2-day Petra tour: Nabataean history from the back route

Skip the main crowds and descend to Petra's highest monument instead of climbing to it

A 2-day private tour of Petra in Spanish with a live guide, routing you through Little Petra and down from the Monastery (Ad-Deir) rather than up, then looping through the central valley and the Siq in a single continuous path. Day one covers the Treasury, the Facades, the Theatre and the Royal Tombs. Day two tackles the back route with a 4x4 transfer to the trailhead, moderate-intensity hiking through mountain canyons, and a descent of the 800 steps into the valley. Hotel pickup is included. The guide speaks Spanish, English or Arabic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tour Clásico por Petra

• Meet Spanish-speaking guide
• Walk through Djinn Blocks and Obelisks Tomb
• Explore the Siq canyon
• Visit the Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
• Walk the Street of Facades and Theater
• See Royal Tombs and Roman Colonnade
• End tour at Qasr Al-Bint
• Free time after guided visit

Day 2: Ruta Trasera y Monasterio

• Meet guide and transfer to Little Petra
• 4x4 ride to mountain trail start
• Hike the back route with panoramic views
• Arrive at the Monastery (Ad-Deir)
• Rest and photograph at Monastery café
• Descend 800 steps to central valley
• Pass Street of Columns and Great Temple
• Walk through main Siq to Visitor Center

The experience

The route is built around one key difference: most visitors climb 800 exhausting steps to reach the Monastery, then retrace their path back down. This tour descends those steps instead, which means you arrive at the summit fresh enough to linger, and you exit downhill into the central valley without repeating ground. The 4x4 transfer to Little Petra and the mountain trailhead handles the steep approach. The hike itself is moderate intensity with panoramic views of the canyons and far fewer people than the main entrance sees.

Day one is the classic Petra loop: you meet your guide at the Visitor Centre, walk through the Djinn Blocks and the Obelisk Tomb, then enter the Siq. A 1.2-kilometer canyon carved between 80-meter cliffs with ancient water channels still visible in the rock. The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) is the iconic stop. From there you move through the Street of Facades and the Theatre (which seats 4,000 and was carved entirely from stone), then past the Royal Tombs and along the Colonnade Street to Qasr Al-Bint, where the guided portion ends and you have free time to explore.

Day two starts with a scenic 4x4 drive through the desert to Little Petra and the mountain trailhead. The guided hike follows the back route with moderate effort and sweeping views of the Wadi Araba valley. You reach the Monastery at the summit with time to rest at the on-site café. The descent takes you down the 800 steps into the central valley, past the Grand Temple and the Colonnade Street, and out through the main Siq to the Visitor Centre. The loop means no retracing: you enter from one side and exit from the other.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• 4x4 desert transfer to the mountain trailhead.
• two days of guided walking with a Spanish-, English- or Arabic-speaking guide.
• access to all Petra sites including the Treasury, the Monastery, the Theatre and the Royal Tombs.
• time at the Monastery café on day two.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ahmad Almasadeh

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to avoid the main entrance queues and prefer descending the Monastery steps to climbing them. The back route is less crowded and physically easier, though it requires moderate hiking fitness on day two. The private guide and Spanish-language option suit travelers who want cultural depth and personalized attention over a standard group pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's the difference between the front route most tourists take and this back route?

The back route starts at Little Petra with a 4x4 transfer to a mountain trailhead, then descends the 800 steps from the Monastery into the valley instead of climbing them. You avoid the main entrance crowds, and the descent is less taxing than the climb. The route loops continuously through Little Petra, the Monastery, the central valley and the Siq without backtracking.

How much walking and climbing is involved over the two days?

Day one is a guided walk of 2 to 3 hours through the main sites, mostly on level or gently sloped paths. Day two involves moderate-intensity hiking on the mountain trail to the Monastery, then a descent of 800 steps into the valley. The total is manageable for most fitness levels, and the descent is easier on the legs than an uphill climb would be.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to arrange separately?

Hotel pickup, the 4x4 desert transfer, the guided walks on both days, and access to all sites are included. Bring water, sun protection and sturdy walking shoes. The on-site café at the Monastery sells drinks and snacks.

How many people will be in the group?

This is a private tour, so it's your group alone with your guide. The size depends on your party. The operator accommodates families, couples and small groups.