Indiana Jones and the Treasury
Petra is a filming location of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which came out in 1989. The filming in Petra took place in August 1988. Al Khazneh, the Treasury, played the temple that holds the Holy Grail, and the facade is the image most people remember from the film.
The place is real, but the story is not. The Treasury is a Nabataean facade cut into sandstone, and the rooms behind it do not look like the Grail chambers in the film. If you want to walk to it, Petra tours to the Treasury take you through the Siq and explain the monument on site.
Film and reality compared
What the screen shows and what you find at Al Khazneh.
| In the film | At Al Khazneh | |
|---|---|---|
| The building | The temple of the Holy Grail | A facade cut into pink sandstone, probably a funerary monument |
| The inside | Chambers and traps leading to the Grail | A plain, large chamber without the rich decoration of the facade |
| The treasure | The Grail | A legend of a pharaoh's treasure explains the popular name. It proves neither a treasure nor an Egyptian builder |
For most film fans, the best plan is to see the facade from the plaza and accept that the inside will not match the film. The facade is what the film borrowed, and it is where the pictures you know were taken.
What you see on the facade
The facade is 39.5 m high, cut directly into the rock and divided into two levels. It has Corinthian capitals and shows Hellenistic influence. The figures are interpreted rather than known: the central goddess is read as Isis, the female figures carrying axes as Amazons.
On top stands an urn. The treasure legend says a pharaoh hid his riches inside it, which is how the monument got its popular name. The marks on the urn are explained as bullet holes from attempts to shoot the supposed treasure out. The legend does not prove any treasure. See the facade page for the full picture.
Our pick: see the film location in a day
A day from Amman to the Treasury from the film, with Wadi Rum as an option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours to the Treasury
Guided Petra tours to the Treasury, from Amman, Aqaba or Wadi Musa, with live prices and availability.
How the shoot came to Petra
The story behind the shoot.
The permission
A well-known story says racing driver Jackie Stewart helped win the permission through his friendship with King Hussein. Treat it as a story, not as a production record.
The scene
The Treasury stands for the Grail temple. The plain room behind the real facade does not match the Grail chambers on screen.
Other places and films
Keep the Treasury apart from other Jordan locations and other films. Only the Last Crusade scene belongs to Al Khazneh.
Visiting the place from the film
You reach the Treasury on foot through the Siq, a walk of up to 1 hour from the Visitor Center. The Club Car costs JOD 15 one way or JOD 25 return. Read the Siq page before you go.
Entry with at least one night in Jordan is JOD 50 for 1 day, JOD 55 for 2 days and JOD 60 for 3 days. Without a night in the country it is JOD 90. See Petra tickets and Jordan Pass. Do not count on going inside the Treasury. The page inside the Treasury explains what to expect.
For photos of the facade, direct sun reaches it roughly between 09:00 and 11:00, and reflected light roughly between 17:00 and 18:00. In winter the late light falls after closing, because the site is open 06:30 to 17:00 from 2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027. Some ticket terms give 06:00 to 16:00, so plan with the earlier time.
More of Petra
The Treasury is one part of a large site.
Inside the Treasury
Can you go in, and what is in there?
The Treasury facade
Urn, figures and what the Treasury was.
History of Al Khazneh
Who built the Treasury and why.
The wider story of the city and the Monastery is on the Petra history page.
Indiana Jones in Petra: frequently asked questions
Which Indiana Jones film was shot in Petra?
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which came out in 1989. The filming in Petra took place in August 1988.
What does Al Khazneh play in the film?
The temple that holds the Holy Grail. The facade is the part seen on screen.
Is the inside of the Treasury like the film?
No. The real inside is a plain, large chamber that does not match the Grail rooms in the film.
Is the Holy Grail or a treasure in the Treasury?
No. The name comes from a legend about a pharaoh's treasure, which does not prove any treasure or an Egyptian builder. The Grail belongs to the film.
Can I go inside the Treasury?
Do not count on it. Visitors see the facade from the plaza. The page on the inside of the Treasury explains what to expect.
Were other films shot at the Treasury?
Do not assume so. The Last Crusade is the film tied to Al Khazneh. Other films and other Jordan locations are separate places.