Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour

Petra’s best views do not always come from its main path. This private ride takes you from the Visitor Center toward Little Petra, across high ground at Qararah Park, and on to the Monastery before returning through Petra’s major monuments. I like the quiet back route and the chance to see the valley from above, and I like that guide Mohammad takes safety and horse care seriously. The catch is that this is a physical half-day, not a gentle sightseeing loop.

You’ll pay $165 per person, plus the Petra entry fee of 50 JD. The route includes horse riding, rocky tracks, and a steep walk of about 800 steps to the Monastery. You’ll need moderate fitness, good weather, and enough energy for a long morning in the sun.

Key points to know before you book

• Little Petra begins the adventure: Explore caves, old village remains, and Asiq Al Barid before reaching Petra’s main monuments.
• Qararah Park brings the views: This high point looks across Petra’s mountains and gives you a different sense of the site.
• The Monastery requires 800 steps: Plan on roughly 45 minutes of uphill walking before reaching Al Dayr.
• You return through Petra’s headline sights: The route includes the Theater, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street, Treasury, and Byzantine Church.
• Mohammad is the named guide: His horse handling, communication, and attention to rider comfort are important parts of the outing.
• The price excludes admission: The tour costs $165 per person, while the Petra ticket costs an additional 50 JD.

Why the back route changes your view of Petra

Most people first meet Petra through the Siq and Treasury. That approach is famous for good reason, but this route gives you a broader sense of the place before bringing you back to the better-known monuments.

The day begins at the Petra Visitor Center at 8:00 am. From there, you head through the mountains toward Qararah Park. This is a high section with wide views over Petra’s rock formations, and it helps you understand how large the ancient site really is. I like this early part because it puts the stone city in context instead of presenting it as one monument after another.

You then follow Dabdabah Road toward the Petra Bubble Luxel Resort and Little Petra. The route is private, so your group does not have to move at the pace of a large tour. That matters on a ride, where comfort and confidence around the horses are more important than shaving a few minutes off the schedule.

The tour’s title suggests an Indiana Jones-style adventure, but you should picture a real mountain route, not a movie set. Expect uneven ground, open mountain views, and a mixture of riding and walking. The exact balance can depend on the trail and the group.

Little Petra and Asiq Al Barid

Little Petra, also known as Asiq Al Barid, is the first major stop. It is quieter than the central Petra route and has caves, carved spaces, and remains linked to old village life. The setting feels more enclosed and peaceful, with stone walls and mountain surroundings shaping the path.

This part lasts about an hour and a half. It is a useful introduction because you get time to look closely at the smaller spaces before reaching Petra’s enormous façades. I would not treat Little Petra as a quick photo stop. The caves and old settlement areas help you see how people used the area, not just how monuments were carved.

There is also a reflective side to this section. The route through Asiq Al Barid is described as peaceful, and the quiet setting gives you a break from Petra’s busiest sights. If you enjoy walking slowly, looking at rock details, and imagining daily life in an ancient settlement, this may be one of the most rewarding parts of the morning.

Admission to the sites is not included in the tour price. Keep that in mind before you arrive, since the Petra ticket costs 50 JD. Bottled water is included, but you should still prepare for a warm and active outing.

The climb to the Monastery

After Little Petra, the tour heads toward Al Dayr, better known as the Monastery. This is the physical center of the day. The Monastery is a massive façade carved into sandstone, about 58 meters wide, and reaching it means climbing around 800 rock-cut steps.

The uphill walk takes about 45 minutes. That figure is useful because it sets proper expectations. You are not simply riding up to a viewpoint and stepping off for a picture. You need to walk steadily, take your time, and be comfortable with a sustained climb.

At the top, the Monastery rewards the effort with scale. It is Petra’s largest façade, and the open mountain setting gives it a different feel from the Treasury. The structure was later used as a church during the Byzantine era, one of two major Petra structures converted for Christian use.

The route also offers broad views toward the Jordanian mountains and the West Bank. Exact visibility depends on the weather, but the high position is one of the strongest reasons to choose this back route. From above, Petra feels less like a single canyon and more like a wide network of ridges, ravines, and carved spaces.

You should allow time here rather than rushing straight back down. The Monastery is the place where the effort of the morning makes the most sense. Still, the climb may be too much if you have limited mobility or dislike steep, uneven steps.

Returning through Petra’s major monuments

After the Monastery, the route continues back through the central parts of Petra. This gives you a useful contrast. The first half takes you through quieter mountain tracks and Little Petra, while the second half brings you to the monuments most people associate with the site.

The route includes the Girl Palace, a religious temple near the end of Colonnaded Street. It survived several earthquakes, which makes its position among Petra’s ruins especially interesting. You then follow the Colonnaded Street, a broad ancient route arranged on the Roman east-west pattern known as a decumanus.

