Lasting memories in Petra & Jordan

Petra is the kind of place where good planning matters, because the city spreads out and the best moments often sit just off the main foot traffic. This private tour, led by Ismail Nas, lets you tailor your walking day and choose between early morning and sunset timing. You get a private plan built around your interests, not a one-size route.

I also like two things right away. First, the focus on little-known routes means you spend time seeing Petra instead of wandering. Second, the guide approach is story-driven and practical, with clear explanations that help you connect what you see to the big picture, including the backway viewpoint and the Monastery area.

One drawback to think about: this is all walking and hiking, and site entry tickets are not included. If you do not have a moderate fitness level, or if you need lots of rest stops, you may find a half-day or full-day trek harder than the highlights alone suggest.

Key highlights at a glance

• Private, customizable route for half-day or full-day walking
• Early morning or sunset options, based on your schedule
• Classic Petra front-way route plus less common segments inside the city
• Backway tour through mountains behind Petra, ending at the Monastery area
• Little Petra and surrounding mountains (6 km north of Petra) before sunset
• Guiding fees included, while site entry tickets and meals are on you

Petra on Foot With Ismail Nas: Why This Style Works

Petra is not a “stand in one place and done” destination. Even when you target the famous spots, getting from one landmark to the next takes time and energy. That is why I like this format: a private walking plan where you choose the highlights you want, and your guide helps keep the day moving in the right direction.

Ismail Nas comes up again and again in the feedback for a simple reason. He does more than point at stones. He explains what you are seeing in a way that makes the place feel real, and he seems to enjoy answering questions, including the nerdy ones. If you like learning as you walk, this is the right setup.

You will also notice a key difference in pacing. The tours are designed around walking and hiking, but they are not presented as a forced march. People with seniors in the group, or anyone who needs occasional pauses, have found the pace manageable with the guide adjusting along the way.

Picking Your Route: Main Petra, Backway Monastery, or Little Petra

The big decision is which version of Petra you want to experience. The tour offers three core styles, each with a different feel and a different set of priorities.

1) Petra main tour (front way) is built around the classic “first-time” flow. You start with the Siq canyon and then move through the best-known landmarks inside the city. This is the best choice if you want to tick the core sights while also having time to add hiking segments inside Petra.

2) Petra backway tour (mountains behind Petra) is the “different angle” choice. Instead of approaching Petra in the front corridor style, you explore the mountains behind the heritage site and reach the Monastery area. It is usually run early in the day, and it can be customized.

3) Little Petra and mountains tour takes you outside the main city area to explore the surrounding lost-city setting. It runs usually in the afternoon before sunset, and it is set up to be customizable too.

If you only have one day, I would choose based on your appetite for the most classic route versus more rugged, off-the-main-path scenery. If you have two days, combining formats can make your second visit feel new instead of repetitive.

Classic Petra Front Way: Siq Canyon to the Temples

If you choose the Petra main tour, the day starts in a way that instantly explains why Petra is dramatic. You begin at the Siq canyon, the narrow approach that funnels you toward the city’s most famous moment.

From there, you follow the classic highlights path, which includes the Treasury, the theater, the tombs, and the temples. This sequence matters because it gives you a clear narrative as you walk. Instead of treating Petra as a checklist, you get a path that moves from approach, to iconic landmark, to civic and ceremonial spaces, and then to the broader religious and memorial areas.

Here is what to keep in mind. The famous stops are famous for a reason, but they are also points where time can feel tight if you do not have a plan. With a private tour, you can spend your energy where you care most, and your guide can discuss extensions through additional hiking trails inside the city.

That optional inside-the-city hiking is worth thinking about. Petra’s layout can make the distance feel longer than you expected. Adding trail segments can be a great way to see more and not just repeat the main walkway loop, but it only works if you are comfortable with a longer walking day.

Petra Backway to the Monastery: Mountains, Views, and a Different Entrance

The backway tour is for you if you want Petra to feel less like a straight line and more like a landscape you are walking across. This route focuses on entering from the back door style approach, exploring the mountains behind the heritage site, and reaching the Monastery.

The Monastery stop is the type of landmark that rewards effort because it is not just another facade you pass. It is a destination that changes how you understand Petra. You can appreciate the scale, the terrain, and the way the city sits into its surroundings.

This tour is usually run in the early morning. Even if you do not care about exact timing for atmosphere, early starts generally make it easier to fit a long walk into a single day without rushing your stops.

The backway tour is also described as customizable. That means you are not locked into a single fixed route with no flexibility. If you want more time around the viewpoint areas or prefer a more direct line to the Monastery, you can discuss how to shape the hike.

Little Petra and the 6 km North Stretch: A Change of Pace

Little Petra can be a smart counterweight to the main city focus. Instead of staying inside the best-known heritage corridor, this option sends you about 6 km north of Petra to explore the surrounding lost city setting.

This tour is usually held in the afternoon before sunset, which makes it a good pairing if your first day is all classic highlights. It gives your legs a different route and gives your eyes a different kind of Petra scene.

What I like about this approach is that it helps you see Petra as more than the most photographed landmarks. If you are the type who enjoys exploring, you will likely find that the surrounding area adds context. You can also discuss customization on site, so you can match the route to your energy level that day.

