Petra Back-Road Trail and Hike

Petra from the back door changes everything. I like how this route starts in Little Petra and then builds toward the big scenes, not the usual crowd crush. I also love the way the hike sets you up for the Treasury as a true finale. The main catch is physical effort, including a long climb to the Monastery, plus the fact that admission is not included for every big stop.

You’re looking at an all-day plan, about 8 to 9 hours, starting at 9:00 am, with a group size capped at 6. Pickup is offered, and you’ll use a mobile ticket. Just keep in mind the tour requires good weather, so if conditions are bad, your date may shift.

Key highlights to expect on this back-road Petra hike

• Little Petra and Siq al-Barid first, with a shorter canyon approach and carved-rock features along the way
• Al Dayr (Monastery), a huge Nabataean tomb with an interior church connection and a long stair route to reach it
• Panoramic viewpoints from the Shamasah area, including Wadi Araba and the west bank mountains
• A guided walk through multiple Petra zones, not just one photo stop, including Qasr al-Bint, the colonnaded street, and the Royal Tombs
• A crescendo finish at the Treasury, reached after a meaningful hike so it feels earned
• Small group pacing (max 6) that generally helps you move comfortably and see more without feeling herded

Why the back-road routing feels different than the usual Petra plan

This tour is built around the idea that Petra is more enjoyable when you approach it from angles most people skip. Instead of marching straight toward the Treasury right away, you start with Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) and then work your way toward the grand monuments in sequence.

That shift matters. It changes the rhythm from quick snapshots to a real walking day where scenery, rock-cut spaces, and ruins build on each other. And when you finally reach the Treasury, it has the feel of a finish, not a waiting room.

The route also includes a canyon called Siq Ghorab and then a stop area described as Shamasah, where you’re guided to panoramic views. Those viewpoints are the kind of moments you remember even when the photos are blurry, because the terrain does the talking.

Pickup, start time, and how to plan your day

The meeting start is 9:00 am, and the itinerary runs 8 to 9 hours. That timing is a good match for avoiding the hottest part of the day on a hike that includes long stretches and stairs. If you opt for pickup, you begin the day already in motion, which saves you the early hassle of navigating to the area on your own.

You’ll also want to think about what shoes you’re wearing before you decide you’re fine. This tour is listed for travelers with moderate physical fitness. One stop, the Monastery, involves a rock-cut path with more than 800 steps, so plan footwear with real grip.

Group size is limited to up to 6. That usually means you can keep your own pace while still getting guidance and historical context when you want it.

Al-Beidha in Little Petra: Siq al-Barid, then the Neolithic Village

Your first stop is Al-Beidha, starting with a tour inside Little Petra, also called Siq al-Barid (cold canyon). This section is far shorter than the main canyon route that many visitors use. The good part is that you get the canyon feeling and rock-cut details without spending the whole morning waiting for your legs to wake up.

Inside Siq al-Barid, the rock widens in places, and that’s where you may see carved elements such as temples cut into the rock and painted-house style remains. It’s a smaller stage than main Petra, but it’s still full of “how did they build this?” moments.

After the canyon, you continue to the Neolithic Village of Beidha. This is described as one of the oldest settlements in Jordan, with hunters and gatherers living seasonally during the Neolithic period. The value here is perspective. You’re not just seeing a Nabataean wonder, you’re seeing that people were using this area long before the big monuments existed.

Time at this stop is listed as 2 hours 30 minutes, including an admission ticket for this portion.

Al Dayr Monastery: the big hike payoff

If Petra were a story, Al Dayr (the Monastery) is the dramatic chapter. The tour routes you here after moving through the back sections, and it’s described as one of Petra’s fabled monuments, buried in the hills.

It was constructed as a Nabataean tomb in the 3rd century BCE, and it’s designed similarly to the Treasury but larger. You’re given a sense of scale up front: it’s noted as about 50 m wide and 45 m high. That size matters because when you finally arrive, you understand why people remember this place as more than just scenery.

