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. The place is well worth the effort! Below are some pictures to convince you and some info on the hike and its difficulty.
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TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - the Monastery
What is the Monastery?
The Monastery, also called al-Deir is located 850 steps up from the lower road. It is a 48m high and 47m wide facade. Although not as decorated, it is very impressive.
Planning tips for the Monastery
- Facilities: cafe and "recovery cave" but no toilets
- See the section below for details of the climb - difficulty, time and advice
- More info and planning tips on my detailed guide to help you plan your visit to Petra
The Climb to the Monastery
Al-Deir, alias the Monastery is the largest monument of Petra. Although very impressive, it is less known as more difficult to reach. Indeed, you need to climb roughly 850 steps to get the privilege to admire it. But it is worth it, and I am not the only one to say it.
So how difficult is the climb to the Monastery? Here is my experience:
I knew I wanted to see it and did a lot of research before to assess if I would be able to make it. I was really worried. I am overweight and not very fit so I looked up at reviews and websites talking about it. The result was that it was between 800 steps and 1000 according to different sites, that it would take 45 min and that a lot of pauses were recommended. My plan was the following: I took a lot of water, planned 2 hours for the climb to include a lot of pauses, started very early my visit of Petra to do the climb in the morning before the hottest hours of the day.
Some people use donkey to reach the top but I did not feel very safe at that idea and I read that some of them were not well treated.
I will conquer it on foot! So I turned right past the restaurant accross the bridge and walked in the sand until the beginning of the steps.
My impression is that it was not as hard as I expected. I took me 50 minutes (from the Museum to the monument) and I personally counted roughly 850 steps. The stairs are steady and large enough, not slippery at all. The only time I was a bit scared was when crossing path with a Donkey. At that moment I pushed myself against the wall and not against the cliff
My knees started to ache after 350 steps so I was careful to well balance my climb.
Along the way a lot of women are selling jewelry, offering you some tea and encouraging you. I read a review from a woman who told one of the seller ‘later’ and then the women remembered when she went back on the way down and insisted that she take a look at her stand as she said she would. So I paid attention to just say no thank you in Arabic and was left alone.
The Monastery
The Treasury has this sense of mystery as it is in a small gorge. Although the Monastery does not have that, the effort to reach it makes it the best monument of all to my eyes! LOL. And check out the size of the people to get an idea of the scale of the building.
The Bar and Cave in front of the Monastery
At the top there is a bar with a nice cave to relax. They serve fresh fruit juices which are excellent. For rehydratation, I recommend eating chips and drinking juice. I felt better in the blink of an eye! I had lunch and rested there during the hottest hour of the day admiring this beautiful place.
But be aware, there are no toilets up there and no place to hide!
To the end of the world
After a while I decided to move on. There are 3 different view points that you can climb around here. Walking towards them gives interesting views of the Monastery and you can really realized how it is carved in the mountain.
Some locals considered the view there to be the end of the world. But everyone knows it is in the town I grew up in: Sainte Adresse in France…
Want to see MORE of JORDAN?
Discover more things to do with planning information and photos in my online Jordan Travel Guide.
Do you think you are going to climb the steps?
A great guide,not everyone is young and super fit.Great to know about toilets,and basic know how,good to see advise about pausing and your timings,
many many thanks,a really helpful guide.
Thanks Chris!
I am glad you found it useful. It is true that most information we can find are for fit people.
Enjoy your time in Petra!
Really helpful thank you for sharing
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you found it useful!
I am recovering from a sprained ankle and going in 10 days 🙁 Should I even attempt this? As hard as it will be to go up as I am not in great shape, that is not my main concern! I will wear hiking boots but they don’t really prevent you from turning your ankle. I was thinking of taking a donkey down but have read that it’s quite scary going down on the donkey and people fall off regularly. Would love your advice.
Hi Melissa
I am sorry but I can’t give a medical opinion.
I am not for using donkeys because many of them are not well taken care of.
There is already a lot of walking and things to see until you reach the bottom of the staircase. So you can see once you arrive there, how your ankle feels after all that walking.
I wish you a wonderful trip!
Bonjour Claire,
Excellent job with this web site!! Compliments and many thanks!
We’ll came to Petra for one full day in May with Desert Eco Tours. Two questions, if I may.
Is the path from Museum to the Monastery well marked or you recommend to have a guide?
We’ll be in Petra from 8:30 till 16:00. Not enough time for 2 climbs: the Monastery and the the High Place of Sacrifice, right?
Best,
Alex.
Thanks Alex
The path is clear, not to worry.
Even really fit, it would be a very tight schedule with the Siq + the bottom walk + both hikes up. You will already see a lot doing only the monastery.
I wish you a wonderful trip!
Claire
Thank you for the info on Petra. I was worried about the climb we will see how we I do tomorrow.
I’m scared of heights , which trail would be best for me considering this ? Thank you for all the information.
Hi Hamda
I think the monastery will be the best. At the top it is a large plateau so no issues when you are there and while climbing you can look on the rock side to avoid vertigo.
The other hikes do not have large plateaus at the top, it will be cliff views everywhere.
We will be at Petra in a week with a tour group. Approximately how many hours do we need to alot from the Treasury………to the top of the Monastery…….and back to the Treasury I am fairly certain that we will have to break away from our tour group, but need to know time frames. Thank you for your wonderful info. I just can’t wait!
