A Hike to Ad-Dayr, the Stunning Rock-Cut Monastery of Petra

July 26, 2025December 2, 2025 Koen 0 Comments

This guide shows you what it’s like to hike the Ad-Dayr trail to the Monastery, one of the most amazing rock-cut buildings in Petra.

Hiking to Ad-Dayr in Petra

The sprawling archaeological site of Petra offers many more stunning rock-cut buildings to admire beyond the iconic Treasury.

Most tourists concentrate around the central area of Petra, visiting sights such as the Treasury, the Street of Façades, the Theatre, and the Royal Tombs, but if you’re willing to do some hiking, there’s much more to explore.

Of the outlying sights of Petra, the Monastery – known as Ad-Dayr or Ed-Deir in Arabic – is arguably the most impressive, and the hike up to this rock-cut building offers stunning views over the rocky landscape.

The hike to the Monastery is also the most popular in Petra, as it fits in well with a visit to central sights such as the Treasury and the Royal Tombs.

You can easily visit all the main central sights of Petra and hike up to the Monastery in a single day, which is exactly what most travellers do when they have only one day to explore this remarkable archaeological site.

I would personally recommend spending at least two days in Petra, as besides the hike to Ad-Dayr, there are numerous other beautiful trails leading to amazing outlying sights and viewpoints.

However, if you only have one day, it’s probably best to focus on central Petra and Ad-Dayr.

treasury petra jordan — *The Treasury of Petra. ©Paliparan*

Ad-Dayr Petra — *Petra is a sprawling archaeological site, and you need to hike a bit to reach some of the outlying sights, such as Ad-Dayr (The Monastery). ©Paliparan*

About the hike to Ad-Dayr

The hike to Ad-Dayr (the Monastery) begins just behind Qasr al-Bint, located at the far end of Petra’s Colonnaded Street.

It takes between two and three hours to complete the round trip if you’re in relatively good shape, including time spent at the Monastery to enjoy the views and a leisurely break for a drink.

The hike to Ad-Dayr is an uphill climb featuring numerous steps carved into the rock, and while it is not technically challenging, it does require a moderate level of physical effort.

The hike to Ad-Dayr is best avoided by those with mobility issues.

Although you will come across locals offering paid donkey rides to the Monastery, it’s best not to use this service, as the animals are often poorly treated and are simply not built to carry the weight of the average human being, which makes sitting on their back akin to animal cruelty.

Needless to say, you’re well advised to pack plenty of water for the hike, which is something you should do anyway when visiting Petra.

qasr al-bint petra — *Qasr al-Bint. ©Paliparan*

Starting the hike

As you walk along the Colonnaded Street and reach Qasr al-Bint, continue past the two Petra restaurants (Nabatean Restaurant and The Basin Restaurant) to reach the trailhead for the hike to Ad-Dayr, also known as the Monastery route.

The hike to the Monastery is very straightforward, following a single path through a gorge, then continuing up the mountain via a long series of carved steps.

As there aren’t any junctions between the trailhead and the Monastery, you can’t really get lost on the Ad-Dayr trail.

For what it’s worth, I find navigation and map apps like Mapy and OsmAnd far more useful than Google Maps for hiking, as their maps show trails much more accurately.

It’s a good idea to use one of these navigation and map apps if you plan to do some serious hiking around Petra, although for the straightforward hike to Ad-Dayr, such travel apps aren’t really necessary.

*The Ad-Dayr Trail starts just behind the two Petra restaurants near the Qasr al-Bint. ©Paliparan*

camels — *Camels resting behind one of the two Petra restaurants. ©Paliparan*

Views along the route

After a relatively short walk through the canyon, you’ll reach the first of several sets of steps carved into the rock that lead up the mountain.

This point is as far as camels are allowed to go, so if you’re considering a short camel ride, be aware that it only covers the stretch from Qasr al-Bint or one of the restaurants to the start of the stairs up the mountain.

As you climb the steps, the hike to the Monastery becomes increasingly beautiful, with sandstone rocks displaying particularly striking reliefs and colours.

