitor Center three times daily at 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 1:00 PM, which removes the headache of driving into Wadi Musa every morning. The on-site restaurant serves a beautiful slow-cooked lamb tagine that deserves at least one dinner even if you're not staying overnight, and they have an outdoor terrace with heaters for cooler evenings. My insider tip, ask for cottage number 14 or 15, which sit at the far end of the property near the old olive grove where wild rock hyraxes sometimes appear at dusk, much to the delight of curious dogs. The downside, the Wi-Fi signal in the cottages is patchy, especially during rain, so download your Petra trail maps the night before.

Seven Wonders Hotel, Wadi Musa Lower Quarter

Seven Wonders is a small, family-run property just below the main commercial strip in Wadi Musa, run by a Bedouin family whose patriarch keeps three Salukis, which means every guest dog is treated as extended family. This is one of the budget-friendly pet allowed accommodation Petra options that doesn't feel budget at all once you're inside, with hand-stitched cushions, locally woven rugs, and a small herb garden out back where dogs are encouraged to sniff around. Their triple and family rooms easily fit a large dog crate, and the tiled bathrooms are deep enough for a post-hike paw wash. The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but the family will point you toward their cousin's place three streets over for a home-cooked dinner of maqluba, which is genuinely excellent and one of my regular stops when I'm in town. The best time to arrive is mid-afternoon, after 2:00 PM, when the family patriarch Muhammad is usually sitting outside and will personally show you the walking paths behind the hotel that locals use to avoid the main road. The real local tip, ask Muhammad about the small cave behind the herb garden, which has a freshwater spring that dogs can drink from and that most tourists never find.

Mövenpick Resort Petra, Wadi Musa

Right at the entrance to the archaeological park, the Mövenpick is the largest and most internationally branded dog friendly hotels Petra offers, and its location is unbeatable if you're arriving with a tired dog who doesn't want to be ferried around. The property has a strict but fair pet policy, dogs up to medium size are welcome in designated rooms on the first and second floors, and the lobby staff keeps bowls of fresh water set out throughout the day. The Al Diwaniya restaurant at the back of the property has an outdoor terrace where dogs are welcome at lunch and dinner, and the Friday lunch buffet is one of the best in town, with live cooking stations and a dedicated grilled meat section. Their rooftop pool deck is one of the few places where you can watch the sunset over the Petra hills with your dog at your feet, though dogs aren't allowed in the pool itself. Request a terrace room specifically, since they open directly onto the back garden and have enough space for a dog bed beside the patio furniture. The honest critique, this is the priciest option on this list, with peak season rates roughly double what you'll pay at the smaller family hotels, and weekend service at the front desk can be slow when three tour buses arrive at once.

H Luxury Hotel, Wadi Musa

Opened in the last few years on a hillside road above the town center, H Luxury Hotel is the newest of the dog friendly hotels Petra has added to its roster, and it has quickly become a favorite among travelers with medium and large dogs because of the spacious rooms and outdoor terraces. Every room has a private balcony, and several ground-floor suites open directly onto a gravel garden where dogs can be left while you grab lunch in the on-site restaurant. The hotel's breakfast spread is one of the most generous I've seen in Wadi Musa, with fresh juice, local honeycomb, and manakeesh straight from the saj, and they'll happily set aside a corner table on the terrace so your dog can settle in beside you. The rooftop bar has panoramic views back toward the Petra mountains, and they serve a sharp cardamom gin cocktail that has become something of a local legend. My insider tip, request a room facing east rather than west, because the late afternoon sun on the western-facing balconies makes them uncomfortably warm between 3:00 and 6:00 PM, even in spring. Parking is easier here than at most hotels in town, since they have a private lower lot with direct elevator access to the rooms.

When to Go and What to Know Before Booking

March through May and September through November are the prime months for traveling to Petra with a dog, when daytime highs sit between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius and the sandstone trails are safe underfoot. July and August can be brutal, with surface temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius in the Siq, and if you must travel then, restrict your dog's outdoor time to early morning and after 4:00 PM. Always carry a collapsible water bowl, because potable water taps inside the archaeological park are scarce and most vendors only sell bottled water. Most Wadi Musa hotels will provide a dog bed on request, but bringing your own familiar bedding helps nervous dogs settle in faster. Friday is the Muslim holy day, so some smaller shops and cafes close mid-morning, but hotels remain fully operational and restaurants usually open after the early prayer.

