Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour

Ride Petra from a different angle. This private horse-riding tour takes you from the Petra Visitor Center toward Little Petra, across mountain paths, and up to the grand Monastery before returning through the old city. I like the quiet back route and the chance to see Petra from high ground, far from the usual walk through the Siq.

I also like the personal service. Mohammed is praised for careful horsemanship, well-cared-for horses, and making riders feel safe and comfortable. The main consideration is physical effort: this is a five-to-six-hour outing through rocky terrain, with roughly 800 steps and a 45-minute uphill walk to the Monastery. You also pay Petra’s 50 JD entry fee separately.

Key points before you book

• Starts at 8:00 am: Meet at the Petra Visitor Center in Wadi Musa for an early start.
• Little Petra comes first: The route passes caves, old villages, Asiq Al-Barid, and mountain viewpoints before reaching the main site.
• The Monastery is the big prize: Expect a climb of about 800 steps and roughly 45 minutes on foot to reach Petra’s largest façade.
• Private experience: Only your group takes part, allowing the pace and horse-riding support to be more personal.
• You see Petra from above: Qararah Park and the back roads offer broad views of the sandstone mountains and surrounding country.
• Budget for the entrance fee: The tour costs $165 per person, but Petra admission of 50 JD is not included.

Why the back road changes Petra

Most first visits to Petra follow the familiar path through the Siq toward the Treasury. That route is essential, but it can make Petra feel like a single monument at the end of a long canyon. This tour shows you another side of the site, one shaped by mountain roads, high viewpoints, caves, and old settlements.

The ride begins at the Petra Visitor Center and heads toward Qararah Park, a high point with wide views of Petra’s mountains. From there, the trail continues along Dabdabah Road toward the Petra Bubble Luxel Resort and Little Petra. The route is less about checking off one famous façade and more about seeing how the ancient city fits into the surrounding rock country.

I especially like this approach for anyone who has already walked the standard route or wants a stronger sense of place. You are not simply arriving at Petra’s monuments in sequence. You are approaching them through the hills, with the scenery changing gradually as you move from the modern edge of Wadi Musa toward the ancient Nabataean sites.

The route also has a quieter mood. Little Petra is described as peaceful, and that matters in a place as famous as Petra. You get time to look at caves and old village remains without treating every stop as a quick photograph. The mood is closer to exploring a mountain settlement than visiting a single archaeological attraction.

The morning ride to Qararah Park and Little Petra

At 8:00 am, you meet at the Petra Visitor Center. The early start is useful because the outing lasts most of the morning and early afternoon, and the route includes both riding and walking. Since this is a private tour, you are not tied to the pace of a large group.

The first section goes through the mountains toward Qararah Park. Its high position gives you a broad view of Petra’s sandstone formations. This is one of the tour’s strongest features because it gives you a sense of the site’s scale before you enter its central monuments.

The ride then follows Dabdabah Road toward the Petra Bubble Luxel Resort. From there, you continue into Little Petra, also known as Asiq Al-Barid. The route includes caves and old village areas, giving you a look at daily life and settlement patterns beyond Petra’s most photographed structures.

Little Petra is smaller than the main city, but that does not mean it is merely a warm-up stop. Its caves and rock-cut spaces help you understand how people used the surrounding cliffs. The quieter setting also gives the morning a slower rhythm before the more demanding climb to the Monastery.

You should expect this section to take about 90 minutes. The activity description does not include the Petra admission ticket, so confirm how your entry applies to the route before setting out. Bottled water is included, but you should still dress for a long morning outdoors and bring any extra supplies you normally need.

Reaching the Monastery by horse and on foot

After Little Petra, the tour heads toward Al Dayr, Petra’s Monastery. This is the visual high point of the outing. The structure is cut into the sandstone and measures about 58 meters across, making it the largest façade in Petra.

The last approach requires walking. The route includes about 800 rock-cut steps, and the climb takes around 45 minutes. Even with horse riding included elsewhere, you should be ready for a solid uphill effort. The tour is recommended for people with moderate physical fitness, and this climb is the clearest reason why.

The Monastery was carved more than 2,000 years ago and later became one of two Petra structures converted into churches during the Byzantine period. Its name can be misleading because the building’s original purpose is tied to the Nabataeans, while its later church use added another layer to the site’s story.

The scale is different from the Treasury. The Treasury feels intimate because it sits at the end of the Siq. The Monastery opens onto a wide mountain setting, giving the façade room to dominate the view. The trip’s description also points to mountain views toward Jordan and the West Bank, so take time here rather than treating the stop as a quick turnaround.

I would allow yourself a proper pause at the Monastery. The climb is not the sort of thing you want to rush through, and the open setting rewards a few quiet minutes. The activity gives this stop about two hours, which should help you enjoy the structure and recover before continuing through Petra.

One point to keep clear: the horse riding does not remove all walking. This experience combines riding, mountain paths, archaeological exploration, and a long stair climb. That mix is appealing if you want variety, but it is not the easiest way to see Petra.

Returning through Petra’s great monuments

The final section takes you back through other important parts of Petra and toward Wadi Musa. Here you see the Girl Palace, the Colonnaded Street, the Royal Tombs, the Byzantine Church, the theater, and the Treasury.

The Girl Palace is a religious temple at the end of the Colonnaded Street. It survived earthquakes that damaged or destroyed other parts of Petra, making it a useful reminder that the city was not only a collection of tomb façades. Its position also helps you picture the ancient street plan.

