Hike the back-door route to Petra

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Jordan’s ancient Nabatean kingdom, Petra, is beautifully carved into a series of pink sandstone mountains and cliffs, interwoven with narrow passages and spectacular gorges. One of the New Seven Wonders of The World, the whole site covers around 100 square miles, much of which is still underground. Most people arrive through the main entrance, but on Flash Pack’s Untold Jordan adventure, you’ll discover the sight through the quieter back-door route. 

Why is it so impressive? Along this walk to Petra, you’ll be one of the first in the day to witness the majesty of the Monastery, basking in the early morning glow. It’s usually the last sighting for those who have entered through the main entrance, which takes in the Treasury first and requires a 3.5km hike through the rose-red city to reach it.

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YOUR ADVENTURE

The day begins with a shuttle from Little Petra and a 60-minute hike to the Monastery. You’ll start your adventure in the early morning, beating the heat – and the majority of the crowds – to reach one of the kingdom’s most impressive sights, traversing through the open plains with views of the Wadi Araba and ascending numerous steps to reach the Monastery. 

Once there, you’ll have it pretty much to yourself. You’ll be able to capture the moment with crowd-free photographs from the various viewpoints, normally packed with sightseers. Then you’ll continue into the rest of the Nabatean city to see its other sights, including the Theatre, the Street of Façades and the spectacular Treasury. And, in the spirit of adventure, you’ll likely be the last people to leave, too.

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YOUR MONEY IS SAFE

Flash Pack owner, Lee Thompson, has hiked to Petra a number of times, but loves the back-door route more than any other. “It will forever be one of the greatest experiences of my life,” he says. “You don’t see another tourist for most of the hike. You feel like you’re in Indiana Jones, in awe of your surroundings and the beautiful mountain landscape. Nothing will ever be as epic as the first glimpse of Petra having taken the back route in.” 

For Test Match Special host, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Petra was the highlight of her Flash Pack trip, too. “It wasn’t just the experience of being in the rose-red city itself, but also arriving in the way that we did, hiking through the back-door passage. We learnt so much about the history and culture of the place – it was beautiful.”

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HOW TO BOOK IT

This back-door Petra experience is bookable as part of Flash Pack’s Untold Jordan adventure – which also takes in the capital Amman, a trip to the Dead Sea, canyoning in Wadi Mujib, and jeeps and desert glamping among the dramatic dunes of the Wadi Rum.

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SPEAK TO OUR TRAVEL EXPERTS

Need more advice on taking the back-door route into Petra or the rest of our Jordan adventure? Our seasoned team of travel experts have you covered and are ready to answer your questions. Simply book a call to find out more.

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