Petra's trails at a glance
Most visitors walk the main trail from the Visitor Center through the Siq to the Treasury and on to Qasr al-Bint. That is 3.9 km (2.4 mi) one way. Every other route in Petra branches off that corridor or approaches the city from the north, and most of them climb. Across the Gulf of Aqaba, the Colored Canyon in Egypt's Sinai offers another desert canyon walk.
The Petra authority asks visitors to stay on the main paths unless they are with a guide, and a local guide is required for guided routes. Prices and times below are official listings as of 2026. The route price sheet dates from 2025, so confirm rates at the Visitor Center.
Petra trails compared
Distances and walking times are official figures for one direction, without stops, unless noted.
| Route | Distance | Time | Rating | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Madras Trail via the High Place | 4.8 km (3 mi) | 2:45 to 3:00 h | Moderate | – |
| Theatre to High Place and back | – | 1.5 h | – | JOD 35 |
| Wadi Farsa and Garden Temple to Qasr al-Bint | – | 3 h | – | JOD 60 |
| Royal Palace Tomb to Al-Khubtha | – | 2 to 2.5 h | – | JOD 50 |
| Back Door route (Bayda to the Monastery) | 7 km (4.3 mi) | 3:15 to 3:30 h | Moderate | – |
| Back route via Beida, Monastery and basin restaurant | – | 6 to 8 h | – | JOD 150 |
The price sheet states that main trail costs are not included in the fees for the two shorter guided routes. Entrance tickets and any main trail guide fee come on top. See our tickets guide for entrance fees.
Our picks: guided routes
Little Petra, the back entrance and a short guided visit in Petra.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private guided tour via the back entrance
A private guide, hotel pickup and a 4x4 ride via the visitor center and Little Petra. The Petra ticket is not included.
Check availability →
Private three-hour guided tour of Petra
Hotel pickup and a private guide in Petra, with some free time. The ticket (50 JOD per person on the tour page) and the ride back to your hotel are extra.
Check availability →
Little Petra with a Bedouin guide
A local Bedouin guide, welcome tea and viewpoints on a five-hour visit.
Check availability →Guided walks and day trips in Petra
Guided visits to Petra with options that go beyond the main trail, with live prices and availability.
High Place of Sacrifice
The High Place is a Nabataean open-air sanctuary on a ridge above the city, with a courtyard, rock benches and an altar. From the top you look out over Petra and across toward Wadi Musa.
The official Al Madras Trail is the longer version. It runs from the Obelisk Tomb past Al Madras and the High Place, then down through Wadi Farasa to ez Zantur, 4.8 km one way and 2:45 to 3:00 hours without stops. It is rated moderate. It is not the same as the short guided climb from the theatre, which is listed at 1.5 hours return for JOD 35.
The walk goes over rock steps and uneven ground. Wear shoes with grip and bring water.
Al-Khubtha
Al-Khubtha is a high-level route listed on the official price sheet from the Royal Palace Tomb, at 2 to 2.5 hours for JOD 50. It is associated with views over the Treasury area. A listed route is not a promise that every viewpoint can be reached, so ask a guide or the Visitor Center what is open on the day you plan to go.
Wherever you stand, do not climb on monuments, and stay off any slope a guide tells you to avoid.
Back Door route to the Monastery
The Back Door, also called the Back Trail, starts in the north at Bayda (Siq al-Barid) and reaches Petra at the Monastery. It is 7 km one way, rated moderate, with 3:15 to 3:30 hours of walking without stops. Along the way are Little Petra, the Neolithic site of al-Bayda and Umm Saysaban.
If you do not want to walk the whole route, a transport variant exists. You go from the Visitor Center to the Nabataean Cultural Village, where a jeep ticket costs JOD 5 per person. The jeep continues via Little Petra, with a stop of about 15 minutes, to the gate of the Monastery path. It does not drive to the facade. Listed jeep hours differ between official pages (07:00 to 18:00 on one, 07:30 to 15:00 on another), so ask when the last departure leaves.
If you hold a Jordan Pass, have it checked at the ticket counter before you start the back route. More about the pass in our Jordan Pass guide. The Monastery itself is described on our Monastery page.
Little Petra
Little Petra is the popular name for Siq al-Barid in Bayda, a northern suburb of the ancient city. It has a narrow rock opening, cisterns, dams, dining rooms and rock-cut facades, and it served as a caravan resting place.
The site is listed with daily hours of 06:30 to 17:00. The separate Little Petra ticket counter runs on a seasonal schedule: 07:00 to 16:00 in summer (to 1 October 2026) and 07:00 to 14:00 in winter (2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027). Counter hours and site hours are not the same thing, so do not plan to arrive at the last minute. Ask at the counter what a visit costs on the day.
The jeep stop at Little Petra on the Back Door transfer lasts about 15 minutes, which is a short look rather than a full visit. Little Petra is also bookable as a private event venue, and that fee has nothing to do with a regular day visit.
Rules, safety and route status
- Stay on the main paths unless you are with a guide.
- Leave the park before sunset. Overnight stays are not allowed.
- Do not climb or damage monuments and do not buy supposed antiquities, stones or coins.
- Route status changes. Side routes can be closed for weather or other reasons. A price sheet or a trail description is not a live status, so ask at the Visitor Center or your guide before you commit to the High Place, Al-Khubtha or the Back Door.
- Flash floods are a risk in Petra, especially from October to March, according to the US travel advisory of 29 August 2026. Follow local weather warnings. See our season guide.
- Emergencies: 911 nationwide. The tourist police at the Visitor Center can be reached on +962 3 2156487.
For the monument itself and the main trail, start at our Petra overview.
What to carry on a high-level walk
Sturdy shoes, water, sun protection and a hat are the basics the Petra authority lists for its Monastery trail, and they apply equally to the High Place and the back route. There is little shade on the high paths. Food and drink are on sale at the entrance and inside the park, but the side routes themselves are not reliably supplied, so bring what you need for the whole walk.
Petra hiking trails: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to reach the High Place of Sacrifice?
A guided walk from the theatre to the High Place and back is listed at 1.5 hours. The longer Al Madras Trail, which includes the High Place, takes 2:45 to 3:00 hours one way without stops.
Do I need a guide for the hiking trails?
The Petra authority asks visitors to stay on the main paths unless accompanied by a guide, and a local guide is required for guided routes. Licensed guides are arranged at the Visitor Center.
Are Al-Khubtha and the Back Door open?
Route status changes and a listed route is not a guarantee. Ask at the Visitor Center or your guide on the day.
Can I walk to Little Petra from the main site?
Little Petra is a separate site in the north and lies on the Back Door route, which runs from Bayda to the Monastery. It is not reached by a short walk from the main trail. The jeep transfer from the Nabataean Cultural Village passes through Little Petra and costs JOD 5 per person one way.
Which trail is best for a first visit?
Start with the main trail. If you have a second day, choose between the High Place walk and the climb to the Monastery. See the tours page for guided options.