Far from the Siq and the crowds that line in front of the Treasury lies another way into Petra. This one was a quieter path, a back door hiking route to the monastery that follows the same paths the Nabataeans once used to travel between Little Petra (Siq al-Barid aka the Cold Siq) and the sandstone highlands surrounding Ad-Deir (the Monastery).

These trails weren’t made for visitors; they were part of a working network that connected caravan stops, water points, and mountain lookouts across Petra’s desert. When the city was abandoned and centuries of sand settled over its roads, the routes faded into silence.

It was Bedouin herders and later explorers who traced them back, shaping what’s now known as the Petra Monastery Trail. The trail isn’t for first-time visitors; it’s for those who’ve walked the better path to the Treasury and now would like to explore the Monastery without climbing the 800 steps that lead to it.

You can also download the Petra map for free here.

Tips for visiting the Monastery via Petra Backdoor Trail

• If this is your first time visiting Petra we recommend taking the Main Trail. This is because the Main Trail is actually the main and the correct entrance that was used to get into Petra by the Nabateans. The dramatic entrance to the Treasury through the Siq is the best through this route.
• To properly explore Petra and its sights, you need at least two days. Day one, for the Main Trail until you reach the colonnade street and great temple while also seeing the royal tombs. Day two, for the backtrail to visit the Monastery. This way you will cover almost all the main sites in Petra with all its flair and magnificence without exhausting yourself.
• We recommend using guides as you will miss a lot of the sights and stories by yourself. We recommend taking this guided tour that takes you through the backdoor trail and guides you all the way to the Siq. They also provide transportation from Amman.
• Make sure to carry water with you as the hike can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours depending on the distance you plan to hike.
• Distance from the Petra entrance to the Monastery is around 8-10km roundtrip.

Little Petra to Monastery Hike

Your adventure begins not at Petra’s main gate, but at Siq al-Barid, which forms an entrance to Little Petra – an alternative spot that resembles the main City of Petra but on a smaller scale. Just eight kilometres north of the main site, this miniature version of Petra was once a caravan rest stop for traders traveling along the Silk Road.

According to Heritage Daily, Little Petra is believed to have been some sort of entertainment resort for wealthy merchants making a stop over to Petra. This is deduced by the cisterns, banquet halls and possible areas for making wine.

This site of Little Petra sees lesser tourists than the iconic Kazneh. It’s also the start point of the Petra backdoor trail. From here you can hike all the way or use the 4WD vehicle to reach the main hiking point of the back door route that leads directly to Ad Deir (the monastery). If you choose to hike from Little Petra, then the distance is 7km to the monastery. If you use the 4WD, you will be dropped off at the starting of the trail which then takes only 2-4km to reach the monastery.

This route bypasses the busy Treasury and instead offers a more intimate experience with the desert – possibly an experience that the Nabateans themselves had as they walked the expanse of the desert for their trade.

The Trail

The Petra monastery trail from Little Petra is roughly 6 to 8 kilometers long, depending on the exact route you take. The path snakes through sandstone valleys and barren plateaus, framed by rugged cliffs and brown sand.

The early section of the Petra backdoor trail is relatively easy. It’s not a plain path but it’s possible to be covered by walkers and hikers of different levels. The trail isn’t overly marked, but local Bedouins often offer guidance or rides on donkeys for those who prefer a little help along the way.

It’s hard to imagine that this barren terrain was once alive with caravans carrying frankincense, spices, and silks to the heart of the Nabataean kingdom. The latter part of the trail sees a few stairs, but these are ones that can be easily taken.

Walk further and you will find yourself on the top of the mountains with views of the valley below. The path is narrow with a safety wall built towards the edge. That said, we insist that you don’t wander towards the canyon side of the path.

And then, just as you think about taking a break, you turn a corner – and there it is. Tucked into the cliff side of the plain terrain, the regal monastery comes into view.

