Petra Hiking Routes: Main Trail to Khurmah
Safety notice, 31 October 2026. Jordan is caught up in the 2026 regional conflict around Iran, and flights can be disrupted at short notice. At the time of writing, the US State Department puts the entire country at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel”, with Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, for the borders with Syria and Iraq and a few named areas. Its advice has also singled out Ma’an city and parts of Ma’an Governorate. The UK FCDO warns against travel only within 3 km of the Syrian border and carries no warning for Petra or Wadi Rum. Petra and Wadi Musa are open and running today, but the picture can shift quickly. Check the US travel advisory and the UK travel advice before booking and again before departure. Everything that follows is written for a normal trip.
Routes by difficulty
| Route | Effort | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Main Trail | Easy, flat to gently downhill | 4 to 6 hours return |
| High Place of Sacrifice and Wadi Farasa | Moderate to strenuous | Half day |
| Monastery stairs | Strenuous | 45 to 60 minutes up |
| Al-Khubtha | Hard | About 4 to 5 hours |
| Back Door trail | Long, unmarked in places | A long walk |
| Khurmah Trail | 14 km | Book with an operator |
The Main Trail
From the Visitor Center the track passes through the Siq to the Treasury and continues down the Street of Facades to the Theatre and Qasr al-Bint. It measures about 4 km in one direction. The slope is gentle and downhill on the way in, so save some energy for the return. A licensed guide for this route costs 50 JD per group.
Up to the High Place and the Monastery
The High Place of Sacrifice has a summit altar with two obelisks, and the way down passes the Lion Monument and the Garden Tomb in Wadi Farasa. A guide for the Main Trail plus High Place costs 100 JD per group. For the Monastery, 800 to 850 stairs start from the Basin area, and the guide price is also 100 JD per group. Walk the steps yourself: donkeys on them carry welfare concerns and are best avoided.
Al-Khubtha and the Back Door
Al-Khubtha follows a ridge above the Royal Tombs to a Bedouin tent with a view down onto the Treasury. Count on 4 to 5 hours, and take a guide booked through the Visitor Center, which costs 50 JD. The Back Door trail leads from Little Petra to the Monastery, and a guide helps where it goes unmarked. A valid Petra ticket is needed, checked at the Little Petra office.
Khurmah Trail
Opened in February 2025, the Khurmah Trail stretches 14 km from Al-Rajef to Masoudah and is one of 24 trails listed outside the park by the Jordan Times. Contact local operators to book it.
Staying safe on foot
Gates open around 6:00 to 6:30 AM, and the park closes between 4 and 6 PM, and visitors have been locked in overnight, so leave time to walk out. Between June and August the temperature climbs to 35 to 40 C or more without shade. Stay out of the Siq during and after heavy rain, because floods happen there.
Read more: Sightseeing and Outdoor activities .
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