Petra Back Trail Tour from Amman: Walk the Monastery to Treasury

Walk Petra backwards, from the Monastery down to the Treasury through the Siq

A private full-day tour from Amman to Petra that reverses the usual route: you start at Little Petra and the Monastery, descend through the Byzantine Church, Royal Tombs and Theater, then finish at the Treasury before walking the Siq in reverse to the main entrance. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking local guide, entrance fees, and a climate-controlled vehicle. The 245-kilometer drive takes about four hours each way, with the site itself taking most of the day. Minimum age is 15. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Petra Royal Tombs3h · entry included
2. The Treasury3h · entry included
3. The Siq3h · entry included

Full-day private Petra back trail tour

• Leave hotel early morning
• Drive south to Petra
• Walk from Little Petra to Monastery viewpoint
• Descend to Byzantine Church and Qasr el Bint
• Walk through Wadi Farasa to Lion Fountain and Roman Soldiers Tomb
• Visit 3,000-seater Theater and Royal Tombs
• Return to the Treasury “El-Khazneh”
• Walk through the Siq to main entrance
• Free time at Petra Museum
• Rejoin vehicle and drive back to Amman
• Hotel drop off ends tour

The experience

You leave your Amman hotel early and drive south 245 kilometers to Petra, arriving at the back end of the site near Little Petra. This is where most tours end. You're starting here. Your local guide leads you up into the mountains for a view of the Monastery, then you descend to the Byzantine Church and walk through Wadi Farasa, passing the Lion Fountain, Garden Triclinium and Roman Soldiers Tomb. The stone changes color as you move through the site, and the different caves and carved facades come into view gradually instead of all at once.

You'll see the 3,000-seater Theater and the Royal Tombs before reaching the Treasury: the rose-pink carved masterpiece that most visitors encounter first. From there, you walk the Siq, a narrow 1.2-kilometer stone corridor with walls rising on both sides, which becomes your exit instead of your entrance. This reversal means you experience Petra's monuments in a different sequence and rhythm than the standard route. Your guide explains how the Nabateans carved these buildings and managed the desert conditions over 2,000 years ago. If time allows, you can visit the Petra Museum before heading back to Amman.

The tour runs 12 to 13 hours total. You can add lunch at a local restaurant or inside Petra itself if you choose that option at checkout. A horse ride before the Siq is included. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a sunhat. The walking is substantial but suitable for all fitness levels above the stated minimums. Your driver speaks English and doubles as your guide for the drive. The local guide joins you at the site.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Amman.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• English-speaking driver and local guide.
• entrance fees to Petra.
• horse ride before the Siq.
• on-board WiFi.
• optional lunch at a local restaurant or inside Petra (added at checkout).
• free time to visit the Petra Museum if the schedule allows.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tour for holders of the Jordan PassGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00Tour for clients who have purchased a Jordan Pass: a private back-entrance visit of Petra from Little Petra, with entrance fees not charged. Pickup is included.

Private tour of the Back Trail visitGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00A private back-entrance visit of Petra, starting at Little Petra and heading to the Monastery, then walking towards the Treasury and through the Siq to the main entrance. Pickup is included.

Tour with LunchGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00A private back-entrance visit from Little Petra, including lunch at a local restaurant. Pickup is included.

Tour that includes lunch inside PetraGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00Tour with lunch inside Petra: a private back-entrance visit from Little Petra, with lunch at the Basin Restaurant inside Petra. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (15 to 70 years) · Under 15: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Zaid Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see Petra's monuments in a different sequence than the standard route and don't mind starting your day very early: the reversed path and the back-end entry are what make the full site walkable in a single day without retracing your steps.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between starting at Little Petra and the usual Petra tour?

Most visitors enter through the Siq and walk toward the Monastery. This tour reverses that route entirely. You start at the back end near Little Petra, see the Monastery first, and work your way down through the Royal Tombs and Theater before reaching the Treasury and walking the Siq as your exit. The monuments appear in a different order and you experience the site's geography from a different angle.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

The tour includes substantial walking through Petra's back trails, down through Wadi Farasa, and the 1.2-kilometer Siq at the end. It's suitable for all fitness levels, but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The desert sun is intense.

What's included in the price, and do I need to buy a Jordan Pass?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Amman, the private vehicle, English-speaking driver and local guide, entrance fees to Petra, and a horse ride before the Siq are all included in the standard tour. You can choose a Jordan Pass option at checkout if you're a Jordan or GCC national, which adjusts the price since reduced entrance fees apply to those passports. Lunch is optional and added as a separate choice.

How long is the drive from Amman to Petra?

The drive south is about 245 kilometers and takes roughly four hours each way. You leave early in the morning and return to your hotel in the evening, making this a full-day commitment of 12 to 13 hours total.

What should I bring and wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a sunhat or cap for sun protection. The desert is hot and the walking is continuous, so bring water and sunscreen. The vehicle is air-conditioned for the drive, but you'll be exposed to the sun while exploring the site.