How to Approach the Monastery

The standard route is 800 steps carved into the rock, starting near the Basin restaurant. It is direct, busy with donkeys, and takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The alternative is the Back Trail — a longer, gentler path through Wadi al-Khayl and up the far side of the mountain, arriving at the Monastery from above. It is quieter, more beautiful, and the route we recommend for anyone steady on their feet.

The Monastery faces west, so it catches warm light from mid-afternoon into golden hour — the opposite of the Treasury, which is a morning subject. Arrive around 3–4pm (earlier in winter), rest at the top, and watch the facade change colour as the sun drops. The climb is also less brutal when you are not doing it in the midday heat. Carry plenty of water — there is a cafe at the top, but do not rely on it alone.

Treat the climb as part of the experience, not the price of admission. The views open with every turn — back over the Petra basin, across to the high plateau, out toward the desert. Stop often. The people who enjoy the Monastery most are the ones who walk slowly, look around, and arrive with energy left to sit in front of it. The people who race up arrive depleted and leave quickly.

If the climb is not for you — older travelers or anyone with knee trouble — a donkey is the traditional way up. Agree the price and destination first, and ride carefully.

Past the Monastery, a short scramble up the rocks behind it leads to a viewpoint over the Wadi Araba and, on a clear day, the hills toward the Negev. A small cafe marks the spot. It is the quietest, most expansive view in Petra, and almost no one who reaches the Monastery bothers to walk the extra five minutes. Do.