Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour

Petra’s famous monuments are only part of the story. This private horseback route begins at Little Petra, crosses high mountain tracks, and reaches the Monastery before returning through the old city to the Treasury. You get the grand monuments, but also quiet paths and broad views that are hard to find on the usual walk.

I like two things here: the ride gives you a different angle on Petra, and the private format lets the guide set a comfortable pace. Mohammed, also spelled Mohammad in tour information, is described as a careful horseman who pays attention to safety and comfort. The main drawback is the physical demand: this is not a gentle sightseeing ride, and Petra’s ticket costs an additional 50 JD.

Key points to know before booking

• Little Petra is your unusual starting point: You begin among caves, old village remains, and mountain paths rather than going straight into the crowded central route.
• The Monastery requires a serious climb: Even with a horseback experience, reaching Al Dayr includes roughly 800 rock-cut steps and about 45 minutes of uphill walking.
• You get high views of Petra: Qararah Park and the mountain route offer wide views over the sandstone ridges and the country toward the west bank.
• The private group matters: Only your own party takes part, so you have more room to ask questions and adjust the pace.
• The return covers Petra’s headline sights: Expect the Colonnaded Street, Royal Tombs, Byzantine Church, theater, Treasury, and other carved monuments.
• Budget for the entrance fee: The tour costs $165 per person, while the Petra admission ticket is listed separately at 50 JD.

Why this back route changes your Petra day

Most first visits to Petra follow the Siq toward the Treasury. That route is essential, but it can make Petra feel like a single dramatic reveal followed by a long walk through one canyon. This outing takes a different approach. You begin near Little Petra, move through the hills, and enter the ancient city from a less usual direction.

That change matters. From the back route, Petra becomes a wider place of ridges, valleys, carved facades, and old paths. The ride also gives your feet a break across some sections, though you should not treat it as a fully seated experience. You still need to walk, climb, and handle uneven ground.

The tour is private, which is a major advantage in a place where timing and pace can shape the whole day. You can ask the guide to pause for a view, spend longer at a carved monument, or take a slower approach when the ground becomes steep. The experience is not designed as a quick checklist.

At about five to six hours, it takes up a large part of your morning and early afternoon. The 8:00 am start is sensible. It gives you cooler hours for the ride and leaves some time later in the day for rest or another activity in Wadi Musa.

Little Petra, caves, and the first mountain tracks

The meeting point is the Petra Visitor Center in Wadi Musa. From there, the route heads through the mountains toward Qararah Park, a high point with wide views of Petra’s sandstone country. This opening section is important because it gets you away from the main flow before the major monuments appear.

The path continues along Dabdabah Road toward the Petra Bubble Luxel Resort and then into Little Petra, also known as Asiq Al Bared. The setting is quieter than the central city, with caves, old village remains, and traces of daily life carved into the rock.

Little Petra is not simply a smaller copy of Petra. It gives you a closer look at spaces connected with movement, shelter, and settlement. You can see how the ancient Nabataean world used the stone surroundings for more than grand facades. The caves and worn remains help you picture a lived-in place rather than a row of isolated monuments.

This is one of the best parts of the outing for anyone who prefers atmosphere over a fast parade of sights. The route has room for silence and views. You may find yourself paying more attention to the folds of the mountains and the old trail than to taking photographs of a single famous building.

There is a practical point to keep in mind. The route description does not give a full breakdown of the riding time, horse breed, or exact trail conditions. You should ask the operator about those details before booking if you have little riding experience or concerns about steep ground. The supplied information only confirms that horse riding is central to the experience and that the guide takes safety seriously.

The climb to Al Dayr, Petra’s great reward

From Little Petra, the route continues toward Al Dayr, better known as the Monastery. This is the largest facade in Petra, carved into a sandstone mountain more than 2,000 years ago. It measures about 58 meters across and later served as one of the city’s Byzantine churches.

The name Monastery comes from that later use, though the structure belongs to the older Nabataean city. Its size is what makes the arrival so powerful. The facade is broad, spare, and set against open mountain country. It does not feel like a monument squeezed into a modern street. It feels tied to the rock around it.

The hard truth is that reaching it still takes work. The route includes around 800 steps, with roughly 45 minutes of uphill walking. Horseback riding does not remove this climb. Your exact approach may vary, but you should expect to walk and climb at the Monastery.

Once you arrive, make time for the view rather than rushing straight back down. The high position gives you broad sightlines across the mountains, with views toward Jordan and the west bank. This is one of the tour’s strongest features for anyone who wants more than a close look at carved stone.

The Monastery area can also be a good place to slow down and recover. Bring water, wear shoes with a firm grip, and use the shaded or sheltered spots available to you. Bottled water is included, but you should still prepare for heat and exertion. The information provided does not specify meal or snack arrangements, so do not count on lunch being part of the price.

Returning through Petra’s central monuments

After the Monastery, the route turns back through the old city. This is where the experience shifts from mountain riding and open views to Petra’s better-known archaeological sights.

The first major points include the Qasr al Bint, described here as the Girl Palace, and the Colonnaded Street. Qasr al Bint is a religious temple that survived earthquakes and sits at the end of the colonnaded route. The street follows a Roman-style east-west plan, with other remains and smaller points of interest along the way.