Needless to say, this uphill stretch over uneven steps is also the most exhausting part of the hike.

Yet the views along this part of the Ad-Dayr trail are excellent, so be sure to take a few moments to rest and enjoy the scenery around you.

Along the way, you’ll also come across some caves, and if you look carefully, you can spot a few remote tombs high up in the cliffs.

camels steps ad-dayr trail monastery route petra hike — *Camels at the bottom of the series of steps leading up the Monastery. ©Paliparan*

ad-dayr hike steps petra — *The Ad-Dayr Trail consists out of a series of steps leads up into the mountains. ©Paliparan*

rock petra ad-dayr trail — *Sandstone rock along the path. ©Paliparan*

*View over the craggy mountains high above the trail. ©Paliparan*

steps monastery ad-dayr trail petra — *Another series of steps. ©Paliparan*

view canyon mountains — *High above the canyon. ©Paliparan*

cave tomb petra cliffs — *Caves and tombs high on the cliffside. ©Paliparan*

At the Monastery in Petra

Just as your first glimpse of the Treasury is likely to take your breath away, the moment you first catch sight of Ad-Dayr is equally unforgettable.

Ad-Dayr is carved into the mountain rock in a style similar to that of the Treasury, though its façade features niches that once held sculptures instead of reliefs.

This rock-cut monument is certainly impressive in size, measuring 46.77 metres wide and 48.3 metres high.

The construction of Ad-Dayr dates back to Nabataean times, and although it’s uncertain exactly when it was carved out of the rock, most archaeologists in Petra believe it was built during the reign of King Rabbel II (70–106 AD).

Likewise, the exact purpose of the building is not known, although it is speculated that Ad-Dayr may have served as a meeting hall for religious groups or as a site where the Nabataeans performed certain religious rites.

Ad-Dayr is also known as the Monastery because its main hall served as a Christian chapel in the early Byzantine era.

It is not allowed to enter the Monastery, so you have to admire the beauty of Ad-Dayr from the outside.

monastery ad-dayr petra — *Ad-Dayr, better known as The Monastery, is certainly a stunning sight to admire. ©Paliparan*

koen monastery ad-dayr petra — *Yours truly in front of the Monastery. ©Paliparan*

Climbing up the rocks

From Ad-Dayr, several short trails lead to different viewpoints across the surrounding mountains.

It’s well worth the effort to climb a bit further uphill once you reach Ad-Dayr, as some of these viewpoints offer terrific views of the Monastery from a higher vantage point.

rocky landscape monastery ad-dayr petra — *There are several paths leading from the Monastery to viewpoints high on the mountain. ©Paliparan*

monastery ad-dayr petra jordan — *The Monastery as seen from a scenic viewpoint on a nearby mountaintop. ©Paliparan*

Scenic views

The hike along the Ad-Dayr trail to the Monastery is recommended not only to see this beautiful Nabataean rock-cut monument, but also for the scenic views.

The sandstone mountains around Petra form such a stunning landscape that – even without the Nabataean tombs and temples carved into the rocks – it would still be a spectacular place to visit.

Especially along the trails leading to the viewpoints around the Monastery, you can find some great spots to take in this beautiful setting.

petra sandstone mountains — *View over the sandstone mountains and canyons of Petra. ©Paliparan*

ad-dayr mountain viewpoint — *One of the mountain viewpoints around Ad-Dayr. ©Paliparan*

barren rocks — *The landscape is barren yet beautiful. ©Paliparan*

sandstone desert mountains view — *View across the mountains. ©Paliparan*

ad-dayr monastery caves petra — *There are many caves to be found in the cliffs directly surrounding the Monastery. ©Paliparan*

gorge canyon petra — *View over a deep gorge. ©Paliparan*

Coffee time

After admiring the fine vistas from several viewpoints, I returned to Ad-Dayr and sat down at the Bedouin café directly opposite the Monastery.

This small café is a great place to relax in the shade while enjoying a soft drink, tea, or some Bedouin coffee – essentially Turkish coffee with added cardamom, brewed over charcoal in a small pit.

