Best of Little Petra

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Little Petra

The archeological site officially known as Siq Al Barid (meaning “Cold Canyon”) attracts fewer visitors than nearby Petra though it does not lack for drama. Carved into the rocks are ancient tombs, cisterns, temples and water channels, while age-old frescoes adorn the walls of the so-called Painted House. The collection of 9000-year-old neolithic ruins of Al Beidha offer a glimpse far into the past: this is one of the oldest archeological sites in the Middle East.

You can get off the beaten track by taking a back trail to the monastery (Al Deir) inside Petra. This scenic route follows a Nabataean path out of the valley, where you can refresh in a Bedouin café before walking down the steps leading into the main site of Petra. You can also experience a more local side of Little Petra by taking a bread-baking class with a native family, going olive harvesting, or simply preparing and sharing a meal.

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Hike a portion of the Jordan Trail, ending in the UNESCO-listed Petra

Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 8 Days

Lace up your hiking boots, stretch your legs, and get ready for an eight-day adventure that includes a multiday hike down the famed Jordan Trail. Settle into the capital with a guided tour of Amman's landmarks, then transfer to Dana, the starting point of your trek. Over five days, you'll cross vast deserts, explore lush valleys, and discover ancient ruins of mines and once-thriving cities. End with a dramatic hike into Petra, where you'll have free time to explore the UNESCO-listed "Rose City" before departure.

You'll hike a portion of the 419-mile (675 km) Jordan Trail over five days

Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 9 Days

This nine-day active adventure takes you from Amman in the north to Petra in the south—with an intrepid five-day hike along the Jordan Trail in between. After a whirlwind tour of Amman's landmarks, transfer to Dana and set off with a private guide to traverse verdant highlands, arid deserts, rugged canyons, and several historical sites on foot. End among the soaring sandstone facades of Petra, then put your feet up as you learn about Bedouin hospitality in Wadi Rum with a Jeep safari and camel ride.

Follow the Siq trail in the UNESCO-listed Petra archaeological site

Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 12 Days

Get ready for a 12-day active adventure in Jordan, starting with a quick city tour in Amman before a transfer to Dana. Here, you'll set off on a five-day hike along a portion of the Jordan Trail to rugged canyons, ancient mines, and Bedouin settlements. Your trek ends in Petra, where you can explore the UNESCO-listed wonder before venturing into the deserts of Wadi Rum. Take a break in the City of Mosaics, and end the trip with an epic bike ride and an afternoon at the local hot springs.

Desert Yoga Escape in Jordan: Wadi Rum & Little Petra - 9 Days

On this nine-day retreat to Jordan, you’ll connect with the elements with outdoor yoga and equine therapy. Take in the desert surroundings in Wadi Rum and Little Petra, a beautiful backdrop for your daily yoga practice. Bedouin camps will provide a home to chant, meditate, participate in fire gatherings, and sleep under the stars. Take a camel ride, explore the iconic Monastery in Petra, and take a therapeutic float in the Dead Sea to end this enlightening trip.

Spend five days hiking along a portion of the Jordan Trail

Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 13 Days

Outdoor enthusiasts will thrive on this 13-day trip that includes a five-day hike along the Jordan Trail. Touch down in Amman and take a spin around the capital's landmarks, then continue to Dana, where you'll spend time with the locals before setting off on your multiday trek. Spot local flora and fauna, ancient ruins, and rugged desert landscapes and overnight in remote camps and ecolodges. Then, sit back and hop between highlights like Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea with a private driver.

Explore the lunar-like landscape of Wadi Rum on foot, in a Jeep, and atop a camel

Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 15 Days

Pack your hiking gear and set off on a 15-day active adventure across Jordan. Spend one day discovering Amman's landmarks, then head north to marvel at the ruins of Jerash and Ajloun Castle. Transfer to the charming village of Dana to meet the friendly locals and start your epic five-day hike down a portion of the Jordan Trail. Other highlights include a self-guided tour of Petra, a Jeep safari in Wadi Rum, a soak in Ma'in Hot Springs, and a day of buoyant bliss in the Dead Sea.

Explore the UNESCO-listed Petra on your own and follow a back door trail to its Monastery

Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 16 Days

From the bustling capital to the serene Dead Sea, this 16-day Jordan itinerary perfectly blends outdoor adventure and cultural immersion—with a rugged five-day trek along the Jordan Trail in between. Highlights include exploring the Ajloun Forest Reserve, spending a day with locals in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, admiring Petra's rock-cut architecture, camping among Wadi Rum's desert dunes, and an epic bike ride to the Ma'in Hot Springs.

Go on a Jeep safari into the vast Wadi Rum desert

Experience Jordan: Amman, Petra, & Wadi Rum - 7 Days

Experience a week of Jordanian hospitality, ancient and natural wonders, and rural life on this curated adventure of Jordan's main attractions. Walk amid ancient Roman ruins in Amman and Jerash, overlook the Judean Desert from the peak of Mount Nebo, and immerse yourself in the Nabataean city of Petra in between. You'll also sleep in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, snorkel with the fish in the Gulf of Aqaba, and relax in the buoyant and calm Dead Sea waters.

Wander amid the ruins of the former Roman Empire at the Amman Citadel

Experience Jordan: Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, & More - 10 Days

Experience the best of Jordan from the northwestern tip in Umm Qais down to Aqaba at the Red Sea. Enjoy ten days visiting main attractions like the "Lost City" of Petra, the bustling capital of Amman, the salty Dead Sea, and the wilds of Wadi Rum. Along the way, you'll wander amid ancient Roman ruins in Jerash, discover the historic Ajloun Crusader castle, and look out onto the Judean Desert from atop biblical Mount Nebo.

Catch a sunset over the Dana Biosphere Reserve from the Feynan Ecolodge

Holy Land Off the Beaten Path: Israel & Jordan - 10 Days

Go off the beaten path on this 10-day itinerary covering Israel and Jordan's Holy Land. Explore the eclectic artist's colony of Old Jaffa in Tel Aviv, discover the remains of an ancient Roman stronghold in Umm Qais, and stay the night at the Feynan Ecolodge in the remote mountains of the Dana Biosphere Reserve. You'll also experience popular attractions of the region, including the Dead Sea, both "Little Petra" and Petra, and Wadi Rum.

Jordan Trekking: Dana to Petra & the Dead Sea - 10 Days

Trek your way through some of Jordan's most breathtaking landscapes on this adventurous 10-day itinerary. Experience the pristine nature of Dana Biosphere Reserve, then set out into the rugged countryside for five days of trekking towards Petra. A dramatic final climb takes you to the sandstone city's hidden entrance, where you'll have plenty of time to explore its carved temples and tombs before transferring to the Dead Sea for some well-earned rest.

Other popular travel destinations in Jordan
Petra · Amman · Wadi Rum · The Dead Sea · Aqaba · Dana · Madaba · Feynan · Ajloun · Umm Qais

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