Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .

The clever part of this Petra tour is the direction: you begin at Little Petra, ride toward the Monastery, and walk downhill through the ancient city until you reach the Treasury. That reverses the usual long climb and brings you to Petra’s grandest facade at the end, after a quieter mountain route.

I like the private format, which lets guide Bassil adjust the pace and answer questions without rushing. I also like the early 7:00 am start, the 4×4 ride to the Monastery trail, and the chance to see Petra from angles most people miss. The catch is the effort: this is roughly a 10-kilometer walk, with a climb to the Monastery, 850 steps downhill, sun, and little room for an unprepared pair of shoes.

Key points to know before booking

• Start at Little Petra: A short visit here comes before the 4×4 ride toward the Monastery.
• End at the Treasury: You finish at Petra’s most famous facade, not back at the Visitor Centre.
• Private guide Bassil: He has more than 18 years of guiding experience at Petra and can set the walking pace for your group.
• About 10 kilometers on foot: The route takes 5 to 7 hours and requires moderate physical fitness.
• Petra admission costs extra: The $140 price covers the guide, hotel pickup, and 4×4 ride, but not the Petra entry ticket.
• Plan your return: After the Treasury, you can explore on your own or walk about 40 minutes through the canyon to the Visitor Centre.

Why the back entrance changes your Petra day

Most people experience Petra by entering through the Siq, the narrow canyon that leads to the Treasury. This tour uses a different approach. You begin near Little Petra, cross the high country by 4×4, and reach the Monastery from its rear side.

That route gives you a quieter opening and a stronger sense of Petra’s scale. You see open mountain views before arriving at the carved monuments, rather than moving directly from the Visitor Centre into the canyon. The first major reward is the Monastery, a huge facade cut into the rock and reached after a climb.

I like this order because the day has a clear shape. You begin with Little Petra and the Monastery, move downhill through the main city, pass the Royal Tombs and Theater, and finish at the Treasury. The famous facade becomes the final scene instead of the first quick photograph.

The tradeoff is simple: the back entrance is quieter, but it is not an easy shortcut. You still climb to the Monastery, and you then walk downhill for hours. Going down 850 steps can be hard on knees and ankles, even if it feels easier than climbing them.

The 7:00 am pickup and Little Petra start

The tour begins at 7:00 am, with hotel pickup provided. You first stop at Petra’s Visitor Centre to collect the entry tickets, although the ticket itself is not included in the tour price.

From there, you ride toward Little Petra. The visit is short, about 15 minutes, so think of it as an introduction rather than a full tour of the site. You get a look at its carved spaces before continuing by 4×4 toward the back route.

The 4×4 ride is included and takes you to the bottom of the Monastery stairs. That saves you from walking the entire approach from the main entrance, but it does not remove the main physical challenge. The climb to Al Dayr still awaits.

Hotel pickup is useful if you are staying in Wadi Musa, since it removes the need to arrange an early taxi. At the end, there is no hotel drop-off included. A return car costs about 5 to 10 JOD per vehicle, so settle that point before you start.

Reaching the Monastery by the rear route

The Monastery, also called Al Dayr, is the tour’s longest stop at about three hours. That time includes the approach, the climb, time at the facade, and the surrounding views.

You climb up the mountain from the 4×4 drop-off point. The exact pace is flexible because this is a private activity, and Bassil can pause to explain the site or let you catch your breath. Still, do not confuse flexible pacing with an easy walk. The route requires moderate fitness, and the heat can make the stairs feel longer than expected.

The Monastery is larger and more isolated in feeling than the Treasury. Its broad facade has a powerful presence, and arriving from above gives you a different first impression than the standard route. You also have the benefit of seeing it before descending into the busier central parts of Petra.

Bring water, a hat, sunscreen, and shoes with a firm sole. Several people who enjoyed this route still found the sun and effort serious, even with the back entrance. Start early, take the climb at your own pace, and do not save all your water for later.

Bassil is the guide named for this experience. His role is more than pointing out carved stone. He explains what you are passing, answers questions about Petra and Jordanian culture, and can help with photographs. The private setting also makes it easier to ask for a pause or a different pace without holding up a larger group.

The 850-step descent to the Colonnaded Street

After the Monastery, the route turns downhill. You walk about 850 steps toward Petra’s ancient market area and the Colonnaded Street. This section takes about an hour.

The descent changes the rhythm of the day. You are no longer climbing toward one monument. Instead, the site opens gradually as you move into the central city, with carved walls and old architectural remains appearing along the way.

The Colonnaded Street is a useful place to understand Petra as more than a collection of famous facades. It was part of the city’s civic and commercial core, and the broad route helps you picture how people moved through this once-active center.

The practical warning is your knees. Downhill walking is often harder than visitors expect, especially after the Monastery climb. Use the time to slow down, watch your footing, and let Bassil point out details rather than rushing to the next stop.

This is also where the tour’s direction proves useful. You are descending into the main site instead of facing the full stair climb from the Visitor Centre to the Monastery. You still work for the experience, but the route avoids repeating the steepest approach in reverse.

Qaser Al-Bint and the heart of ancient Petra

The route includes Qaser Al-Bint, one of the principal temple structures in Petra. It sits near the Colonnaded Street and helps connect the city’s grand monuments with its religious and public spaces.

The supplied timing gives the Colonnaded Street about an hour, with Qaser Al-Bint among the key sights covered along the way. Your exact time at each feature depends on your walking speed, questions, and how long you want to stop for photographs.