There’s also a strong “why do we call it that?” element. The inside walls include crosses, which imply the site was used as a church by the Byzantines. That’s part of why the name Al Dayr stuck.

Getting there is the test. Starting from the Basin Restaurant, a rock-cut procession path follows a route with more than 800 steps. If you tend to rush at the start of hikes, resist that urge here. Even if you feel fine, pacing keeps your stamina for later.

This stop is allocated 2 hours, and the admission ticket is included for this segment.

Shamasah and the canyon approach toward the main sites

After the Monastery, the tour keeps pushing deeper into the back-road rhythm. You’re guided to a place called Shamasah, accessed through the large canyon named Siq Ghorab. This is one of those parts that sounds abstract until you’re actually standing in the corridor of rock.

The payoff is the viewpoint guide. You’re taken to the most beautiful panoramic view described for Wadi Araba and the west bank mountains. That’s a key reason to choose a guided hike like this. You’re not just walking between ruins, you’re being pointed at the big picture that explains why Petra sits where it does.

Because this segment sits between major monuments, it also helps you reset your pace. You’re not only climbing. You’re also absorbing wide views, which is good for your legs and your photos.

Colonnaded Street and Qasr al-Bint: Roman-era restoration on a Nabataean spine

Next you pass through the Colonnaded Street on the way back into the heart of old Petra. This is an old Nabataean construction later renovated during Roman times. The tour notes that in 106 BC, the street was restored with a 6 m width.

You’ll also hear a detail that makes the place feel more real: excavations suggest there was once a road with structures that stood one to two stories above it. The Street isn’t just a flat line of columns in your imagination anymore.

At the end of this street is the triple gate, opening to the Qasr al-Bint shrine. That gives you a clear “destination moment” even while you’re still moving around.

Time for this stop is about 1 hour, with an admission ticket included.

Street of Facades: easy access tombs and chambers

The Street of Facades is a shorter stop, but it can be very satisfying if you like tomb design and rock-carving detail. The tour highlights that only a few tombs are worth examining here, and it calls out a specific one: tomb number 67.

This tomb is described as having an upper story with a funeral chamber. That’s the kind of architectural note your guide can help you understand in the moment, because it’s not always obvious from just standing in front of carved stone.

A plus for this stop is accessibility. It’s described as easily accessible compared with some other Petra tomb areas, which means you’re not forced into extra climbs to see the details.

Plan for about 30 minutes here, with admission ticket included.

Royal Tombs and the stair to the Urn Tomb

Then you get into the Royal Tombs, described as a collection of large mausoleums with impressive facades carved into the western slope of the Jabal al-Khubtha rock massif. These rise above the center of Petra, so even from a distance you know you’re walking toward something visually dominant.

To access them, you must climb a staircase that leads to the Urn Tomb. The tour also notes the Urn Tomb served devotion during the Byzantine Empire. Next to it is the Silk Tomb, described as tiny with deep shade of sandstone, which is part of where its name comes from.

After that you move past additional tombs listed in the route: the Palace Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb, and the Tomb of Sesto Fiorentino. The value of this stop is variety. You’re not only seeing one famous facade.

One practical thing: admission ticket is not included for this stop. So plan for either purchasing admission for this segment or using whatever Petra pass fits your needs.

Time here is about 1 hour.

The Treasury as a crescendo: why timing after a hike matters

Reaching the Treasury (Al Khazna) is usually the headline in Petra. Here, it becomes the headline because you arrive after walking the route.

The guide information gives you a lot to look for. The Treasury is described as about 40 m high with two stories. It includes three chambers on the carved exterior, and the exterior decoration is noted for Corinthian capitals, friezes, and figures. Even the famous urn is included in the explanation, with local folklore saying it contained a pharaoh’s treasure, though the tour notes it likely functioned as a memorial for royalty.

The key takeaway for your experience is how you’ll feel when you reach it. By the time you get there, you’ve already spent hours seeing smaller carved spaces, canyon routes, and major monuments. That context makes the Treasury feel less like a single photo target and more like the final scene of a whole walk through Petra’s different eras.

