Mention your visit to Petra in casual conversation and watch eyes widen, mouths drop, and a flurry of “Was it incredible?” inquiries hit you. The phrase “unlike any other” gets thrown around often, but when it comes to this Nabatean city carved entirely out of pinkish rock, with over 800 tombs and intricate details that have withstood the test of time, Petra truly is unlike anything you’ve seen. The thousands of Petra photos on your Instagram explore page might entice you, but until you’ve climbed almost 1,000 steps, chugged a bottle of water, and looked out at the expanse of Jordan and Wadi Arabia, you will not know the magic of Petra.