This part of the tour is valuable because it broadens your view of Petra. The Treasury and Monastery are dramatic, but Petra was also a functioning city with streets, gathering places, tombs, and major buildings. A guide can help you read those remains rather than simply pass them on the way to the next facade.

You should also expect a long day rather than a series of short stops. The tour lasts about 5 to 7 hours, and the remaining time is used for walking, sightseeing, and pauses. If you prefer a tightly timed itinerary with little walking, this is not the right fit.

The Royal Tombs and Theater viewpoint

From the Colonnaded Street, you continue along the main trail toward the Royal Tombs. This section lasts about 30 minutes, though the walking and viewing time can vary.

The Royal Tombs give you some of Petra’s most impressive carved stone fronts in one area. They also show how the Nabataeans used the rock face for monumental burial places, with each facade shaped by the stone and its setting.

The route includes a view of the Theater from the front mountain. That higher angle helps you see the Theater as part of the wider city rather than as an isolated stop. You can also take photographs from less familiar positions, one of the advantages of approaching Petra away from the standard crowd flow.

The Royal Tombs area is one of the places where a guide adds real value. Petra’s remains can look like disconnected walls and facades if you do not know what you are seeing. Bassil’s long experience at the site gives him a useful basis for explaining the structures and the route between them.

The day’s distance matters here. By this point, you have already climbed to the Monastery and descended hundreds of steps. If you walk slowly, tell your guide early. A private tour gives you that option, but you still need to allow enough time for the route.

Ending at the Treasury, Petra’s grand finale

The tour ends at the Treasury after the full route. You will have passed the Street of Facades and approached the Treasury from within Petra’s main canyon system.

The Treasury is the moment many people picture when they think of Petra. Seeing it after several hours of walking gives it more context. You have already viewed the city from high ground, crossed its central streets, and seen several kinds of carved architecture. The Treasury then arrives as a dramatic final facade rather than a quick opening reveal.

You have about 45 minutes here, with the remaining time available for sightseeing and independent exploration. This is a useful arrangement if you want photographs or a quiet pause after the long walk.

The tour does not return you to the Visitor Centre. You can stay at the Treasury for more time on your own, or walk roughly 40 minutes back through the canyon. That return is not an extra attraction ticket or vehicle ride, but it is another stretch of walking to account for.

If you have a late afternoon plan, leave room for this final walk. The tour’s stated duration is 5 to 7 hours, but your exact finish depends on pace and how much time you spend exploring at the end.

What the $140 price includes

The price is $140 per person. It includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and the 4×4 ride to the bottom of the Monastery stairs.

It does not include the Petra entry ticket, gratuity, or hotel drop-off. That makes the headline price only part of your total budget. The ticket cost depends on the entry arrangement available to you, so confirm that before booking rather than assuming the $140 covers the whole day.

The value comes mainly from the private guiding and the route. You are paying to avoid arranging the back-door transfers yourself, to have an English-speaking guide throughout the walk, and to travel at a pace suited to your own group.

For a group of two, the price may feel substantial once admission is added. For four people, the private format becomes easier to justify because you share the guide and vehicle arrangement across your group. Group discounts are offered, so it is worth checking the current rate if you are traveling with several companions.

I would not choose this tour only to save steps. Its real value is the route, the private attention, the early start, and the chance to see the Monastery before walking into Petra’s main sights.

Who should choose this Petra tour

This experience suits you if you want:

• A quieter route into Petra
• A private guide rather than a large group
• The Monastery as the first major sight
• A full visit that includes the Treasury, Royal Tombs, Theater view, Colonnaded Street, and Street of Facades
• Flexibility to ask questions and adjust your pace
• A long walking day with several hours outdoors

It is less suitable if you have limited mobility, dislike steep stairs, or want a short visit focused only on the Treasury. The tour requires moderate physical fitness, and the 10-kilometer route does not include the walk back to the Visitor Centre.

Service animals are allowed, and the start point is near public transportation, but the experience is built around hiking. The most important preparation is not transport. It is good footwear, water, sun protection, and an honest assessment of your stamina.

Booking and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is private, meaning only your group takes part. It is booked on average about 45 days ahead, so reserve early if you need a specific date.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the 7:00 am start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The tour also requires good weather. If poor weather cancels it, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Should you book the back entrance?

I would book this tour if you want Petra to feel like a full day of discovery rather than a quick visit to the Treasury. The route gives you Little Petra, the Monastery, the central city, Royal Tombs, and the Treasury in one private outing, with Bassil providing explanations and help along the way.

I would skip it if your priority is comfort, minimal walking, or a guaranteed return to your hotel by vehicle. The 850-step descent, roughly 10 kilometers on foot, heat, and final walk from the Treasury to the Visitor Centre make this a serious walking tour.

For hikers, photographers, and first-time visitors who want a less usual route, the back entrance is a smart choice. Start early, budget for the entry ticket and return transport, and treat the physical effort as part of the experience rather than an unpleasant surprise.

FAQ

What time does the Petra back entrance tour start?

The tour starts at 7:00 am.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup is included, but hotel drop-off is not. A return vehicle costs about 5 to 10 JOD per car.

Is the Petra entry ticket included in the price?

No. The Petra entry ticket is not included in the $140 per-person price.

How long does the tour take?

The tour takes approximately 5 to 7 hours.

How far do you walk?

The route involves about 10 kilometers of walking. It also includes a climb to the Monastery and a downhill section of about 850 steps.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at the Treasury. You can explore independently from there or walk about 40 minutes through the canyon to the Visitor Centre.