The Royal Tombs are another major stop. These large façades were carved into rose-red sandstone by the Nabataeans around 2,300 years ago. Their size and placement make them easy to appreciate from a distance, but seeing them closely lets you study the changing colors and worn details in the stone.

You also pass the Byzantine Church, a fifth-century building within Petra. It is a reminder that the site continued to be used long after the Nabataean period. That layered history is one of Petra’s strengths: the same valley contains Nabataean carvings, Roman planning, and Byzantine remains.

The itinerary also includes the Theater and Treasury. The Theater shows how Petra was shaped for public life, while the Treasury is the site’s most recognizable façade. Seeing these places at the end of a longer route may change how you read them. You will already have seen Petra from above and from its less-visited edges, so the central monuments feel part of a larger city rather than isolated attractions.

Horse riding, trail conditions, and fitness

This is sold as a horse-riding tour, and horse handling is a key part of the outing. The strongest practical detail available about the ride is the guide Mohammad’s care with safety and comfort. The horses are described as well cared for and well behaved, which matters when the route passes over rocky ground.

You should not expect a smooth road or a simple mounted sightseeing circuit. The route crosses mountains and back trails, and the Monastery section includes a substantial walk. One account of a related ride with Mohammad describes traveling from the entrance toward the Sacrificial Site over rocks, with stops at a Bedouin hut and a viewpoint. That gives you a fair sense of the setting: this is an active route through rough ground, not a paved promenade.

The tour calls for moderate physical fitness. Wear firm shoes suitable for walking on rock, bring sun protection, and keep your water close. Bottled water is supplied, but the day is long enough that you should take regular drinks.

Your group is private, with only your own party taking part. That is useful if some people want more time for photographs or need a slower pace. It also means you should be clear about your riding comfort and fitness level before setting out.

What the $165 price gets you

At $165 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Petra. You also pay the 50 JD Petra entry fee separately, so the total cost is noticeably higher than a standard self-guided visit.

The value comes from the route and the private format. You are paying for access to a back-country-style approach, horse riding, a guide, and a planned connection between Little Petra, the Monastery, and the central monuments. You also avoid spending your entire visit only on the main corridor.

I think the price makes the most sense for someone who has limited time in Petra and wants more than a basic walk to the Treasury. It also suits people who value a private guide and an unusual route over the lowest possible cost.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to see the Treasury, take a few photographs, and leave. You would be paying for several hours of riding, mountain travel, and a long climb that you may not want. The added Petra admission fee should be part of your budget from the start.

How the timing works

The meeting point is the Petra Visitor Center in Wadi Musa, with an 8:00 am start. The full outing takes about five to six hours and ends back at the meeting point.

That early departure is sensible. It gives you time to reach Little Petra, complete the Monastery climb, and return through the central ruins before the day becomes even hotter. The timing also leaves room to pause at viewpoints and major monuments, although the exact pace depends on your group.

Because the schedule is active, avoid pairing this with another demanding Petra excursion on the same morning. You need energy for both the ride and the return route. If you have only one day in Petra, this tour can fill much of it, so plan your later activities lightly.

The tour depends on good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this Petra ride?

I would choose this tour if you want Petra from more than one angle. The high views at Qararah Park, the quieter spaces of Little Petra, the large-scale Monastery, and the central ruins create a fuller day than simply following the main path.

It is especially suited to:

• Riders looking for a private mountain route
• Visitors who enjoy active sightseeing
• People who want a quieter start at Little Petra
• Anyone interested in views over Petra’s mountains
• Small groups who prefer their own pace
• Visitors willing to pay extra for a guide and unusual access

I would hesitate if you dislike horses, steep steps, rough trails, or long half-day outings. The tour is not designed for a relaxed, fully accessible visit. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation, but the physical route itself remains demanding.

Should you book the Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Tour?

Book it if your ideal Petra day includes horses, mountain views, Little Petra, and the Monastery, followed by the Treasury and Royal Tombs. The private format and Mohammad’s careful approach to horse safety add real value, especially for people who want a more personal outing.

Skip it if your priority is a low-cost visit or an easy route. The $165 price does not include the 50 JD Petra ticket, and the 800-step climb is a serious part of the day.

For an active visitor with moderate fitness, this is a strong choice. You get the quiet back trails first, the great Monastery view in the middle, and Petra’s famous monuments on the return. That combination is what makes the tour worth considering.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at the Petra Visitor Center in Wadi Musa, Jordan.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours.

Is the Petra entry ticket included?

No. The Petra ticket costs 50 JD and is not included in the tour price.

What does the tour price include?

Bottled water is included. The activity is private, so only your group participates.

How difficult is the route?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required. The Monastery section includes about 800 steps and takes roughly 45 minutes to walk uphill.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. This is a private activity for your group only.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.