A Few Local Pet Laws Worth Knowing

Jordan technically requires all imported pets to have a veterinary health certificate issued within ten days of travel, and your dog should be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before arrival. Carry these documents in your carry-on luggage, because the veterinary inspection at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman is strict and you may be asked to present them on the spot. Inside Petra itself, dogs are allowed on all outdoor trails but not inside any of the ticketed interior structures like the Monastery or the Treasury interior chamber, since the Nabataean stonework is fragile and ancient. Local Bedouin in Wadi Musa generally love dogs, but in smaller surrounding villages like Taybeh and Beidha, keep your dog close on a leash out of respect for the local farming communities. Finally, stock up on dog food in Amman before driving down to Petra, since pet supply stores in Wadi Musa are limited and the available brands are often pricier than in the capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Petra as a solo traveler?

For getting around Petra itself, the most reliable option for a solo traveler is to hire a licensed local guide through your hotel, which typically costs between 30 and 50 Jordanian dinars for a half day. Inside the archaeological park, walking is the only practical option since vehicles are restricted to a small shuttle that runs between the Visitor Center and the Treasury area. For trips between Wadi Musa hotels and the Petra entrance, most pet friendly hotels in Petra offer free shuttles or short taxi rides that cost between 2 and 5 dinars per trip. If you're arriving by rental car from Amman, the drive is roughly three hours on the Desert Highway and parking is available at most hotels and at the Petra Visitor Center for 5 dinars per day.

What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Petra?

Most mid-range and upscale restaurants in Wadi Musa add a 10 percent service charge to the bill, but tipping an additional 5 to 10 percent in cash directly to the server is appreciated and commonly practiced. In smaller local restaurants, where no service charge is applied, a tip of 5 to 10 percent of the total bill is considered generous. For hotel housekeeping, leaving 2 to 3 dinars per night in the room is standard practice across most pet friendly hotels in Petra. Taxi drivers and shuttle drivers generally do not expect tips for short trips, but rounding up the fare is a polite gesture for longer transfers.

Is Petra expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

The Petra entrance fee alone is 50 Jordanian dinars for a one-day pass for international visitors, and a two-day pass costs 55 dinars, which most travelers find better value. For mid-tier travel, a realistic daily budget breaks down to roughly 60 to 90 dinars on a mid-range pet friendly hotel, 15 to 25 dinars on meals, 10 to 15 dinars on local transport including taxis and occasional guides, and 5 to 10 dinars on miscellaneous expenses like bottled water and souvenirs. That puts a comfortable daily total at approximately 90 to 140 dinars per person before the park ticket, which is roughly 130 to 200 US dollars. Solo travelers can expect to spend slightly more per person since rooms and taxis are not shared.

Are credit cards widely accepted across Petra, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit cards are accepted at the larger hotels including the Mövenpick, Amra Palace, and Petra Moon Hotel, but most smaller family-run properties and local restaurants in Wadi Musa operate on a cash-only basis. The Petra Visitor Center ticket counter accepts major credit cards, but the vendors inside the archaeological park generally only take cash in Jordanian dinars. ATMs are available in Wadi Musa town center, near the main commercial strip and at branches of Cairo Amman Bank and Arab Bank, but it's wise to withdraw cash in Amman before driving down since the local ATMs occasionally run out of stock. Carry small denominations for tipping, taxi rides, and small purchases at local stalls.

What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Petra?

A specialty coffee such as a latte or cappuccino at a hotel cafe or upscale Wadi Musa restaurant typically costs between 3 and 5 Jordanian dinars. A local Bedouin-style tea, which is brewed strong with sage or mint and heavily sweetened, costs between 1 and 2 dinars at most cafes and roadside stalls. Turkish coffee at traditional spots runs around 2 to 3 dinars per cup. Fresh juice blends, particularly the local date and orange mixes popular at breakfast buffets, cost between 3 and 4 dinars a glass. Most pet friendly hotels in Petra include coffee and tea service as part of the breakfast buffet, so the in-house rates apply only if you're ordering from room service or the lobby cafe outside of meal hours.