The coffee was certainly delicious, though the stunning view of the Monastery likely played its part as well.

bedouin coffee monastery ad-dayr petra — *Enjoying some Bedouin-style coffee in front of the Monastery. ©Paliparan*

Hiking back

After one last look at the stunning sight of the Monastery, it was time to head back to central Petra, retracing my steps along the Ad-Dayr trail.

Fortunately, the return journey is much faster and easier than the climb up, as it’s all downhill.

Hiking back the same way is far from boring, as you’ll be looking down into the canyon while descending the mountain – a completely different perspective from the climb up.

Again, the views over the sandstone cliffs and mountains were absolutely superb.

ad-dayr trail monastery petra — *One last look at the Monastery before heading back down the Ad-Dayr trail. ©Paliparan*

ad-dayr trail petra canyon — *View over the canyon on the way back on the Ad-Dayr trail. ©Paliparan*

steps mountain ad-dayr trail — *Walking down the steps. ©Paliparan*

donkey trail petra — *Donkey resting along the trail. ©Paliparan*

hike ad-dayr trail monastery petra — *On your hike back, you can enjoy some stunning views as well. ©Paliparan*

*Cute cat at one of the souvenir stalls alongside the trail. ©Paliparan*

camel — *Camel sitting in the sand down in the canyon. ©Paliparan*

camels qasr al-bint — *Camels in front of the Qasr al-Bint. ©Paliparan*

Back to Wadi Musa

The hike along the Ad-Dayr trail concluded my first day in Petra.

As it was already late in the afternoon, I walked back along the Colonnaded Street and the Street of Façades towards the Treasury, then passed through the Siq once more to reach the Petra Visitor Centre.

From there, I had to walk through the adjacent town of Wadi Musa to finally reach my guesthouse for the night.

When visiting Petra, it’s certainly important to factor in all the backtracking you’ll need to do – both in terms of timing and the total distance you’ll be walking – as many visitors underestimate this and end up overexerting themselves.

Fortunately, I still had a full second day for hiking in Petra ahead of me, as there was much more to see beyond the sights I had visited so far!

*View over the sandstone mountains on my hike back to the entrance. ©Paliparan*

royal tombs petra — *Walking pack towards the Treasury, Siq, and Petra Visitor Centre. In the background you can see the Royal Tombs. ©Paliparan*

Conclusion

The hike along the trail to Ad-Dayr (the Monastery) is the most popular in Petra among visitors – and for good reason.

If you only have one day to spend in Petra, then hiking the Ad-Dayr trail to visit the Monastery is the most logical next step after seeing the main sights such as the Treasury and the Royal Tombs, as the trailhead begins right at Qasr al-Bint at the end of the Colonnaded Street.

Of course, the main reason to hike this trail is to see the gorgeous rock-cut building known as the Monastery, which is arguably the most beautiful monument in Petra after the Treasury.

Once you reach the Monastery, don’t forget to hike a few extra metres up the mountain to one of the nearby viewpoints for some great views over the sandstone canyons.

The Ad-Dayr trail isn’t too demanding and is very straightforward to hike since it’s a direct path without junctions, but as it goes uphill and involves climbing numerous steps, you’ll need to be at least moderately fit.

Trip report index

This article is part of the ‘Journey Across Jordan: From Aqaba to Petra and Amman‘ trip report, which consists of the following chapters:

1. Subsidised Flights: Why Airline Tickets to Jordan Are So Cheap
2. The Jordan Pass: Save Money and Time on Your Jordan Trip
3. Exploring Aqaba, Jordan’s Seaside Resort City
4. Jordan Bus Travel: Amman, Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum by JETT Bus
5. Wadi Rum Desert: Horse Riding in Lawrence of Arabia’s Footsteps
6. Petra: How to Plan Your Visit to Jordan’s Most Famous Sight
7. A Hike to Ad-Dayr, the Stunning Rock-Cut Monastery of Petra (current chapter)
8. Hiking the Al-Khubtha Trail to the Best Viewpoint of Petra

** rest of the chapters to follow soon **