The Monastery

Standing stark contrast to the otherwise rugged landscape of the mountains, the Monastery steals the gaze of any traveler that wander here. The monastery is such a massive giant that a man over 6ft of height finds it difficult to step into the monastery due to the height of its doorway.

Carved in the 1st century CE, this colossal monument stands about 50 meters high and 45 meters wide, dwarfing anyone who approaches. It’s more massive than the Treasury but less ornate and its magnificence lies on its sheer scale and size.

The façade is perfectly symmetrical, cut into the mountain with impossible precision. Unlike the Treasury, which is often crowded with visitors, the Monastery’s remote and hard-to-reach location (if you take the 800 stairs climb), means you can often experience without the hordes of crowd photobombing your images.

According to Madain Project, Ad-Deir was initially built as a mausoleum (similar to Al Kazneh – The Treasury) for Nabatean King Obodas I who ruled Petra in the 1st century BCE and later used as a temple in the name of the king.

The plain ground in front of the monastery was originally surrounded by a colonnade perhaps used as a gathering place for sacred ceremonies.

The monastery was later converted into a church during the Byzantine era, hence its name the “Monastery”. Massive crosses inside the temple wall, an altar, a giant niche, and side benches back this theory.

Whether you call it Ad-Deir or Petra Monastery, it’s a masterpiece that symbolizes the genius and resilience of the Nabataeans. The sheer thought that this structure was carved from a single mountain, without the aid of modern tools, leaves most travelers speechless.

View of Palestine & End of the World

Once you’re done about seeing the monastery and sipping fresh juices or tea from the nearby Bedouin shop, you can explore the nearby areas. Some signages points you to view points – one being the view of Palestine and the other dubbed as “the End of the World”.

It’s a moderate climb to these viewpoints. Easy for experienced hikers and a bit breath heaving for those not used to climbing or hiking much. Follow the signages and you’ll reach a point where you can lay your eyes and see far across the Arabian desert, stretching toward the view of Palestine and the distant hills beyond the Dead Sea.

On the opposite side of the view of Palestine is the “The End of the World” view. It’s named so because there is where civilization stops and the desert begins, stretching for miles and miles upon barren land. It’s a world unlike any other and a view that you only see in movies like Mad Max.

The view alone makes the entire Petra monastery trail worth it.

800 Steps – The Climb Down

After viewing the monastery and the surroundings, you will start descending down the 800 stairs. These 800 stairs were used to climb the monastery when visiting from the Main Trail. But since you came through the backtrail, you will be descending the stairs to join the main trail.

Carved directly into the sandstone by the Nabataeans more than two millennia ago, these steps wind like a giant stone staircase into the heart of the mountain. Some are shallow, others steep and uneven, but every single one was shaped by hand.

Some corners are narrow, the others wide, and at times dangerous. As you climb down, you’ll find some of the colors start to change from the gold sands to the pink hues the Rose City is known for. Occasionally, you’ll pass shaded alcoves run by the natives. Here, you can rest, buy souvenirs or drink tea while catching your breath.

Make your way down carefully and give side to the natives and mules that would be making their way to the top at the same time.

Merging with the Main Trail

After descending the last of the 800 steps, the Petra monastery trail connects with the Main Trail of Petra. This is first signaled when you come across the Lion Triclinium close to the bottom of the stairs. Once you completely descend, you will see the Basin restaurant and come across the Petra gate.

Keep walking that route and you will see the Colonnade street, the Great Temple, the Royal Tombs, the Amphitheatre, the Street of Facades and then as you turn the corner, the grand Treasury. Once you set your sights on the Treasury, you can walk through the Siq and reach the Petra Visitor’s Center to take a taxi back to your hotel.

This marks the transition from the quieter backdoor route to the busier central area of Petra, where most visitors begin their journey. The entire hike from Little Petra to the Monastery and down to the main entrance generally takes around 4 to 5 hours on the short end, depending on pace and stops along the way.