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Petra Back Trail — Monastery Route Private Hiking Tour

New experience— be the first to review Petra, Jordan Full Day · about 6 hours
From$246per group (up to 15) Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your tour start time.
Off the Beaten Path
  • Full Day · about 6 hours
  • Active adventure
  • Pickup offered
  • Up to 15 guests
  • Mobile ticket
  • English, Arabic

From $246 per group (up to 15)

Travelers2 guests

Adults

Age 18+

Children

Age 3–17 · 50% off

Infants

Age 0–2 · Free

Maximum 15 guests per booking — larger groups, use Group Request.

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your tour start time.

No payment required at this stage

Overview
Difficulty

Moderate — uneven rocky steps and sand-dirt trails

Walking

9.0 km on foot (6.5 km of mountain walking with the optional Bedouin 4x4 shortcut)

Driving

Short drive from Wadi Musa to the Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) trailhead

Skip the crowded main Siq and reach the Monastery (Ad Deir) the way few travelers do — via Petra's scenic back trail from Little Petra. A private licensed local guide leads you through quiet mountain paths to the largest monument in Petra, then down into the ancient city to the Treasury, Royal Tombs and Theatre. A rewarding, off-the-beaten-path Petra day designed for active travelers who want the iconic sites with a side of adventure.

Highlights

  • Enter Petra through the northern back trail from Little Petra — a quieter alternative to the main entrance
  • Arrive at Ad Deir (the Monastery) from behind, away from the large tour crowds
  • Hike through multi-coloured sandstone canyons and cliffside panoramas
  • Private licensed guide with deep Nabataean and Bedouin knowledge
  • Descend through the ancient city to the Treasury and the Siq

What to expect

Into Petra through the northern portal — a private itinerary that takes hikers off the beaten path, climbing through white sandstone peaks and arriving at Ad Deir (the Monastery) from behind. With a professional, licensed guide, the route is designed to avoid the large tour crowds. The day is flexible and adjustable to your pace rather than run to a fixed schedule.

What’s Included

Included

  • Private licensed English-speaking guide
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Entrance fees not included — we recommend the Jordan Pass (jordanpass.jo)
  • Transport to the trail start (the 5 JOD truck at the Cultural Village is paid on site)
  • Meals
  • Tips
  • Animal rides

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Hotel pickup in Amman (or Wadi Musa / Aqaba on request). Meet your driver at reception.

Pickup time

Confirmed the day before — most day trips start between 07:00 and 09:00.

Drop-off

Return drop-off at your original pickup point (or another agreed location).

Special instructions

Tell us your hotel or accommodation name and address when booking. For airport or port pickup, share your arrival details.

Pickup areas

  • Amman hotels & residences
  • Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
  • Madaba
  • Dead Sea resorts
  • Aqaba hotels & port (on request)
  • Wadi Musa / Petra hotels

Meals

Breakfast is included on overnight tours. Lunch and dinner are not included unless stated in "What’s included".

Itinerary

The order is flexible, and you choose your preferred start time when booking.

  1. Pick-up & transfer to Little Petra

    Your guide collects you from your Wadi Musa hotel for a short drive north to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid). Take a look at the smaller Nabataean canyon outposts before continuing toward the back-trail approach.

  2. Wilderness entry & Bedouin 4x4 option

    Optional Bedouin 4x4 shortcut: from Little Petra, guests may take a local Bedouin 4x4 across the sandy plateaus of Wadi Ghurab to the official trailhead. This reduces the approach walking distance from approximately 7.0 km to 2.3 km. The 4x4 costs JOD 5 per person. The pace stays flexible — there is no fixed schedule to keep.

  3. Passports & tickets

    Rangers at the back entrance require a passport or ID copy together with a valid Petra ticket. Guests using a Jordan Pass should exchange it for a Petra ticket at the Petra Visitor Center or Cultural Village before using the back entrance. Keep important documents protected in waterproof sleeves.

  4. Sandstone ascent & canyon climb

    Climb sandstone stairs and trails through the multi-coloured canyon landscape. Your guide shares context on Nabataean trade networks and Bedouin culture while adapting the pace to the group.

  5. Panoramic cliffside terrace

    The route reaches a broad cliffside area with views toward Wadi es-Siyyagh and the Wadi Araba desert before continuing toward the Ad Deir area.

  6. Arrival at Ad Deir (the Monastery)

    The route approaches Ad Deir from behind, revealing Petra’s monumental Monastery from the northern side. Take time to appreciate the façade — approximately 48 metres high — and the surrounding landscape.

  7. Descent to the main Petra valley

    Continue down the historic trail toward the main archaeological valley, an approximately 800-step descent.

