4-day Dana to Petra hike: Enter through the back door

Four days crossing desert gorges, ancient copper mines and hidden valleys to reach Petra's least-crowded gate

A 4-day trek from Dana Village through the Jordan Trail to Petra, hiking remote desert landscapes and staying in Bedouin camps. You enter Petra through its back entrance near the Monastery, avoiding the main crowds. Expert local guide in English, accommodation in tents, all meals and luggage transfer included. Children from age 4 welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Hike from Dana to Wadi Malaga

• Start at Dana Village
• Descend through Dana Valley greenery
• Pass terraced farms and viewpoints
• Spot wildlife like ibex and birds
• Arrive at Wadi Feynan
• Visit Bedouin family for lunch
• Trek across desert landscapes
• Pass Bedouin camps and interact
• Arrive at Wadi Malaga campsite
• Enjoy traditional Bedouin dinner
• Overnight wildness camping

Day 2: Hike from Wadi Malaga to Ras Alfade

• Begin challenging steep ascents and descents
• Cross remote valleys and rugged terrain
• Pass narrow gorges and rocky ridges
• Enjoy panoramic desert views
• Arrive at Ras Al-Feid campsite
• Relax and have Bedouin dinner
• Overnight wildness camping

Day 3: Hike from Ras Alfad to Little Petra

• Pass remote Bedouin camps and villages
• Reach Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
• Explore Nabatean ruins and caves
• Enjoy desert views
• Overnight at Bedouin tourist camp

Day 4: Visit Petra via back door route

• Enter Petra through less-traveled route
• Visit The Monastery (Al-Deir)
• Explore The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
• See The Royal Tombs and The Siq
• Take guided tour of Petra highlights

The experience

The hike starts at Dana Village, a stone-built settlement overlooking Dana Valley, and descends through lush terraced farms before crossing into Wadi Feynan, a remote desert area marked by ancient copper mines. You'll visit a Bedouin family for lunch and hear their history, then trek across dramatic gorges and canyons where towering cliffs frame hidden oases. Bedouin camps dot the route, and you'll interact with locals living traditionally in the desert. The first night is wilderness camping at Wadi Malaga with a traditional Bedouin meal under the stars.

Day two is the most demanding section: steep ascents and descents through narrow gorges and rocky ridges cross remote valleys with panoramic desert views. You arrive at Ras Al-Feid, a secluded campsite ringed by cliffs, where you recover with a Bedouin dinner and another night under canvas. Day three leads closer to Petra through remote camps and small villages, reaching Little Petra (Siq al-Barid): a smaller version of the main site with Nabatean rock-cut structures and caves, less crowded than what lies ahead. You camp in the Little Petra area, preparing for the final push.

The last day enters Petra through its back door, a less-traveled route that avoids the main entrance crowds. The trail leads to the Monastery (Al-Deir), one of Petra's most iconic structures carved into sandstone cliffs. From there you explore the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), the Siq, the Royal Tombs and other Nabatean ruins on a guided tour of the site's highlights. Your guide is a professional English-speaker throughout, and luggage transfers to each campsite daily so you hike with only what you need.

What’s included

• Expert local guide in English throughout the trek.
• accommodation in wilderness tents with mattress and sleeping bag each night.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) prepared Bedouin-style at camp.
• drinking water, tea and coffee daily.
• luggage transfer to each campsite.
• welcome gift.
• first aid kit.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (25 to 40 years) · Senior (41 to 60 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Demanding physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Jordan Trail Guide

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're hiking the full Dana-to-Petra route over multiple days and want to enter Petra from the desert side rather than the main gate.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

27 verified traveler reviews

5 ★27

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (4 to 10 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between entering Petra on this hike versus the main gate?

This trek enters through the back door near the Monastery (Al-Deir), a route far fewer visitors use. The main gate at the Siq handles crowds all day. This route lets you explore Petra's highlights with a guide after a 4-day approach through the desert.

How physically demanding is the Dana to Petra hike?

Day two is the most challenging, with steep ascents and descents through narrow gorges and rocky ridges. The operator recommends a high level of physical fitness. Days one, three and four are less intense, though hiking in desert heat and at altitude requires endurance and acclimatization.

What does the camping setup include?

Each night you sleep in a tent with a mattress and sleeping bag provided. Camps are wilderness sites at Wadi Malaga, Ras Al-Feid and the Little Petra area, with Bedouin meals cooked on-site. Water, tea and coffee are supplied throughout the trek.

What wildlife or natural features will I see?

The Dana Biosphere Reserve section features ibex and birds of prey. The route crosses the Great Rift Valley with stunning panoramic views, passes through ancient copper mines in Wadi Feynan, and descends into narrow gorges and hidden oases as it approaches Petra. Each ecosystem shifts from lush vegetation to arid desert.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

An expert local guide accompanies you throughout in English. They lead you through the route, share knowledge of the landscape and Bedouin culture, and guide the final day's exploration of Petra's monuments.