Most people walk the Siq, photograph the Treasury and head back to the bus. That's a good morning, but it's the shallow end. Petra's trails are where the rest of the ticket goes, and they differ more than the signs suggest: one is a flat stroll, one is 800 steps, and one is an eight-hour day you shouldn't try without a guide.
Short version.
Everyone does the Main Trail. If you have a second morning, climb to the Monastery. If your knees complain, do the High Place of Sacrifice instead and skip the rest. Durations and guide fees below come from the Petra authority's 2025 trail list, checked in October 2026, so confirm them at visitpetra.jo before you go.
The Main Trail: Siq to the Royal Tombs
The Siq is a 1.2 km gorge, and it's the best entrance to any archaeological site we know, mostly because the Treasury stays hidden until the last bend. Past it the path runs along the Street of Facades, by the Theatre and up to the Royal Tombs. The official list gives 2.5 hours for the Main Trail. That's the walking time, so double it if you stop to look at things, and you will.
It's flat enough for almost anyone and you don't need a guide. An official guide for the Main Trail is 50 JD if you want the stories, and 100 JD if you extend to the High Place or the Monastery. Get to the gate as early as you can: the Siq is a different place before the day groups arrive.
The Monastery: 800 steps and a very big view
The climb starts near the Basin restaurant at the far end of the Main Trail and runs up about 800 rock-cut steps. The official list gives 1.5 hours for the Monastery trail, and 50 JD with a guide on top of the Main Trail cost. Ad-Deir is the same style as the Treasury but much larger, and you can walk right up to it. There's a tea tent opposite, and a ridge behind it with a view out over Wadi Araba.
The facade catches the best light in the afternoon. In July and August that means walking down in the heat, so in summer go early and accept flatter light. Pace yourself on the way up: the steps are steady rather than steep, and people who stop every ten minutes arrive in the same shape as people who don't.
The High Place of Sacrifice: the shorter climb
The steps start near the Theatre. The official list gives 1.5 hours for the short version (35 JD with a guide) and 3 hours (60 JD) if you carry on down through Wadi Farasa, past the Garden Tomb and the Roman Soldier's Tomb. On top there are two obelisks and a rock-cut altar, and a view of the whole city centre. It's our pick if you want Petra from above without the Monastery's effort.
Al-Khubtha: the Treasury from above
This one starts near the Royal Tombs and takes 2 to 2.5 hours on the official list (50 JD with a guide). The payoff is looking down on the Treasury from the ridge, which changes how big it feels. You'll be offered tea at the viewpoint, and buying one is the polite thing to do. Stay well back from the edge for photos. The drop is real and the ground is loose.
The long ones: Little Petra, the back route and Wadi Muthlim
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) is a smaller, quieter canyon of Nabataean dwellings, listed at 3 hours and 50 JD. From there the back route climbs to the Monastery in 6 to 8 hours (150 JD), which is how you reach it without a single crowd. Aaron's Tomb is a full 8-hour day (150 JD), and Wadi Muthlim, a narrow canyon from the dam to the Basin restaurant, is listed at 2.5 hours (50 JD).
These are the trails we'd never do alone. Paths fade, junctions look alike, and nobody can hear you if something goes wrong. Narrow wadis such as Muthlim also flood fast, and they close when rain is forecast, so ask at the Visitor Centre on the day.
Do you need a guide?
Not for the Main Trail, and in practice not for the Monastery steps or the High Place. For anything on the backcountry list, yes. If you'd like one of our guides to take you, we run the Main Trail, the Monastery, the extended trail
and the back entrance route.
FAQ
How many days do I need for Petra's trails?
One day covers the Main Trail plus either the Monastery or the High Place, if you start early. Two days lets you do both and still have an easy morning. A second day on the ticket costs 5 JD more (55 JD against 50 JD for one day, for visitors who stay overnight in Jordan).
Is the Monastery hike hard?
It's a long staircase rather than a technical climb. If you can climb stairs for an hour with a few stops, you can do it. Take water and start before the heat in summer.
When are the trails closed?
Narrow wadis close in rain, and the whole site has closed after heavy storms in winter. Check with the Visitor Centre on the morning you plan to hike.
Planning your days? Read our Visiting Petra guide, or tell us your dates
and we'll put the trails in the right order.
Last updated: 31 October 2026. Trail times and fees come from the Petra authority's 2025 list and can change, so check visitpetra.jo.
