“A red-rose city, half as old as time”
– John William

In a world that’s unlike anything else, surrounded by pink stones and valleys unlike anywhere else, stands the ruins of a rock-cut city that still ignites wonder and awe in its visitors. Built by the Nabateans in the 3rd century, Petra, known as the Rose City, with its pink colored sands and equally rose-colored rocks stretches beyond the canyons with multiple tombs, elaborate monolithic structures, and stairways that literally take your breath away.

But what many don’t realize is that Petra is a city of trails riddled with passages and gorges that wind through canyons, ancient steps, and leading to viewpoints that feel like secret spots known to only the wisest explorers. Each trail turns Petra from a simple stop into a full-blown adventure.

For first timers, these trails might be confusing. Some are straightforward while others are barely marked. Travelers usually spend at least two to three days in Petra to truly uncover everything the vast city has to offer.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, each of the Petra trails is worth exploring and has something for every traveler. Use this Petra travel guide and trail map to plan how long you’ll stay in the city and pick the trails that suit you best.

Download free Petra Map PDF here

The Main Trail

The highlight. The king. The crown of Petra. The Main Trail is, and should be, your go to Petra trails if it’s your first time in the Rose City. Walking through the Main Trail is how you’ll come across the jaw-dropping dramatic entrance to The Treasury from the canyons as you’ve seen in many pictures, videos and probably the Indiana Jones movie.

You can download the free Petra Map PDF here.

The Main Trail is a total of 4-5km one way, starting from the Petra Visitor Center until the The Treasury aka Al Kazneh in the local dialect. Once you pass the entrance you will walk through the Wadi (dried river valley) and see sights such as the Djinn Blocks, tombs and Nabatean art.

The trail then leads to The Siq – the popular awe-striking canyon of red and pink colors that has been carved through time to create the narrow passageways that Petra is known for today. This geo-archaeology marvel is a must visit where you can experience the power of nature, its mysteries and how the world can carve out beauty without the touch of man.

Once you pass the Siq, comes the visual feast of The Treasury in all its glory. This majestic mausoleum thought to belong to the Nabatean King Aretas IV peaks through the rocks of the Siq and clears into a stunning structure that makes one glued to the spot.

Beyond the Treasury, the trail continues all the way to the Monastery. By staying on this trail you can see the Street of Facades, the amphitheater, royal tombs, colonnaded street, the great temple and if you’re legs are still working, climb 800 steps to the monastery.

You can walk this trail all the way back to Petra’s Visitor center or take one of the buggies back from The Treasury, costing around 15-20 JD for one person.

The Royal Tombs – Al Khubtha Trail (Guide Required)

If you’re in the mood for some adventurous climbing via steps and rocks while checking out the main tombs that gave archaeologist a window into Petra’s past, then the Royal Tombs trail is for you.

This tomb has two access – one is right by the Street of Facades and the other after the amphitheater. You will see a small newly-made green bridge that goes up a few stairs to tombs. You will also get a beautiful view of the amphitheater and the street of facades from this trail. The trail will lead you to the urb tomb, silk tombs and to a viewpoint that will give you views of Al Kazneh with a bird’s eye view.

We highly recommend getting a guide for this Petra trail since the tombs might look unassuming on the outside but it’s because of these tombs that archaeologists were able to figure out the story behind Petra and its inhabitants. A guide will tell you what makes these tombs important and who it belongs to. Since the trail twists and turns, you might lose your way, so bring a tour guide to explore it safely.

High Place of Sacrifice

The High Place of Sacrifice is more of an adventure than discovering a monument. While the High Place has its significance, it’s the 800 stairs climb to the top and the way down that makes this trail worth exploring.

The trail starts right after the Street of Facades and before the Amphitheatre. You will find a signboard that marks the path. The Nabateans built the High Place for sacrificial rituals, where they offered animals to their god Dushara. Th High Place of Sacrifice is one of the tallest locations in Petra at 170 meters high.

At the top, you will find a sacrificial altar and even a drainage system for draining blood. You can climb your way back down on the same path or if you want a bit of challenge, take the longer route along the cliff that faces Wadi Farasa. Note that the Wadi Farasa route is a bit of an effort so non-experienced hikers should stick to the easy way down, which is the same path you came up to the High Place.