The Colonnaded Street follows a Roman-style east-west layout through the center of Petra. You can look to either side for additional ruins and less obvious remains. This part of the route adds an urban feel after the open mountain views and isolated Monastery.

The Royal Tombs are among Petra’s most striking rock-cut façades. Carved into rose-red sandstone around 2,300 years ago, they show how the Nabataeans used the cliffs for burial monuments on a grand scale. Their weathered surfaces and layered colors reward a slower look, especially when the sun brings out the tones in the stone.

The Byzantine Church offers a different chapter. It dates to the fifth century and shows that Petra continued to be used long after the Nabataean period. The theater adds another reminder that this was a functioning city, not simply a place of tombs and ceremonial façades.

The Treasury is likely the monument you already know from photographs. Seeing it at the end of a longer route can be satisfying, but keep your expectations practical. The experience does not describe a separate long stop or special access inside the Treasury. You explore the area closely as part of the return route, while the main focus remains the back road, Little Petra, Monastery, and surrounding ruins.

This final portion takes about two hours. By then, you may be tired from the climb and the mountain route, but the variety helps. You move from high viewpoints to ancient streets, from village caves to monumental façades. It is a full look at Petra rather than a single scenic ride.

What the private format adds

A private tour is useful here because the route mixes several kinds of activity. Riding ability, walking speed, comfort around horses, and stamina can vary greatly. With only your group taking part, the experience can feel less rushed than a larger shared outing.

Mohammed receives especially strong praise for his horsemanship and communication. The useful detail is not simply that he guides the ride. He is described as checking that riders feel safe and comfortable, while the horses are well cared for and well behaved. That matters on a rocky route where confidence around the animal makes a real difference.

One past rider also valued the high views and the access to scenery that would be difficult to reach on foot. Another described a more secluded horse route toward Petra’s sacrificial site, with stops at a Bedouin hut and a mountain viewpoint. Those details suggest that the operator is comfortable using lesser-used paths, although the exact stops can depend on the route and conditions.

You should ask your guide for clear instructions before mounting and during the ride. The supplied information does not specify riding experience requirements, horse breeds, saddle type, or helmets, so those are sensible points to confirm when booking.

Is $165 per person a fair price?

The cost is $165 per person, and Petra’s 50 JD entry fee is extra. That makes this more expensive than entering Petra and walking independently, but the comparison is not quite like for like.

You are paying for a private half-day experience, horse riding, route support, access toward Little Petra and the Monastery, and a guide who helps connect the scattered sites. The value is strongest if you care about views, a less standard approach, and personal attention.

The price is harder to justify if your main goal is simply to see the Treasury. You can spend less by entering Petra and following the regular route, although you would miss the high mountain approach and the private horse-riding element.

Remember to build the separate 50 JD Petra ticket into your budget. Bottled water is included, while the admission fee is not. The experience lasts about five to six hours, so it also uses a large part of your day. For many people, that time is well spent because the tour combines Little Petra, the Monastery, and central Petra in one outing.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this tour to an adventurous first-time visitor who wants more than the standard walk to the Treasury. It also suits anyone who likes horses, mountain scenery, and archaeological sites reached through less direct routes.

It may work well for older or less confident hikers who want help covering distance, but the Monastery climb still requires real effort. A rider who enjoyed the high views at age 72 found the experience exciting, yet that does not make the route effortless. You should judge your own fitness honestly.

This is less suitable if you dislike horses, have difficulty on uneven ground, or want a slow, fully accessible visit. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation, but the tour itself takes place across rocky mountain paths and steps.

The weather also matters. The experience requires good conditions. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. For a full refund when canceling yourself, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:00 am start time. Late changes and cancellations are not refunded.

Practical advice for a better morning

Wear sturdy footwear rather than casual sandals. You will ride through mountain terrain, walk through archaeological areas, and climb the steps to the Monastery.

Bring sun protection and extra water beyond the included bottle if you normally drink heavily during exercise. The activity runs for five to six hours, and the open mountain sections offer limited relief from the sun.

Keep your morning flexible. A private tour gives your group more control, but the exact pace can change with weather, horse handling, walking speed, and time spent at viewpoints. It is better to enjoy the route than to treat it like a race between monuments.

Confirm the Petra ticket arrangements before the day of the tour. The meeting point is the Petra Visitor Center at 28 Wadi Musa, Jordan, and the tour ends back there. The activity uses a mobile ticket, and booking confirmation is sent at the time of booking.

Should you book the Indiana Jones back trail?

Book it if you want Petra to feel like an adventure through mountains, caves, old roads, and major monuments, rather than a straightforward walk to the Treasury. The private format, high viewpoints, Little Petra approach, and Mohammed’s careful horse handling are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Skip it if you want the least strenuous Petra visit, need a fully accessible route, or are mainly interested in photographing the Treasury. The separate 50 JD admission fee and $165 tour price also make it a serious budget choice.

For an active visitor who values quiet routes and dramatic views, this is a memorable way to see Petra from above and then return through its famous heart.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at the Petra Visitor Center at 28 Wadi Musa, Jordan.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 am.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately five to six hours.

Is the Petra entrance ticket included?

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

What is included in the tour price?

Bottled water is included. The tour costs $165 per person.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

How demanding is the route?

You need a moderate level of physical fitness. Reaching the Monastery includes about 800 steps and a walk of around 45 minutes uphill.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.