The Monastery and Little Petra on a Private Tour
What a private tour adds at Petra: the walk to the Monastery (about 5.7 km from the Visitor Centre), the 100 JD guide ticket, the 4x4 to the Monastery trail, the back trail, and Little Petra's own hours. November 2026.
The Monastery (Ad Deir) is the far end of Petra: about 2.1 km on foot from the Visitor Centre to the Treasury, about 1.7 km more to Qasr al-Bint, and about 1.9 km from there up to the Monastery, so about 5.7 km each way along the mapped paths. That is where a private day pays off: time to walk it, and a guide if you want one. A licensed guide for the main trail and the Monastery costs 100 JD at the Visitor Center (Visit Petra, November 2026). For the quieter way up, the Petra Back Trail to the Monastery: Private Guided Hike on Viator takes your group by the back trail with a private guide, 5 to 6 hours, from US$289 for the group (checked November 2026).
Check the back-trail hike on Viator
The main trail to the Monastery
| Stretch | Distance on foot |
|---|---|
| Visitor Centre to the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), through the Siq | about 2.1 km |
| Treasury to Qasr al-Bint | about 1.7 km |
| Qasr al-Bint to the Monastery (Ad Deir) | about 1.9 km |
| Visitor Centre to the Monastery | about 5.7 km |
Routed on the mapped footpaths, November 2026.
The last stretch to the Monastery is a stepped climb. Three hours at Petra, as on the private days that add Wadi Rum, is short for the round trip of over 11 km. Al Amal’s Petra-only private day gives about 5 hours, which leaves room for it.
Ways to shorten it
| Option | Price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Golf cart (club car) to the Treasury from the Visitor Center, 4 km, one way | 15 JD | Booked at the Visitor Center |
| Golf cart, there and back | 25 JD | Booked at the Visitor Center |
| 4x4 to the Monastery Trail, from the Cultural Village, one way | 5 JD a person | Daily, 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM |
Visit Petra fees page, November 2026.
The Viator back-trail hike above does not include the 4x4 ride to the trail’s stairs.
The back trail
The back trail is a separate way up to the Monastery, with its own checkpoint. Two things to know before you go: the Petra ticket (50 JD for a visitor staying a night in Jordan) has to be bought before the hike, because it is not sold at the back-trail checkpoint, and Jordan Pass holders must have their pass verified at the ticket office first (Visit Petra fees page, November 2026).
| Private guide option (Viator) | Length | Price | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petra Back Trail to the Monastery: Private Guided Hike | 5 to 6 hours | US$289 for the group | The Petra ticket, the 4x4 ride to the trail’s stairs, meals, tips |
| Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup | 2 to 3 hours | US$75 a person | Entrance tickets, the drop-off at the hotel |
Viator listings, checked November 2026.
Little Petra
Little Petra is a separate site outside the main park, with its own ticket office: open 07:00 to 14:00 from 2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, and 07:00 to 16:00 in summer (Visit Petra, November 2026). In winter, then, a visit has to fit into the morning or early afternoon. A private car is the easy way to add it; among the private tours on this site, Jordan Landmarks Tours’ 3-day private tour from Amman lists Little Petra on its first day, with Shobak Castle and the Dana Reserve.
More from Amman
Private Petra Tours with Open Dates
Private and small-group days to Petra with live availability. Pickup, what is included and the cancellation terms show before you book.
The Back Trail to the Monastery, Privately
A private guided hike to the Monastery by Petra's back trail, 5 to 6 hours, priced for your group. Buy the Petra ticket first: it is not sold at the back-trail checkpoint.
Check dates on Viator