This section helps you understand Petra as a functioning city. The great facades attract most of the attention, but streets, temples, churches, and public structures show how people moved through the place. I like this part because it connects the grand carvings to the less polished remains around them.

The Royal Tombs come next. These large facades were carved from the rose-red sandstone by the Nabataeans about 2,300 years ago. They are among Petra’s most imposing structures, and their position along the rock face gives you a different view of how the city used its natural walls.

The route also includes the remains of the Byzantine Church, a fifth-century church known for its mosaic floors and later history within Petra. The supplied tour details do not promise a long interior visit or a specialist archaeological talk, so your time there will depend on the guide and the day’s pace.

The theater is another major stop. Its carved seating and setting show how Petra’s builders adapted the mountain to public use. You should expect several stops like this rather than one single guided lecture. Because the activity is private, you can ask questions as the monuments appear.

Seeing the Treasury after the quiet trails

The Treasury is likely to be the most familiar sight on the route. Reaching it after Little Petra, the mountain paths, and the Monastery changes the way you see it. Instead of being the opening image of the day, it becomes one part of a much larger city.

The Treasury is not a functioning storehouse. It is a monumental rock-cut facade, and its name comes from later stories rather than a confirmed use. The details provided for this tour focus on seeing it closely as part of the return through Petra.

That ordering may suit you if you want the famous view but do not want the entire day to revolve around it. You get the famous facade alongside less obvious remains, high mountain views, and the sense of crossing Petra rather than simply walking in and out.

The tour ends back at the meeting point near the Petra Visitor Center. Since the route includes a return through several central sights, you should be ready for the final portion to feel tiring. The advertised duration is approximate, five to six hours, and stops, walking speed, horse handling, and time at monuments can affect the finish.

What $165 per person really covers

At $165 per person, this is not a low-cost way to enter Petra. The Petra ticket is extra at 50 JD, and bottled water is the only listed inclusion. You are paying mainly for a private horse-based route, a guide, and access to a less standard way of connecting Little Petra, the Monastery, and the central city.

The value depends on what you want from Petra. If you would be happy walking the usual route and exploring at your own speed, the price may be hard to justify. If the high mountain views and private guidance are the main goal, the cost makes more sense.

A private outing can also be useful for a mixed group. One person may want more time at the Royal Tombs, while another may care most about the Monastery view. The guide can manage the group without the fixed rhythm of a large shared excursion.

The reviews supplied with the tour give the clearest clues about the service. One account describes strong communication before, during, and after the ride, with Mohammed taking care over safety and comfort. It also notes that the horses were well cared for and calm. Another account, from a 72-year-old rider, valued seeing the valley from above and reaching views that would have been difficult on foot.

Those details are useful, but they do not erase the need to judge your own fitness. A horse can carry you along parts of the route, but Petra still includes rough ground, steps, and long walking sections. The tour asks for moderate physical fitness, and that is a fair warning.

Who will enjoy this Petra ride most

I would consider this tour if you have already seen Petra’s standard route and want a different angle, or if you are visiting once and want to combine Little Petra, the Monastery, and the central monuments in one private outing.

It is also a good match for confident riders who want scenery rather than a formal riding lesson. The private setting should appeal to couples, families, and small groups who value their own pace.

You should think twice if you dislike horses, are uncomfortable on mountain paths, or want a relaxed vehicle tour with little walking. The Monastery climb alone makes this more demanding than the word half-day might suggest.

The experience may also suit an older or less mobile rider in some ways, since the horse can cover sections that would otherwise require more walking. But the provided information does not promise mobility assistance, a step-free route, or a special riding arrangement. Ask the operator directly about your needs before paying.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity is private, with only your group taking part. Confirmation is provided at booking.

Weather, cancellation, and useful planning

Good weather is required. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted.

Start at the Petra Visitor Center at 8:00 am. Wear secure walking shoes, bring sun protection, and keep water close even though a bottle is supplied. The route includes mountain tracks, steps, and uneven archaeological ground, so sandals or smooth-soled shoes are a poor choice.

Before booking, confirm the riding arrangements, the expected amount of walking, and how the group will move between the horse route and the main monuments. The information gives a solid outline, but not every operational detail.

Should you book the Indiana Jones Petra back trail?

Book it if you want Petra from above, enjoy horseback travel, and like the idea of entering through Little Petra before reaching the Monastery and central ruins. The private guide, quiet mountain route, and wide views are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Skip it if your main goal is the lowest possible cost, a short walk, or a simple visit to the Treasury. The extra Petra ticket, $165 price, 800-step Monastery climb, and five to six hour schedule make this a full outing, not a quick add-on.

For the right person, the tour offers a more varied Petra day: old caves, high paths, a huge carved facade, and the city’s famous monuments in one route. Just book it with realistic expectations about the walking.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8:00 am.

How long does the experience last?

The tour takes approximately five to six hours.

Is the Petra entrance ticket included?

No. The Petra ticket is listed separately and costs 50 JD.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group takes part in the activity.

Does the tour include bottled water?

Yes. Bottled water is included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can receive a full refund or choose a different date if poor weather causes the activity to be canceled.