Most travelers flocking to Petra might think that the Rose City consists of just the Treasury (Al Kazneh) and the Siq. But this one-of-a-kind place on earth that stretches on for more than 10km is filled with fascinating structures from beginning to end. And that’s why when you step into the rose city, you’ll find yourself amidst a several fascinating trails to this magnificent place. Amongst one of them is the Petra Royal Tombs trail or otherwise known as Al Khubtha Trail.

This trail is not as straightforward as the Main trail or the Monastery trail and hence would need a guide for you to explore it. The Royal tombs trail is unlike the rest of the trails in Petra and gives you a deeper insight into the rulers who once made Petra what it is.

It’s also a perfect pick for experienced hikers and those who like a bit of adventure as the trail is a hard one with climbs, rocky steps and slippery slopes. But what can be expected on this particular path? Read on to find out.

You can also download the free Petra map here. To get to the rose city, you can hire a transfer from Amman for ease of travel and convenience.

The Trail Start

There are two ways to start this trail. The first one, is right after Al Kazneh/the Treasury and opposite the street of Facades. As you walk past the famed kazneh (once you finish bathing in its visual wonder of course) and the street of facades, you will see a set of staircases on your right climbing towards the mountains. This is where the Petra Royal Tomb trail starts.

The trail isn’t an easy one and it has multiple steps and spaces that requires you to climb. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes and clothes that won’t have you slipping or tugging. It’s important to cover yourself in both summer and winter. One might thank that the heat means less clothes and more skin but that’s only an idea if you wish to get your skin chaffed across steep rocks or the heat of the sun to be pricking your skin.

On this trail, you will start with the Unayshu/Uneishu tomb before making your way around to the royal tombs and ending close to the Nymphaeum. This trail is also the start of the Al Khubtha trail.

The second way you can access the trail is after the theatre. You’ll find signages pointing to the Royal tombs. This trail leads up a set of stairs and starts with the Urn Tomb, leading onto the silk tomb, Corinthian tomb and palace tombs before rounding all the way to the Al Khubtha trail and ending with the viewpoint to the Treasury.

That said, the trail is for every adventure lover and must be explored if you wish to venture across the lesser-known areas of Petra and really study the past of the Rose City.

The trail winds through the royal tombs and eventually ends at the viewpoint of the Kazneh (treasury). But this route is not an easy one if you’re planning to go all the way round to the Treasury viewpoint. We highly recommend booking a guide, so you know exactly where to start and won’t get lost as the trail is not clearly marked.

The Tombs

The highlight of the Petra Al Khubtha Trail is the royal tombs which is why it has the nickname “the royal tombs trail”. Not only are they worth seeing but they are also used as landmarks to know which part of the trail you are at – where are you beginning from or where are you ending at.

Read on to find out why they are a must visit and which one you should keep as a marker as per the trail you are taking.

Uneishu Tomb

If you are opting to start from Al Khubtha Trail opposite the street of facades, then the first tomb you’ll come across is the Uneishu/Unayshu Tomb.

The tomb was named as such because of an inscription on a grave slab that read “Uneishu, brother of Shuqailat, son of ….”, according to Excavations at Petra (1973-1974). From these inscriptions and the study in the publication, it’s concluded that Uneishu was probably the minister of Shuqailat II who ruled the Nabatean Kingdom from 71 to 76 AD.

It’s simpler and elegantly designed than the rest of the tombs in Petra and like others, was once robbed of its objects. The tomb can be easily accessed from the street via the set of stairways and can be used as a landmark for the start of the Al Khubtha trail from the Street of Facades.

The Urn Tomb

If you are starting the trail from the Royal Tombs trail after the theatre and by the bathrooms, then the first tomb you come across is the Urn Tomb.

Often considered the most impressive and best preserved of the group, the Urn Tomb dates to around 70 AD and is widely believed to have belonged to King Malichus II and possibly became his resting place. Its massive façade rises roughly 26 meters above the ground, carved into a high terrace that visitors access by a long staircase.

The tomb gets its name from the large urn crowning the top of the structure. However, the interior is just as noteworthy: a vast chamber measuring nearly 18 meters wide, with a soaring vaulted ceiling blackened by centuries of Bedouin fires. In the Byzantine period, this chamber was converted into a church around 447 AD, and faint remains of plaster and apse modifications can still be traced today.

The Silk Tomb

Recognizable by the multitude of sandstone colors on the exterior, the silk tomb is a beautiful structure that sits across the royal tombs. The tomb got its name due to the vivid pink, purple, gold, and orange bands that runs across its surface. The patterns might look hand-painted, but they’re entirely natural mineral formations.

The exact date of the Silk Tomb is unknown. Expert believe it to be dated back to the first half of the first century and like the other tombs in its line, was used as a funerary space for one of the Nabatean Kings.

The façade itself is about 12 meters wide and features the classic Nabataean-Hellenistic blend, with a relatively modest design compared to its neighbours. The interior is simple and rectangular, but visitors come mainly for the colours especially at sunrise and sunset, when the stone practically glows.

The Corinthian Tomb

Looking like a replica of the treasury, albeit in a more broken way, the Corinthian Tomb reflects a Roman style architecture especially the Corinthian columns that dominate its façade. Built sometime in the late 1st century AD, it rises approximately 27 meters and features a complex, multi-level design with broken pediments, sculpted niches, and a heavily decorated upper story.

Some archaeologists believe this tomb could be linked to the Nabataean king Aretas IV, or perhaps a high-ranking noble family. The façade’s resemblance to the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) has led some to call it a “mini Treasury,” although erosion has softened many of its details.

The Palace Tomb

The grand finale of the trail is the Palace Tomb, one of the largest structures ever carved in Petra, the largest being the Monastery. Measuring nearly 50 meters wide and around 45 meters high, this tomb stands out because the Nabataeans didn’t carve the whole thing. The lower and middle sections are carved into the cliff, but the upper parts were constructed rather than sculpted.

The façade’s design resembles a multi-story Roman palace (hence the name), with symmetrical column groupings, arched pediments, and a rhythmic arrangement of doorways. Although the interior chambers are less ornate, the sheer scale makes this tomb feel monumental.

View of the Amphitheatre and the Street of Facades

Other than exploring the royal tombs that houses the sleeping kings of Petra, this trail also gifts you with a pretty view of the Amphitheatre and the street of facades. It’s when you stand here and gaze at the theatre that you realize its massive size while also understanding the mathematical and structural precision of that went into constructing the street of facades, and in hindsight, the city of Petra.

Practical Information

Al Khubtha Trail/Royal Tombs trail distance: around 4km (3 hours)

Petra opening hours as of 2025:

Summer: March – October (06:00 – 18:00)

Winter: October – March (06:30 – 17:00)

Recommended place to stay near Petra:

While everyone flocks to Mariott, the Petra Canyon Hotel is a gem of a place that’s just a 5-minute ride from Petra. With luxury treatment in affordability, Petra Canyon hotel has rooms for both solo, family and even those who’d like to spend on pampering treatment with their Presidential Suite. The hotel has buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner along with outdoor BBQ nights.

This place is AWO recommended as we have stayed here and experienced it ourselves.

Going back and forth from Petra to Hotel:

Taxis and uber service is not available in Wadi Musa (where Petra is located. Drop us an email to help you arrange a ride while you’re in the city of the Nabateans and we will help you secure your trip with a trusted English-speaking driver that our recommended by us (tried and tested).