Sleep Inside Petra: Bedouin Cave Homestay with Mule Tour

Wake to sunrise over Petra's valley from inside the canyon itself.

This overnight tour pairs a half-day mule tour of Petra's main sites (the Treasury, High Place of Sacrifice, and Monastery) with a night spent in a traditional Bedouin cave home inside the park boundary, the only place visitors can sleep within Petra. You travel by mule with a local Bedouin guide, eat traditional meals prepared by your host family, and wake to sunrise over the valley before departing. Park admission is separate. The guide speaks English and Arabic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Petra and Bedouin Homestay

• Meet at the Treasury
• Visit viewpoint over the Treasury
• Take mule tour to High Place of Sacrifice
• Lunch at Bedouin Cave home
• Take mule tour to the Monastery
• Enjoy traditional Bedouin dinner
• Stay overnight in Bedouin cave
• Wake up to sunrise over Petra valley

The experience

What makes this different is the overnight: you're not leaving Petra at sunset like every other visitor. After the mule tour reaches the Monastery in the afternoon, you stay inside the park itself, in a 3,000-year-old converted cave home where a Bedouin family lives. Dinner is traditional and cooked there. You sleep in the cave, wake to the sunrise over the valley (the light hits the rock faces before the day-trippers arrive), and have the morning to yourself before heading out. The guide who leads your tour is from the local Bedouin community, not a hired outsider.

The route itself covers the main landmarks most visitors see, but the mule changes the pace. You start at the Treasury, visit the viewpoint above it, then ride to the High Place of Sacrifice. Lunch happens at the cave home, overlooking the valley. From there, another mule ride takes you to the Monastery. The physical work is minimal (the mules do the climbing), but the terrain is rocky and the rides are real. This is not a casual stroll. The whole day runs roughly from morning to late afternoon, then you settle in for the night.

Bring your park admission ticket separately. The operator does not include it, though a Jordan Pass covers entry. The cave home has basic amenities. It is a working family residence, not a hotel. Wear sturdy shoes for walking around the cave and the rocky ground. If you arrive late and want to sleep in the cave the night before the tour instead, you can arrange that. Just book for the date you'll spend the night there and let the operator know.

What’s included

• Full-day guiding by a local Bedouin guide.
• accommodation in the traditional cave home.
• dinner and breakfast.
• mule transport to the Treasury viewpoint, High Place of Sacrifice, and Monastery.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:30, 22:30, 00:00 and 06:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Child (1 to 6 years) · Infant (under 1): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Coulture Trips

Is this one for you?You start at the Treasury entrance inside the park, so you don't need a car or a separate transfer to reach the main sites: the mules and your guide handle the rest of the day. If you're staying in town and want to sleep inside Petra itself rather than commuting in and out, this is the only way to do it.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 17 years); Child (1 to 6 years); Infant (under 1): free.

Can I do this tour if I'm staying in a hotel outside Petra?

Yes. You meet your guide at the Treasury inside the park in the morning, do the half-day mule tour, then stay overnight in the Bedouin cave home. You'll need to arrange your own transport to the Treasury entrance to start. Public transportation options are available nearby, or you can arrange a separate transfer.

What's included in the meals?

Dinner and breakfast are included and prepared by the Bedouin family in the cave home. Both are traditional meals. Lunch during the tour is also included and eaten at the cave home overlooking the valley.

Do I need to book the park admission separately?

Yes. Petra park entry is not included in this tour. You can buy a ticket at the gate or use a Jordan Pass, which covers admission to Petra and other sites across the country.

Is the mule ride difficult?

The mules handle the steep climbing, so you don't have to. The terrain is rocky and uneven, and you'll walk around the cave and archaeological sites on foot, but the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.