Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide

Climb the Monastery stairs and walk down 850 steps to the ancient market below

A private guided tour of Petra starting from the back entrance, with hotel pickup and entry included. You climb to the Monastery, descend to the Colonnaded Street, view the Royal Tombs from above, and finish at the Treasury after hiking around 10km. Fewer tourists and a flexible pace let you explore at your own speed and shoot from angles most visitors miss.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. The Monastery3h · entry included
2. Petra Royal Tombs30m · entry included
3. The Treasury45m · entry included

Private guided tour of Petra back entrance

• Pick up from hotel
• Stop at visitor's center for tickets
• Ride shuttle to Little Petra
• Explore Little Petra highlights
• Take 4×4 shuttle to monastery base
• Climb to the Monastery
• Walk downhill 850 steps to Colonnaded Street
• Walk main trail to Royal Tombs and amphitheatre view
• Explore the Treasury facade
• Free time for sightseeing or walk back

The experience

The tour begins with hotel pickup and a stop at the visitor center to collect your entry ticket. A free shuttle takes you to Little Petra, where your guide covers the highlights in 15 minutes, then a 4×4 vehicle drops you at the base of the Monastery stairs. From there you climb to the Monastery itself, the highest point on the route, before the real descent begins.

You walk downhill 850 steps from the Monastery to reach the Colonnaded Street, the ancient marketplace of Petra. From there the main trail leads you past views of the Royal Tombs and the Theater amphitheater from above the front mountain. The route covers roughly 10km of walking and hiking, ending at the Treasury: the most photographed facade in Petra. You have free time at the end to explore further or rest before the optional 40-minute walk back to the visitor center through the canyon, or arrange a return shuttle.

Because you're entering through the back and moving with a private guide instead of a crowd, you see the site from angles and at a pace most day visitors never experience. The guide speaks English and adjusts the rhythm to your fitness and interests. The 4×4 shuttle to the Monastery base saves energy for the hiking that follows, and the downhill-first route means you descend rather than climb at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entry ticket to Petra.
• 4×4 shuttle to the base of the Monastery stairs.
• English-speaking private guide.
• free shuttle from the visitor center to Little Petra.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

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

Operated by Alfarajat - Tour guide in Petra Jordan .

Is this one for you?The 5- to 7-hour commitment leaves room for a meal or rest elsewhere in your day, but the 10km of hiking and 850 downhill steps mean this tour demands sustained physical effort. Choose it if you're comfortable with that level of exertion and want to see Petra's major sites without the crowds and fixed pace of a group tour.

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Top questions

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.

How much walking and climbing is involved in this Petra tour?

The tour covers roughly 10km of hiking and walking. You climb stairs to reach the Monastery at the top, then descend 850 steps to the Colonnaded Street, and continue on the main trail to the Treasury. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

What is the Monastery and why start the tour there?

The Monastery is the highest structure in Petra and one of the site's most impressive facades. Starting there via the back entrance and 4×4 shuttle means you begin at the peak and descend through the ancient city, which is easier on the body than climbing uphill at the end of a long day.

Does the tour include entry to Petra and how do I get the ticket?

Entry to Petra is included. After hotel pickup, you stop at the visitor center where your guide collects the tickets for you before heading to Little Petra and the back entrance.

What happens at the Treasury and how does the tour end?

The Treasury is the final stop and the most iconic facade in Petra. Once you arrive, you have free time to explore and photograph it. You can then walk back to the visitor center on your own through the canyon (about 40 minutes) or arrange a return shuttle.

Will I see the same sites as a standard Petra tour, just from a different angle?

You see the major sites (the Monastery, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street, Theater view, Street of Facades, and the Treasury), but the back entrance route and private guide mean you experience them in a different order and with fewer crowds. The angles and pacing are more flexible, letting you linger or move on as you prefer.