Is Little Petra the same as Petra?

Little Petra, or as the Arabs call it Sik al-Barid (Cold Canyon), was the northern satellite of the main city and in many ways resembles Petra, therefore it has earned its nickname. Archaeologists believe that it was built at the same time as Petra.



No, Little Petra (known locally as Siq al-Barid) is not the same as the main Petra Archaeological Park, though they are geographically close and share the same Nabataean architectural style. Located about 5 kilometers north of the main site, Little Petra is much smaller in scale but offers a more "intimate" and less crowded experience. It was likely a "suburb" of the main city, serving as a supply post and a place for camel caravans to rest and trade before entering the capital. . While the main Petra features iconic, massive structures like the Treasury and the Monastery, Little Petra is famous for its "Painted House," which contains one of the only remaining Nabataean frescoes in the world. Many travelers in 2026 use Little Petra as a "warm-up" on their first day or as the starting point for the "back door" hike to the Monastery, which allows you to enter the main park from the top down rather than through the traditional Siq.

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The trail for the Little Petra to Petra Walk starts at the left of the car park, behind the souvenir shops (it really isn't obvious!). From here the track goes out into the desert following jeep tracks, and you pass by Bedouin tents, goats, camels and the occasional stray dog that loved menacingly barking at us.

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Bottom line... yes, I'd say that a visit to Little Petra is worth an hour or so of your time. There's no admission fee, it's much less crowded than Petra, the buildings are interesting and the scenery through the desert to get there is worth it alone.

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You can totally visit Petra by yourself—we did! If you're visiting several areas in Jordan, a tour guide and driver may simplify things, but it's certainly not a requirement.

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Distance and Difficulty: The Petra Monastery Trail is 2.5km / 1.6 miles return from the end of the Petra Main Trail (4km in). Medium walk, steep with lots of stairs, but not too long (in my opinion, the Petra map says hard).

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The easiest way to get to Petra is to join a guided tour. This option is much more expensive, but it's the most convenient one. You let someone else do all the planning and you sit back and enjoy your day. There are tour packages available from Amman and Aqaba in Jordan, or Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat in Israel.

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Hegra is the lesser-known sister city of Petra in Jordan and lay covered under the sands of time. Hegra, like Petra, was built by the Nabateans, who created a huge empire in the desert from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD, when Emperor Trajan conquered them and they became subjects of the Romans.

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Many people know of Petra's famous Treasury from the Hollywood film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” with Harrison Ford. It's inside that Ford finds the Holy Grail.

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Camel Ride in Wadi Rum & Petra is optional for 15 JD / $ 21 USD per camel per hour. You don't need to book it in advance and can be arranged upon arrival to Petra or Wadi Rum.

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While you are not allowed to stay overnight unaccompanied in Petra, you can book a traditional Bedouin cave stay. Most hosts offer the full traditional experience, including dinner cooked over an open fire, the option of sleeping under the stars, as well as transportation back to the park entrance in the morning.

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Little Petra, also known as Siq al-Barid, is an archaeological site located north of Petra and the town of Wadi Musa in the Ma'an Governorate of Jordan. Like Petra, it is a Nabataean site, with buildings carved into the walls of the sandstone canyons.

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One of the main monuments of Petra is the Monastery. After discovering the Siq, the Treasury and the Lower Street of Petra, if you are not too tired and hot, you can climb the 850 steps up to discover it.

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