Hiking in Petra is the best way to discover the Nabataean city and take a trip back in time! The hiking trails are spectacular and wind through canyons, tombs, ancient amphitheaters, and breathtaking buildings. Here are my favorite hikes in Petra. Get your hiking boots on!
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Treks in Petra – One-Day Trail Suggestions
Hiking in Petra on the Main Trail
- Distance: 8 km round trip
- Difficulty: easy
- Departure: Petra Tourist Office
- Arrival: Qasr al-Bint
The Main Trail is the path that starts from the tourist office and leads to the stairs that go up to the Monastery. In other words, it is the route you take to see the main buildings in Petra.
When you leave the reception, you pass by a few buildings and quickly enter the Siq, a spectacular 1.2 km canyon with orange walls. It is by leaving the Siq that you arrive at Kahzneh, the emblematic Treasury of Petra. You then arrive at the street of facades, the royal tombs, the street of colonnades, and finally at Qasr al-Bint. Of course, if you have time, the ideal is to spend a little time at each place to explore a little.
The hike as a whole is easy: there is no elevation gain, and the trail is clear and well-maintained from start to finish. You will see that this is the busiest route on the site. There are many tourist groups there.
The Ad Deir trail to Petra Monastery
- Distance: 5 km round trip
- Difficulty: difficult
- Departure: At the end of the main path
- Arrival: Ad Deir (the Monastery)
Ad-Deir Trail starts at the end of the Main Trail and leads to the northern sector of Petra via an ancient staircase of 800 steps. At the end of the trail, we find the Monastery, another spectacular construction of Petra. This route is difficult due to its elevation gain. Otherwise, it is clear and well-signposted.
As you start the climb, you quickly reach the Triclinium of the Lion, and later a hermitage dug into the rock. The staircase is often lined with stalls and places to stop for tea or a cold drink. After the 800 steps, the gradient drops gently, then you reach the Monastery. I found the Monastery magnificent. I admit that I preferred it to the Treasury because of its calmer atmosphere.
Once at the Monastery, there are cafes and restaurants to refresh yourself and you can also continue the hike to see some structures a little further north or advance on the Back door hiking trail to the Monastery .
Please note that I only took this trail to go back down to the Main Trail. Coming from Little Petra via the back door to the Monastery trail (see next hike in Petra), you avoid having to walk the stairs in both directions.
The Back door to the Monastery trail for an extraordinary arrival in Petra
- Distance: 5,5 km walking
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Departure: Little Petra
- Arrival: Ad Deir (the Monastery)
If you want to get away from the crowds, this Petra hike is the one for you. This is my favorite trail to hike in Petra. To reach the trail, the ideal is to go to Little Petra. From there, you have two options:
- First, start walking right away by taking the path behind the Little Petra reception.
- The second, take a Jeep ($5) to save 2-3 kilometers (sorry for the lack of precision, I couldn’t say how much) of walking in the desert. No matter what you decide, keep in mind that after this stretch from the Back door to Monastery, you will still have the Ad Deir trail (2.5 km) and the Main Trail (4 km) to walk back.
I opted for the second option and saved a few steps thanks to the Jeep. The section covered by car being essentially in the desert and without any notable viewpoint, I was at peace with my decision. After the drop-off point, from the first steps, the breathtaking panoramas follow one after the other. The trail alternates between climbs and descents offering great viewpoints sometimes on the mountains, sometimes on incredible rock formations. I loved this sector which seemed to me far from the busy main path.
The highlight of this hike is certainly reaching the Monastery, which becomes more clearly visible with each step. Certainly one of the most beautiful moments of this stay in Jordan.
Check out the Petra tourism website for more Petra trek suggestions.
Things to know to prepare for a hike in Petra in Jordan
What to bring on a hike in Petra?
- Sunscreen
- A hat
- Sufficient amount of water
- A snack or lunch
- Comfortable shoes suitable for hiking
- A suitable first-aid kit
- A map of the site
Where to stay in Petra
I stayed in one of the new rooms at the Petra Town Check-Inn Hotel in the town of Wadi Musa. The location was great, central, and about a 20-minute walk to Petra. The owner was all smiles and super helpful. While not exceptional, the room was okay and the breakfast was satisfactory. If you prefer, there are also a few options within walking distance of the entrance to the site such as the Petra Boutique Hotel or the Mövenpick Petra.
Visit Petra from Amman
If you’re short on time, several day trips from Amman don’t allow much time for hiking, but you’ll at least be able to walk the Main Trail.
Visit Petra from Wadi Rum
With Petra and Wadi Rum being less than an hour apart, it is not uncommon for people to visit one after the other. Again, local transportation is available and if the schedule doesn’t suit you, you can easily find a driver to take you from one point to the other.
Planning a hiking trip to Petra
There are several options for visiting Petra, if you want to be accompanied in organizing your stay, I recommend that you go through providers who work with local agencies to ensure you have a trip that reflects the country.