I think it took me around 1h30min from the Treasury to the top of the monastery, walking slowly and taking breaks. (50min sure for the climb from the museum, but for the rest I am not sure).
There is also lots to see on the bottom roads from the Treasury.
I wish you happy travels!
Hello Claire! Thank you for the useful info!
Could you advise how many different trails there are to get up to the top of the monastery ? And which would be the easiest trail for a non-athletic person coupled with a fear of heights? Also would taking the easiest trail mean that we would be missing out on a lot of different areas within Petra?
Hi Sandra
From the main area of Petra, there is only one path, the one I describe in this article.
You walk through the main road of Petra and then climb the 850 steps.
There may be hiking routes crossing the crazy landscapes around but I don’t know about them.
Have a great trip!
Excellent and informative article. Was in Petra last year and took the guided tour but did not have time to do the steps. Returning soon and plan to walk straight down and go up the monastry. Its a hard walk back up but im sure it will be worth it. Thanks again and ill let you know how I get on.
Glad you found it useful.
Have a great trip!
What year did the restaurant and souvenir shops open
Great article, heading there in October from Australia
I think my only hope of seeing the Monastery is by donkey, I’m thinking I should be able to walk down but I know I’m too unfit to walk up.
The toilet thing worries me, are there plenty of toilets at the bottom?
Thank you.
Hi Janine
You still have time until October to practice a little. It is possible ! You just have to take your time and stop whenever you need. This can be a great goal to set for yourself 🙂
I was worried about the toilets as well, but you sweat so much that it was OK at the top.
There is no problem at the bottom – see my map of Petra is this article (where T are for toilets) – https://www.zigzagonearth.com/travel-tips-planning-your-trip-to-petra-jordan/
I wish you a wonderful trip!
Claire
I was at the Monastery on September 22, 2019. There is now a toilet at the Monastery. Just ask the cafe vendor for the key. I did not use the toilet so I cannot say what condition it is in. I did notice people asking for the toilet key.
I am 73 and only moderately fit. I rode the donkey ride up. No problem coming down with hiking sticks.
Thanks Es
I’m 52 and I think the donkey is going to be my friend.
And it is reassuring to know there is a toilet up there, even if I don’t need to use it.
Thanks heaps, only 2 weeks to go now.
Janine
Bonjour Claire!
Excellent and very informative article you wrote.
Just want to let you know that aside from my childhood dream with help of National Geographic magazine who gave me the first glimpse of Petra, YOU inspired me to fulfill that dream. Just did my climb yesterday and came mentally prepared and can also say somewhat physically prepared too. And yes, woke up with aching foot and legs. But is it all worth it? ABSOLUTELY YES! It’s really a lifetime experience that I’ll always remember for the rest of my life. Now it’s at the top of my list of places “that I finally saw”. The pyramid & sphinx, Machu Picchu, the acropolis, Dubrovnik, etc. Many thanks once again!
Hi Delia!
Thank you so much for your comment.
I am really happy that you got to experience that magnificent site.
I wish you many more wonderful travels!
Claire
Hey I thought I’d comment again.
Well we did Petra (9 beautiful days in Jordan) October 2019 and I did take a donkey up. Points to make the donkey ride is pretty scary but trust the donkey and you’ll be safe, just move with the donkey etc. A few people did come off and I saw one man fall off coming back down. The donkey does not take you all the way up, you do have to walk up a bit of the way so keep that in mind. I carried an apple to give my donkey when I dismounted and it gobbled that up, they are not treated the best so that was just something small I could do, I know I could have just not taken the donkey ride but then I would not have got to see the Monastery.
I did walk back down the steps (near killed me) but no way would I have taken the donkey back down, apart from no real need I think that it would be terrifying.
There is a nice little shop up the top, didn’t need the toilet 🙂
I did the Monastery climb in February 2020. I am 74 and in line for a knee replacement this June. I MADE IT. Not really a trouble either. The main thing to watch out for is the sand on the steps -they become very slippery. One young guy in our party nosed dived down a few. Not the way to go. The climb is well worth it and a tick to the bucket list.
Thank you for your comment. I´m 58 and was worried about my knees! You encouraged me to go!
Thank you for the useful info. I´m planning to go to Petra after the covid-19 pandemic has passed!
Best regards from Brazil!
I visited the Monastery in 1988, and the smokers in our group had the issues – not the overweight or non-athletic body types! In fact all three of them swore off taking a puff from a cigarette ever again! After we explored the structure and surrounding views, my eagle eye vision spotted a cave with beer and smokes, so I let everyone know it was there. It looks like the cafe and store are now located in front of the cave – out in the open – so you can’t miss them. The cave was always a nice bit of cool shade to enjoy after the steps, But it was also where the smokers enjoyed a few Turkish smokes before heading back down. If anyone is familiar with Diamond Head hike on Oahu, you will understand that not all hikes are ideal or realistic for everyone to attempt, but the sheer amount of people is the problem there. In Petra, there will likely not be more than 4 groups in any one hour trying to get up the steps to see the Monastery, so it is quite peaceful, and maybe even a spiritual hike if you are a believer in God.