New way to hike the Back Road to the Monastery in Petra from September '22
From September 2022 the start of the Back Road is from the parking area in Little Petra (Beidha).
There is a free shuttle bus from the Petra Visitor centre to Little Petra. The first bus will leave around 7 am from the back side of the Petra Visitor Centre. The last one leaves around 4 pm.
If you are looking for a clear plan, arrange a taxi beforehand. For a transfer from the Petra parking to this starting point you can get in touch with taxidriver Saleh Helalat. If you are traveling by rental car, park it there to have it waiting for you when you come back from your Petra visit.
From this starting point in Beidha, the first option is to take a 4WD shuttle to cross the valley to the start of the steps, to hike up to the Monastery. The price for this transfer is 5 JOD pp.
The second option is to hike (it’s 5 km, flat area) to the point where you start hiking up.You can find this trail on Komoot
From there it’s 2,5 km hiking up to get to the Monastery.
Updated 8 October 2022
Add a visit to the Neolithic village to your Back road hike
If you choose to hike from the parking to the start of the steps you can add a stop at the Neolithic village of Beidha. Go back in time 10.000 years to see how the pastoralists became farmers!
Hike the Back road to the Monastery
Take the scenic, off the beaten track, hiking trail up to the Monastery from Beidah (Little Petra). You can do this hike perfectly on your own. However, to learn more about Petra, nature and bedouin life it’s a good idea to hire a guide to accompany you on your way up. He will guide you along small white domes of sandstone, an ancient Nabataean dam, a rock balcony and the Bronze age settlement Umm Saysaban. Enjoy the marvellous views over Wadi Araba before hiking up the ancient Nabataean steps to reach the plateau.
Once up on the plateau the Monastery will reveal itself to you!
Don’t forget to climb up behind the little restaurant to get to the view point to enjoy the view over the huge canyon of Wadi es Siyyagh.
From the Monastery you can take the main trail down into Petra by the Basin.
Difficulty
Moderate (according to the site of the Jordan Trail). If you have fear of heights there can be a little part where you want the guide to help you cross (by maybe just holding your hand or walk between you and the valley), although the rock terrace is ‘improved’ a few years ago for the safety of the hikers.
Length of the hike
Looking for a guide and a transfer for the Back road hike?
If you’d like us to arrange a guide and transfer to Little Petra, let us know via the below form:
In addition, we can also help you out if you only need a transfer to the start of the hike.
Don’t forget that you need a ticket for Petra to do this hike!
Looking for accommodation in Wadi Musa close to the Petra parking?
Have a look at the rooms in B&B Petra Fig Tree Villa, just a stone throw away from the Petra vistor centre.