Petra Private Tour: Alternative Trail & Al Siq in One Day

Walk two routes through Petra and see almost the entire park in one day

A private guided tour of Petra that enters the ancient city via an alternate trail instead of the main entrance, then explores Al Siq on the way back—letting you cover nearly 80% of the archaeological park in a single outing. Your guide speaks English and carries maps marking the major archaeological sites; the tour includes bottled water and runs 2 to 3 hours from the horse riding point.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Petra's archaeological highlights

• Meet at horse riding point
• See Petra caves and attractions
• Walk through the Siq to Alkhaznh
• Visit Qasr Al-Bint temple
• Explore Nabataean tombs in southern cliff
• See Byzantine church with burial chambers

The Experience

The tour starts at the horse riding point and takes you up an alternate route into Petra, letting you see caves and rock formations most visitors miss before you reach the Siq—the ancient main entrance carved through a split rock roughly 1,200 meters long, 3 to 12 meters wide, and up to 80 meters high. The Siq narrows in places and opens gradually as you move through it; you'll see the remains of the city's gate at the beginning and water channels cut into both cliff faces that once drew water from Wadi Musa. The passage opens onto Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, a facade nearly 40 meters high carved with Corinthian capitals, friezes and figures.

From there the route takes you to Qasr Al-Bint, a Nabataean temple standing 23 meters high within a large paved courtyard and surrounded by an enclosure wall. The structure has chambers with balcony roofs accessible by stairways built into the walls. You'll also see the row of monumental Nabataean tombs on the southern cliff face past the Treasury, decorated with grindstones and other carved details, and the Byzantine church—originally a burial site with three niches leading to small chambers, adapted in 446 AD to serve as a place of worship.

The defining advantage here is the routing: entering via the alternate trail and returning through Al Siq means you experience the park from two perspectives in one morning, rather than walking the main entrance once. Your guide carries detailed maps marking archaeological sites throughout, so you understand what you're standing in front of as you move through each section. Bottled water is included; the tour runs between 2 and 3 hours depending on pace and questions.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• live English-speaking guide.
• detailed archaeological maps.
• private tour routing via alternate trail and Al Siq return.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Desert Wolf Horse Riding

Is this one for you?The 2- to 3-hour timeframe fits a morning outing without consuming your entire day, and the alternate-route design means you see nearly 80% of the park instead of the single main path most visitors walk—useful if you want depth in Petra without a full-day commitment or if you're combining it with other activities in the region.

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Top questions

What is Al Siq and why does this tour explore it on the way back?

Al Siq is the ancient main entrance to Petra, a narrow passage carved through a split rock that runs roughly 1,200 meters long with walls up to 80 meters high. This tour enters via an alternate trail first, then returns through Al Siq, so you see the same route from two directions and experience more of the park in a single outing.

What is Al-Khazneh and where do I see it on this tour?

Al-Khazneh, known as the Treasury, is a monumental facade nearly 40 meters high carved with Corinthian capitals, friezes and figures. You reach it at the end of the Siq passage, where the narrow canyon opens into an open area.

How much of Petra's archaeological park does this tour cover?

The tour covers nearly 80% of the archaeological park in a single day by using the alternate entry route and returning through Al Siq, letting you see caves, the Treasury, Qasr Al-Bint temple, the Nabataean tombs, and the Byzantine church in one outing.

How long does this private tour take?

The tour runs 2 to 3 hours from the horse riding point, depending on pace and how long you spend at each site.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English and carries detailed maps marking the major archaeological sites throughout Petra.

What should I bring or what is provided?

Bottled water is included with the tour. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sun protection, as much of the route is exposed rock and open areas.