One thing to watch for: since this is outside the main city core, it can feel like “more travel time” depending on your daily schedule. The upside is that you get a change of setting without needing a big logistical plan beyond the guided walk.

How Long It Takes: The Real Meaning of 3 to 8 Hours

The tour duration is listed as about 3 to 8 hours, depending on which option you choose and how much hiking you add. That wide range is not filler. Petra itself can swallow time fast, and the differences between front way, backway, and additional trails are real.

So I recommend thinking in terms of your walking comfort rather than the label half-day or full-day. If you are choosing the main highlights route plus extra trails, plan for a longer day. If you go for the backway Monastery route, expect more physical effort because you are working on a different terrain profile.

Also, this is a private group only for your party. There is no mixing with strangers. That matters because it lets your guide adjust the pace more precisely to your comfort level, including frequent breaks.

If you are traveling with seniors or mixed ages, this private setup can make a major difference. The guide is described as patient and kind, especially when the group needs time to rest and rejoin.

What You Pay For: $179 per Group and the Missing Site Tickets

Price is listed as $179 per group, up to 10 people. That is how this tour can feel like good value, especially if you are traveling as a small family or a group of friends. Instead of paying per person, you share the cost of a private guide.

Guiding fees are included. But site entry tickets are not included, and neither are meals like lunch, plus coffee or tea. Animal riding and dinner are also not included.

To judge value, I think about it like this: you are buying someone’s time, planning, and route knowledge so you can walk efficiently and avoid wasting energy on confusion. That is the core benefit here. The “extras” that can add up at Petra, like entry tickets and food, are separate, so you need to budget those separately and not get surprised on arrival.

Also note the mobile ticket feature. That helps with convenience, even though entry fees are still your responsibility.

Starting at Petra Visitor Center: Simple Meeting Point, No Confusion

The meeting point is the Petra Visitor Center at 28, Wadi Musa 00962, Jordan. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

This is practical. You do not have to worry about a complicated end location or trying to arrange a pickup far from where you started. It also makes it easier to connect your tour to the rest of your day, whether that means heading back to your lodging or continuing your Petra sightseeing plan.

If you like clear logistics, you will probably appreciate how the tour is structured around a single start-and-finish base.

Pacing, Fitness, and What to Bring for a Walking and Hiking Day

This experience is walking and hiking, with a moderate physical fitness level recommended. Service animals are allowed.

In plain terms, you should be comfortable walking for hours, including uphill or uneven terrain depending on the route you choose. If you need frequent breaks, plan that in as part of your schedule rather than treating it as an emergency.

The tour being private helps here. A guide can slow down and adjust on the fly. The feedback specifically notes patience when breaks are needed, including for seniors.

What I would pack or plan around, based on the walking nature of the day:

• Comfortable shoes you trust on rocky ground
• Water and snacks, since coffee and lunch are not included
• A flexible mindset for weather, since the tour requires good weather

If you are someone who hates walking in heat or over long distances, this may be a harder day than you expect. If you genuinely enjoy exploring on foot, it is a great match.

Weather Changes and How Flexible This Tour Can Be

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

That matters because Petra walking days are weather dependent, and your time is valuable. The ability to reschedule rather than lose the day outright is a comfort.

And since the timing options include early morning and sunset choices, you might find that switching the time slot helps you still get a strong route in once weather improves.

Who Should Book This Petra Walking Tour

This private walking and hiking tour fits best if you want:

• A customized day plan instead of a rigid group itinerary
• Classic Petra highlights plus the option to go beyond the obvious
• The Monastery area and backway approach as part of your experience
• Better orientation so you do not waste time figuring things out
• A guide who explains and answers questions, including detailed site storytelling

It is especially appealing for small groups, families, and mixed-age parties because the tour is private and adjustable.

If you are traveling solo and you still want a private guide, the group pricing up to 10 people can also make sense, as long as you are comfortable with the walking commitment.

Should You Book It?

Yes, if Petra is on your list and you care about doing it thoughtfully on foot. The biggest selling point is the ability to choose between the main front way route, the backway route to the Monastery, and the Little Petra option to expand your view beyond the most famous stops.

Skip it only if you know you cannot handle walking and hiking for several hours, or if you want a tour that includes meals and entry tickets as part of the price. Here, you are paying for guidance, not for all the on-site add-ons.

If you do book, I would plan your day around your energy, bring what you need for a long walk, and pick the route that matches what you want Petra to feel like.

FAQ

What tour options are available in Petra?

You can choose a classic Petra main tour starting from the Siq canyon and including the Treasury, theater, tombs, and temples. You can also choose a Petra backway tour that explores the mountains behind Petra and the Monastery area, usually in the early morning. A third option is the Little Petra and mountains tour outside the main city area, about 6 km north of Petra, usually in the afternoon before sunset.

How long is the Petra tour?

The duration is approximately 3 to 8 hours, depending on the option you choose and any added hiking trails inside the city.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at the Petra Visitor Center (28, Wadi Musa 00962, Jordan) and ends back at the same meeting point.

What is included in the price?

The included item is guiding fees. Site entry tickets are not included, and meals like coffee or tea and lunch are not included either.

Is this tour good for people with limited mobility?

The tour is a walking and hiking experience with a moderate physical fitness level recommended. Service animals are allowed, but the activity is still focused on walking, so it is best for people who can handle several hours on foot.

What happens if weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.