Petra Desert Marathon
The Lowdown
The Petra Desert Marathon is a bucket-list desert race organized by Albatros Adventure Marathons (Copenhagen), starting in the heart of the ancient city of Petra — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — before dawn, when the site is closed to the public. Runners pass rock-carved tombs, mountainside facades, and the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh) via the Siq before the course opens into the vast, lunar-like terrain of the Jordanian desert, with sand, gravel, and asphalt surfaces and challenging climbs. The event is run as a multi-day travel package for international entrants (with hotel stays at the Dead Sea and Petra/Wadi Musa, guided excursions, and a celebration dinner) and as a standalone local entry for Jordanian residents. A 25 km 'Ultra Half Marathon' runs alongside the full 42.2 km marathon; both start together at 06:30 to beat the desert heat, with a 7-hour overall time limit and an intermediate course-closure checkpoint at 31 km (14 km for the 25 km distance) five hours after the start.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Intimate field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
The Siq (Petra's narrow canyon entrance)
Rock-carved tombs and mountainside facades of Petra
Wadi Rum desert landscape (visible/nearby region)
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Petra / Wadi Musa, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
JO
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- International runners must purchase an official tour package to enter
- Local entry restricted to Jordanian residents/citizens by tier
Required Documents
- Photo ID / passport
Entry Methods
- Online tour package booking via petra-desert-marathon.com (international/regional)
- Local entry registration followed by direct payment arranged through Jordan Experience Tours (Jordanian residents)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Review the official package terms on petra-desert-marathon.com before booking; no published refund schedule found
The 25 km distance is officially branded the 'Ultra Half Marathon' rather than a standard 21.1 km half marathon.
The race starts inside the archaeological site of Petra before public visiting hours, giving runners exclusive early access to the Siq and the Treasury.
Organized by Albatros Adventure Marathons (Copenhagen, Denmark), which also runs the Great Wall Marathon and Volcano Marathon.
Course surfaces are a mix of sand, gravel, and asphalt across desert and mountain terrain.
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Community
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