Time at the Treasury is about 1 hour 30 minutes, but admission is not included for this stop. Build that into your decision on what Petra ticket option you’ll use.

Nymphaeum and the Byzantine Church: brief stops that round out the story

After the Treasury, you still have two smaller but interesting additions.

The Nymphaeum is described as a grand public fountain along Petra’s Colonnaded Street. Today, only foundations remain, and it’s noted that it stands in the shade of a tree. Even with less visible structure, this stop gives you a feel for how public spaces were used.

Then you visit the Byzantine Church (also known as the Church of Petra). The ruins were not discovered until the 1990s, and it’s described as a strong example of Byzantine-era Petra architecture. The tour notes that materials used in the church came from earlier Nabataean and Roman eras.

These two stops are short, about 10 minutes each, and both list admission ticket included.

Price and ticket value: what the $380 covers, and what you should watch

This tour is priced at $380 per group up to 6. If you fill all six spots, that can work out to roughly $63 per person for the guide and the planned walking route. If you have fewer people, your per-person cost climbs, so it’s worth thinking about who you’re traveling with.

What you get for your money is not just movement, but a structured day across multiple Petra zones with a guide. That structure can save time and help you connect ruins across different periods instead of seeing them as disconnected backdrops.

Tickets are partly included and partly not. Admission tickets are listed as included for several stops such as Little Petra/Al-Beidha, the Monastery, the Colonnaded Street, the Street of Facades, and the Nymphaeum and Byzantine Church. Admission is not included for the Royal Tombs and the Treasury. So you should plan on covering those on your side, either through separate admission or by using a Petra pass that works for your route.

One more practical value point: the tour includes a mobile ticket. That usually means less time spent printing documents and more time spent getting ready to walk.

Who this Petra back-road hike fits best

This is a good fit if you want more than one famous landmark and you like the idea of earning the biggest moments. If you prefer a guided day where you get explanations while you walk, this route gives you that, especially with stops like the Neolithic Village of Beidha and the Monastery interior clues.

It also fits travelers who want a smaller group feel. A max group size of 6 helps keep the day from turning into a noisy queue.

You should think twice if you have limited ability to climb stairs. The Monastery portion references more than 800 steps, and the overall day is long.

Common gotchas to consider before you book

First, guide quality matters. Petra is full of places where “what you’re looking at” makes or breaks the day. I saw one account where a guest felt the experience did not match expectations for a planned guided day arranged through Samaha Tours. That doesn’t mean your experience will be the same, but it is a reminder to confirm who will guide you and what you will get out of it.

Second, check ticket coverage for the Royal Tombs and Treasury areas. The itinerary marks those as not included, so don’t assume everything inside the main sites is covered in the base cost.

Third, weather. The tour requires good weather, and if it is canceled due to poor conditions you’re offered a different date or a full refund. In Petra, where conditions can change quickly, flexibility is your friend.

Should you book this Petra back-road trail and hike?

I’d book it if you want a guided walking day that starts with Little Petra and ends at the Treasury after a real hike. The route makes sense if you like context, canyon scenery, and big monuments seen in sequence instead of randomly.

I’d skip or reconsider if your main goal is the quickest possible Treasury photo, or if stairs and long walking days are a problem for you. Also, because admission coverage is split, it’s worth planning your ticket strategy before you arrive.

If you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys the walk as much as the destination, this back-road approach is a strong bet.

FAQ

How long is the Petra back-road trail and hike?

The tour runs about 8 to 9 hours.

What is the starting time?

It starts at 9:00 am.

Is pickup offered?

Yes, pickup is offered, and there is also an option to meet at Little Petra.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is 6.

Are admissions included for all stops?

No. Admission tickets are included for several stops, but the Royal Tombs and the Treasury are listed as admission ticket not included.

What physical condition do I need?

The tour is recommended for travelers with moderate physical fitness.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.