The desert air was cool when we stepped out of the jeep, the sky above Little Petra a pale, high blue that seemed to go on forever. After days of winding canyons and the dramatic skyline of Wadi Musa and Petra, this smaller, quieter cousin felt like a secret kept between the rocks and the few who make the short pilgrimage in. Little Petra — Siq al-Barid — is often called the neighbour, the quieter sibling, but arriving there that morning made me realise it’s an experience all its own.
Quiet Corners: Exploring Little Petra’s Ruins
The walk in was shaded by sandstone walls carved by wind and time. Narrow passages opened to small courtyards where Nabatean facades peeked from the cliff faces: a handful of tombs, niches, and petroglyphs, all scaled in a way that invites lingering. There’s an intimacy to Little Petra that Petra itself, expansive and grand, can’t replicate. Here you can whisper and still feel the weight of history. I spent a long time tracing my fingers across the cool, carved stone edges of a small temple façade, imagining the hands that shaped it millennia ago. Local children chased each other through the ruins and called greetings; a Bedouin family offered tea under a makeshift shade, their smiles as warm as the brew.
We climbed up to a viewpoint just beyond the famous Painted House. From there, the desert spread out like a washed watercolour, ridges folding into one another. The silence was profound, punctuated only by the soft wind and the distant bleat of a goat. We sat at the local Bedouin coffee shop and let the quiet settle. The carvings around the shop are smaller scale, detailed in ways that reward close inspection: a lintel here, a carved groove there. The whole place felt like a private museum whose curator had been a geological clock.
Welcomed Bedouin Style: First Moments at the Camp
As the afternoon turned toward evening, we made our way back to the parking lot to take the short drive to Seven Wonders Luxury Camp. The camp sits framed by ochre cliffs and open desert, an elegant cluster of canvas and stone that blends traditional Bedouin hospitality with modern comfort. Pulling into the camp felt like arriving somewhere both timeless and deliberately curated — a place that honoured the landscape and the people who have lived here for generations while offering the kind of restful luxury that seems necessary after a day of exploring.
Our tent was set on a raised platform with a Mountain View. Entering felt like stepping into a cosy suite: thick rugs, cushions, a low coffee table, artisan lanterns, and beds heavy with plush linens. The decor favoured warm, earthy tones and local handicrafts — macramé, woven throws, and brassware — giving everything an authentic touch without sacrificing comfort. There was even a small, private bathroom with a hot shower and piping hot water, which felt indescribably luxurious after dust and sun.
Dinner Under the Stars: Food, Music, and Stories
Dinner was a communal affair under the stars. Long, low tables were arranged outside, and the camp staff lit lanterns that cast a golden glow. The food was a celebration of Jordanian flavours: mezze of hummus, mutabbal, fresh flatbreads, and stews brimming with slow-cooked lamb and spices that reminded me of home-cooked meals. The Bedouin hosts shared stories, and someone began playing an oud; the notes rose into the open sky while a small group performed dabke steps. Eating there felt like being invited into a warm, endless conversation.
Later, I took a short walk away from the lanterns to stand beneath a sky so thick with stars I forgot the existence of city lights. The Milky Way sheared across the heavens like a river of milk; constellations I only ever saw in textbooks became familiar companions. I lay back on a cushioned bench and let the universe expand overhead. It’s rare to feel so small and so centred at the same time.
Dawn on the Desert: Morning at the Camp
Sleep at Seven Wonders Luxury Camp was utterly restorative. The canvas kept out the chilled night air, and the linens were soft enough to make waking difficult. At some point before dawn, I woke to an otherworldly hush and stepped out onto the deck. The air was crisp, and a thin mist hugged the desert floor; the cliffs were silhouettes against a faintening eastern glow. A few stray stars lingered, but the horizon was already painting itself with brushes of pink and gold. Sunrise here is slow and gentle, as if the world is taking a long breath.
Breakfast was simple and nourishing — labneh, olive oil, fresh tomato and cucumbers, strong Arabic coffee — and the slow pace allowed for conversation with other travelers and the hosts. I learned a little about the Bedouin way of life: how seasons change routines, how hospitality is woven into daily practice, and how the desert is both harsh and generous. Before leaving, I wandered the perimeter of the camp, watching lizards dart among stones and absorbing the clean geometry of the landscape once more.
A Return Visit: Discovering More of Little Petra
Returning to Little Petra for a deeper look the following morning felt like revisiting an old friend. With a clearer head and softer light, the details revealed themselves more readily: faint petroglyphs on a sheltered rock face, a small cistern carved into the ground that once collected precious rainwater, a niche where offerings might once have been placed. It’s easy to imagine markets and pilgrim paths threading through the narrow sandstone alleys. The site is modest enough that you often find yourself alone in a courtyard, listening to the wind slide along stone and thinking about time as layers — human, geological, personal.
Leaving, we carried with us two impressions that stuck more firmly than any souvenir: the quiet grandeur of places shaped over millennia, and the warm, steady rhythm of Bedouin hospitality. Little Petra offered a private, contemplative connection to the Nabatean past, and Seven Wonders Luxury Camp turned the desert night into a comfortable, intimate experience of place — an overnight that felt both authentic and indulgent.
If you want to experience the warmth of Jordanian hospitality with the solitude of ancient ruins, plan for slow mornings, long conversations over tea, and evenings under stars that feel as close as the camp lanterns. Little Petra and Seven Wonders Luxury Camp make an easy pair: one for the quiet archaeology and human-scale wonder, the other for a night that turns the desert into a personal, restorative retreat.
LOCATION, ACCESS, AND CONTACT DETAILS
The camp is located in Southern Jordan, just a few minutes’ drive from Little Petra. If you are coming from Amman, it will take you approximately 3 hours (230 km).
You can find the camp on Google Maps at this location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FYsFtiuSMRkUA6mt8
I would advise making a reservation in advance by visiting their website: https://sevenwondersluxurycamp.com