Through the Wadi Farasa route you will see the original Crusader walls as well as other sites such as the Lion Monument, Garden Triclinium, Roman Soldier Tombs, Renaissance Tomb, Zantur Hill, and Amud Faraoun, before descending down to join the Main Trail.

The Petra Monastery

If we have to rank the beauty of the structures in Petra then the Petra Monastery, aka, Ad Deir Monastery, is definitely the next best after the Treasury.

The Monastery is the largest structure in Petra standing 45 meters (148 ft) tall and 50 meters (160 ft) wide. It is thought to have been used as a church due to the four crosses on the inside walls as well as the presence of an altar and seating blocks attached to the walls.

Many travelers and visitors claim the hike to the Monastery to be the highlight of visiting the Rose City though the climb can be a bit of an effort. More than 900 old and eroding steps takes you through narrow ways, tombs and the view of the canyon below. Shops and stalls line the walkway and mules make their way up and down the steep steps.

At the top, after visiting the Monastery, climb a little more to see the Arabian desert termed “the end of the world view” on the signboards as well as the borders for Palestine.

You can access the Monastery through the backdoor trail. The Basin restaurant is a landmark to where the trail starts. Make sure to carry plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes if you plan to take this Petra trail.

Indiana Jones Trail – Al Madras Trail (Guide Required)

The Indiana Jones fans are going to love this one. The Madras Trail is the exact trail that Indiana Jones took when making his way to the Treasury. Starting just before the Dam and the entrance to the Siq, the Madras Trail involves an ancient bridge built by the Nabataean to cross the Wadi as well as several other sights such as cisterns, sacred relics and a Nabatean meeting hall for religious associations.

Be warned that this path is not marked and is easy to get lost so hiring a guide is essential. An adventurous hike, you can take this path leading to the Treasury or you can combine it with the High Place of sacrifice for a longer, more challenging route.

Petra by Night

View this post on Instagram

An out of the world experience, the Petra by Night tour is one of its kind. Scheduled at 20.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week, the Main Trail to Al Kazneh is lit with small lanterns, illuminating the path from the Petra Visitor Center through the Siq and until the Treasury.

Shows and dances takes place before Al Kazneh where you can sit on the ground and watch the performances. The Petra by Night experience requires an additional 17JD with your usual Petra tickets. The Jordanian Pass is also accepted to purchase the Petra by Night experience.

How to Get to Petra

By Private Transport (Best way and highly recommended)

The best way to get to Petra is by hiring a driver. These drivers will get you to your destination in Wadi Musa (where Petra is) without hassle and you can make pit stops to get tea, use the bathroom or just take gorgeous desert pictures along the way.

You can hire a private transport straight from the Amman Airport to your hotel in Petra or we recommend hiring this driver from anywhere in Amman to Petra. Private transports are also available from Aqaba airport or from anywhere in Aqaba to Petra.

Tourist Bus

The next option is to take the tourist bus. If you’re planning to travel from Amman to Petra, JETT Buses are a convenient and reliable option. One of the main departure points is the Abdali station, which sees regular service. Buses typically leave as early as 6:30 A.M., with return trips to Amman scheduled for 5:00 P.M. Tickets can be booked easily through their official website, or you can get in touch with them directly at +962 6 5664141 for more details.

You can also take the public minibuses that depart from southern station in Amman from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and return from Petra between 6:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.

From Aqaba, you can take the public bus from the public buses station via JETT. They run one daily service from Aqaba to Petra at 8:00 am and return from Petra at 5 pm. 

Plan Your Trips to Petra with Customized Itineraries

At AWO we craft customized trips to Petra designed around you. Whether you’re dreaming of a quiet sunrise walk through the Siq, a guided trek to the Monastery, or the best hotel to stay in with easy access in Wadi Musa, we do it all for you. Our handpicked local guides, thoughtful itineraries, and personal touches ensure every detail is unforgettable.

Reach out to us and let’s plan a journey you’ll never forget.