Petra covers over 60 square kilometers of canyons, tombs, temples, and carved facades hidden inside the mountains of southern Jordan. Most visitors only see the Treasury, take a photo, and turn around. A guided tour with a local expert takes you beyond the postcard views and into the stories carved into the rock over 2,000 years ago.
Here’s how to book and what to expect.
Why a Private Guide Changes Everything at Petra
Petra is not a single monument. It’s an entire city spread across valleys, cliffs, and hidden trails. Without a guide, you walk through 6 km of ancient ruins with no context. The facades look impressive, but you won’t know why they were carved, who they were built for, or what the subtle differences between them mean.
The tour below is a private guided tour (only your group), led by a local Bedouin guide with 18+ years of experience inside Petra. He knows the secret trails, the best viewpoints for crowd-free photos, and the stories behind every tomb and temple. The tour holds a perfect 5.0-star rating from 185+ reviews, with 99% of travelers recommending it. One reviewer put it best: “Doing this tour without a guide would have been like seeing a movie without sound.”
Tour Details and Price (2026)
Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup
- From $75 per person (discounted rates for children)
- 2.5 to 3 hours of guided walking (6 km main trail)
- Private tour: only your group, no strangers
- English-speaking local Bedouin guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included (within the Petra/Wadi Musa region)
- After the guided portion, you’re free to continue exploring Petra on your own for the rest of the day
Important: Petra entrance ticket is not included. You need to purchase your Petra entry separately. Here are the current prices:
- 1-day ticket: 50 JOD (~$70) for visitors staying at least one night in Jordan
- 2-day ticket: 55 JOD (~$78)
- 3-day ticket: 60 JOD (~$85)
- 1-day ticket for non-accommodated visitors (no overnight stay in Jordan): 90 JOD (~$127)
- Children under 12: free
- Jordan Pass (includes Petra entry + visa fee + 40 other attractions): from 70 JOD (~$99)
If you’re spending more than one night in Jordan, the Jordan Pass is the best deal. It includes Petra entry, waives the visa fee, and covers 40+ other sites across the country.
👉 Book your private Petra guided tour
What You’ll See
Your guide meets you at your hotel lobby (or at the Petra Visitor Center if your hotel is outside the pickup area). The 6 km walk follows the main trail, covering all the highlights:
The Siq. The narrow 1.2 km gorge that serves as Petra’s natural entrance. Towering sandstone walls rise up to 80 meters on both sides, creating a dramatic corridor that builds anticipation with every step. Your guide explains the ancient water channels carved into the rock walls, the Nabataean engineering that made the city possible, and the geological forces that shaped the canyon.
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh). The iconic facade that appears at the end of the Siq. Your guide explains what it actually was (a royal tomb, not a treasury), why the Bedouin gave it that name, and the meaning behind every carved figure on the facade.
The Panoramic Viewpoint. Your guide takes you up a short mountain trail to a viewpoint overlooking the Roman Theatre and the Royal Tombs. This is a spot most visitors miss entirely, and it offers some of the best photos of Petra with zero crowds.
The Roman Theatre. Carved directly into the mountainside, it once seated 8,500 spectators. Your guide explains how the Nabataeans adapted Roman architectural ideas to their own culture.
The Royal Tombs. A row of massive facades carved into the cliff face. The Urn Tomb, the Silk Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb, and the Palace Tomb. Each one tells a different story about Nabataean society, power, and beliefs about the afterlife.
The Colonnaded Street and Qasr Al-Bint. The remains of Petra’s main commercial avenue and the largest freestanding structure in the city. This is where the guided portion ends.
After the tour. You’re free to continue on your own. Many visitors spend the rest of the day hiking up to the Monastery (Ad Deir), which adds about 800 steps each way but rewards you with one of Petra’s most spectacular facades. Your guide will give you directions, tips, and time estimates before leaving you.
Meeting Point and How to Get There
With hotel pickup (included): your guide picks you up at your hotel lobby in the Petra/Wadi Musa region. He contacts you before the tour to confirm time and meeting details.
Without hotel pickup: meet at the Petra Visitor Center gate, near the ATMs. The Visitor Center is in the town of Wadi Musa, at the entrance to the archaeological site.
Getting to Petra: Wadi Musa is 3 hours south of Amman by car and 2 hours north of Aqaba. Most visitors arrive by rental car, private transfer, or organized tour from Amman, the Dead Sea, or Aqaba.
Before You Book
- Physical fitness: the tour covers 6 km on foot over uneven rocky terrain. The pace is adjusted to your group, and the guide takes breaks. Comfortable hiking shoes are essential. Sandals and flip-flops are not suitable.
- Best time to visit: early morning (6:00 to 8:00 AM) when the site opens, before crowds and heat build up. The Siq and Treasury are in shadow during early hours, which makes for dramatic lighting. March through May and September through November offer the best weather.
- What to bring: at least 2 liters of water per person (essential, there are limited refill points), sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, and a camera. Cash in Jordanian Dinars for snacks and tips.
- What to wear: lightweight, breathable clothing. Petra involves significant sun exposure with limited shade. Long sleeves and pants are comfortable and provide sun protection.
- Vendors inside Petra: Bedouin vendors sell tea, souvenirs, and scarves throughout the site. Prices are negotiable. Your guide can help you navigate fair prices if needed.
- Donkeys, camels, and horse carriages: available inside the site but not included in the tour. Horse carriages from the entrance to the Treasury cost around 15 to 25 JOD. Walking is recommended for the best experience.
- Petra by Night: a separate evening experience (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 8:30 PM) with 1,500 candles lighting the Siq and Treasury. Costs 17 JOD and is not included in the daytime ticket or this tour.
- Cancellation: free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Book Your Petra Tour
A perfect 5.0-star rating from 185+ reviews is nearly impossible to maintain at a site as demanding as Petra. This guide has done it consistently because he treats every visitor’s experience as personal. The tour is private, the pace is yours, and the stories bring the stones to life.
👉 Check availability and book your private Petra guided tour
Prices are based on 2026 published rates and may vary by date. Petra entrance tickets are purchased separately and are not included in the guided tour price. Always confirm details at checkout.
