Petra day tour: Reverse route avoiding crowds with local guide

Walk Petra backwards and reach the Treasury last, when most visitors have already left

A full-day guided tour of Petra starting at Little Petra and following a reverse route through the site, ending at the iconic Treasury after descending from the Monastery via the Back Trail and exploring the Nabataean Market, Royal Tombs, Theater and hidden water engineering sites along the way. Your live guide speaks English, Spanish, French or German. Petra entry tickets are arranged separately at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Petra's highlights reverse route

• Start at Little Petra
• Hike Back Trail to Monastery
• Descend 850 steps to Qasr Al Bint
• Explore Nabataean Market and Colonnaded Street
• Visit Royal Tombs
• See Theater and Street of Facades
• View iconic Treasury
• Walk Siq backwards
• Discover hidden water tunnel
• See Obelisks Tomb and Djinn Block
• End at Visitor Center

The experience

The tour begins at Little Petra and climbs the scenic Back Trail for about an hour and a half to reach the Monastery, the site's highest point. From there you descend 850 steps to Qasr Al Bint, then move through the ancient Nabataean Market, Colonnaded Street and Royal Tombs, stopping at the Theater and Street of Facades. The sequence matters: by working backwards through the main attractions, you avoid the crush of visitors who enter through the Siq and head straight to the Treasury.

The final stretch takes you through the Siq in reverse, where your guide points out a hidden tunnel that reveals how the Nabataeans engineered water flow through the canyon, the Obelisks Tomb and the Djinn Block before you emerge at the Visitor Center. Walking the Siq this way (with the Treasury as your last stop rather than your first) changes the whole rhythm of the day and lets you linger at the most photographed monument without the press of crowds moving through.

The tour runs about two and a half hours total and requires moderate fitness for the hike and the 850 steps. Your guide is a local expert who speaks your language and knows which details matter and which views reward a pause. Infants and small children can use a stroller on the flatter sections. Service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• Full-day guided tour with a local expert.
• access to all main Petra attractions including Little Petra, the Monastery, Qasr Al Bint, the Nabataean Market, Royal Tombs, Theater, Street of Facades and the Treasury.
• the hidden water engineering tunnel and Obelisks Tomb.
• and the reverse-route arrangement that structures the entire day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to5h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 73

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Jordan Image Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're visiting Petra for the first time and want a guide who knows the site's layout and history. The reverse route is built for small to medium groups and works best for travelers with moderate fitness who want to hike and explore at a steady pace rather than rush through the main attractions.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

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 Back Trail like, and how long does it take to reach the Monastery?

The Back Trail is a scenic hike that takes roughly an hour and a half and ends at the Monastery, Petra's highest point. From there the route descends into the main site rather than climbing up to it.

Why does the reverse route help avoid crowds?

Most visitors enter through the Siq and head directly to the Treasury, then work backwards through the site. This tour starts at Little Petra and approaches the Treasury last, so you encounter fewer people at each stop and have the most iconic monument largely to yourself.

What do I see along the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs?

The Colonnaded Street is lined with carved columns and is part of the ancient Nabataean city center. The Royal Tombs are monumental facades carved into the cliff face and represent the burial sites of Nabataean royalty. The tour includes time to explore both.

Do I need to arrange my own Petra entry ticket?

Petra entry tickets are not included in the tour price and are arranged separately at checkout. Your guide will meet you at the Visitor Center and lead you through the site from there.