Petra Trails & the Monastery (Al-Deir): A Hiking Guide
Petra rewards anyone willing to climb. Beyond the Siq and Treasury lie the great rock-cut Monastery, the ridge-top High Place of Sacrifice and quiet back trails that most day-trippers never see. Here is how to hike them — the routes, the effort and the timing — plus the best-rated guided trail tours to book.
At a glance
- 1800+ steps to the Monastery (Al-Deir)
- 2High Place of Sacrifice ridge trail
- 3Back trail in from Little Petra
- 4Local Bedouin trail guide
The Monastery (Al-Deir) climb
The Monastery, or Al-Deir, is Petra's largest monument and the reward at the top of roughly 800 rock-cut steps. The climb from the basin near the Restaurant takes 45 to 60 minutes through a shaded wadi past Nabataean niches, ending at a 47-metre-wide facade carved into the cliff. A tea shop opposite frames the classic view, and a short scramble higher reaches viewpoints over Wadi Araba toward the horizon.
High Place of Sacrifice & ridge trails
For panoramas without the crowds, the High Place of Sacrifice climbs around 600 steps from the Street of Facades to a Nabataean altar high above the city, then descends the quiet Wadi Farasa past the Lion Fountain and Garden Tomb. Combined with the Monastery, these two ascents are the classic hiking pair inside Petra — steep but non-technical, and best tackled in the cooler morning hours.
The back trail from Little Petra
The back trail turns Petra inside out. Starting from Little Petra (Siq al-Barid), a guided route crosses the sandstone plateau and arrives at the Monastery from above, so you descend into the ancient city rather than climbing out of it. It takes three to four hours, needs a local Bedouin guide, and offers near-total solitude — no ticket queues, no golf carts, just open desert and Nabataean ruins.
Guides, timing and water
These trails are unmarked in places and fully exposed to the sun, so a licensed guide is worth it for the back routes and the archaeological detail. Wear sturdy shoes, start at opening to beat the heat, and carry two to three litres of water. Save the Monastery for last light if you can — the facade turns gold in the late afternoon, long after the tour groups have headed back.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Petra — prices per person.