  8. Central archaeological heart

    Continue toward the central area around Qasr al-Bint, with the Colonnaded Street, Great Temple excavations and views toward the Royal Tombs along the way.

  9. Treasury & Siq

    Continue to Al-Khazneh (the Treasury), then walk out through the Siq — approximately 1.2 km — toward the main Visitor Center.

Additional Info

Confirmation is received at the time of booking. A current passport is required on the day of travel for Petra entry. The site is open year round; start times are adjusted seasonally to avoid the midday heat. This is a private experience unless a small-group option is selected.

Confirmation

You will receive a booking confirmation by email immediately after payment. Final meeting-point details and pickup time are confirmed the day before your tour.

Mobile ticket

Mobile ticket accepted — show your confirmation on your phone.

Accessibility & physical requirements

Accessibility

Petra is a vast archaeological site with uneven sand and rock paths, steps and climbs. The main Siq-to-Treasury route is mostly flat and accessible to most visitors, but the Royal Tombs, Monastery and High Place of Sacrifice involve many uneven steps and are not wheelchair accessible. Visitors with limited mobility can use the official golf-cart service along the Siq (small fee) and a horse/carriage to the Treasury. We are happy to tailor a lighter itinerary — just ask.

Physical requirements

Moderate fitness — uneven rocky steps and sand-dirt trails with some exposed, open cliffside areas. Travellers with vertigo or discomfort around heights should inform the guide so the pace and support can be adjusted.

Seasonal considerations

Petra is open year round. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm days and cool mornings. Summer afternoons (June–August) are very hot; start early and carry extra water. Winter (December–February) is quiet and clear but can be cold, with a rare chance of rain or snow.

Important notes

Petra involves extensive walking in heat and sun — carry water and sun protection. The Jordan Pass (optional) covers Petra entrance and waives the tourist visa fee for stays of 3+ nights. Golf-cart and horse/carriage services are available inside the site for an extra fee. Every tour group entering Jordan at the Arava / Wadi Araba (Eilat–Aqaba) border must be accompanied by a licensed Jordanian guide. If you are arriving at this border, we add a guiding fee of USD 175 per tour day for your whole group (not per person). Example: a 2-day tour adds USD 350.

What to bring

  • Passport (for Petra entry)
  • Sturdy closed-toe walking shoes
  • Sun hat, sunglasses & SPF 30+ sunscreen
  • 1–2 litres of water per person
  • Light layers — mornings are cool, midday is hot
  • Small daypack for valuables
  • Cash (JOD) for souvenirs, tea and the Monastery viewpoint

Frequently asked questions

What is the Petra back trail?

It is a scenic mountain hiking path from Little Petra that brings you to the Monastery (Ad Deir) from above, away from the crowded main Siq.

Is this tour suitable for me?

It is ideal for active travelers — the route involves a mountain hike, so a reasonable level of fitness and sturdy hiking shoes are essential.

Is a guide included?

Yes, a private licensed English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout the hike.

Is the Petra entrance fee included?

No, the Petra entrance fee is not included. The Jordan Pass is recommended — see the FAQ below.

What is included?

A private licensed guide, transport to the trail start at Little Petra, bottled water and a traditional lunch in Wadi Musa are included.

Where does the tour start?

You meet your guide in Wadi Musa, with transport to the Little Petra trailhead included. Pickup from Aqaba is also available.

What is the Jordan Pass, and is it required?

The Jordan Pass is an official package from the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities that bundles a tourist-visa fee waiver with entrance tickets to around 40 of Jordan’s leading sites. It is entirely optional — you do not need it to travel with us, and you are welcome to pay each entrance fee individually at the gate instead. You buy it online before you arrive, show it at each site entrance, and it also waives the tourist visa fee when you stay at least three nights in Jordan.

When is the Jordan Pass worthwhile, and what entrance fees does it cover?

The Pass covers entrance to Petra (one, two or three days depending on the tier), Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea resorts, Mount Nebo, Madaba, Kerak, Ajloun, Bethany Beyond the Jordan and many more sites. For most travelers it pays for itself with a single Petra visit plus the visa waiver, so any additional site is effectively free — making it the best value if you are visiting Petra and at least one other major site, or staying two or more nights. If your tour already includes entrance fees (check “What’s included”), you may not need the Pass at all. We are happy to recommend the right tier for your itinerary — just ask.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation is available up to 48 hours before your tour start time. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the tour, or no-shows, are non-refundable. Exceptions apply only where agreed in writing by email from Jordan by Locals. Refunds (where applicable) are returned to your original payment method.

If you paid a 25% deposit, it is non-refundable within 48 hours of the tour. Exceptions apply only where agreed in writing by email from Jordan by Locals.

Read our full payment policy

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From $246 per group (up to 15)

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