visit to Petra and Wadi Rum

We will be traveling to Israel and then thinking about going to Petra and Wadi Rum. How long should we stay and what are the high lights to see?

thanks

About the time of stay in Petra it depends on what you want to see there and your physical preparation for climbing hills under a scorching sun.
If you just want to know the main parts of the archaeological park on the first day you can see the Siq, Treasury, The Theater, The colonnaded street, the Qasr al-Bint, the Basin Museum and after climbing the mountain to visit the Monastry. In return you can visit the The East cliff. On the second day you can visit the High Place of Sacrifice on the way up next to the Theater and get the route down via Wadi Farasa (its wonderful). More or less 4 hours hicking up and down.
Petra also has fabulous scenery and many paths up the mountain to explore, I stayed there for two days and I regretted, I would be at least 4 days there doing hikes. Petra is much more wonderful than you can imagine.
For up and down the mountains of Petra you must wear boots for treking , some paths are difficult and dangerous for those who are wearing inappropriate shoes.

Thanks for your info

Yes I agree the Wadi Farasa path down from the high place of sacrifice was a highlight for me.
For Wadi Rum highlights are: the view from Lawrence Spring, running down the red sand dunes, climbing the Um Frouth Arch, and just being in such a spectacular environment.
If you've got time for hiking then: Burdah Arch, Rakebat Canyon & Um Ad Dami.

i spent three days in petra, loved it!!! one day is not enough. 2 days at minimum. 3 days if you want to see Petra slowly and carefully and really take it all in.
i skipped Wadi Rum because i heard/read that taxi drivers can be a real pain in the butt, leaving from Aqaba, and they can rip you off. besides, i am very well-traveled and just didn't feel like spending the money. but if you want to go, then go, but be prepared to spend a fair sum of money and to hassle a lot. you can do an overnight there, but be prepared for hassle and to spend money.
- julie

Argle, Wadi Rum really does seem to have a rep for that. If you book in advance you won't get hassle, you will have agreed a price and most of the Bedouin that do tours will also arrange taxi's for you (they don't charge to do that either), so then you won't get hassle from the taxi guys. A really lovely taxi driver is Munir his number (from inside Jordan) is: 0777376778
If you go to the visitor centre and book your tour from there you will pay alot more (almost double, what the Bedouin will charge if you go to them directly).
You can always take a bus from Aqaba to the junction (1JD) and then hitch hike from there to Rum village... which is a cheap way to do it. If you sleep in the guest house this is also cheaper, I think 5JD per night (although you will miss out on some of the most beautiful areas of Wadi Rum, because its too far to walk there & back in one day).

When I was in Petra I saw two cases of animal cruelty there with the donkeys. One was chained by an extremely short chain to a fence and whipped and yelled at for no reason as he stood there. He was just standing there chained up (meaning, not trying to be moved). The other was left in the sun with a tight plastic muzzle over his mouth for 9 hours! I was there. He couldn't move and was there in the sun with no water or shade for 9 hours. It really altered my opinion of Petra.

Fellow tourists, please report mistreatment of donkeys to the Petra Archaelogical Park and Heritage Society. They want to hear from tourists visiting Petra about any signs of crutely toward the donkeys working there (neglect, excessive whipping, hitting, punching, leaving in the sun for long periods).

Email them at: info@pra.gov.jo or at http://www.pdtra.gov.jo