Little Petra (Siq al-Barid): access, price, opening hours and how long to visit in 2026
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) is a small Nabataean canyon about 9 km north of Wadi Musa, 15 to 20 minutes by car. The visit takes 1 to 1.5 hours; according to travel guides, entry is free (no ticket, and the Jordan Pass is not needed), and the site can be visited in daylight, roughly from sunrise to sunset. You see facades carved into the rock, columned chambers and the Painted House, with traces of frescoes. If someone asks you for a ticket at the entrance, check: several travellers report scam attempts.
Highlights
The canyon and facades
A small narrow siq lined with tombs and rooms carved in sandstone, quieter than Petra, giving the feeling of having the site to yourself.
The columned chamber
A Nabataean triclinium (banquet hall) with a columned facade, one of the finest facades of the place.
The Painted House
A small Nabataean space whose ceiling keeps painted motifs (vines, birds, figures): a rare detail, to look for at the back of the site, to be confirmed on site.
Beidha
A 9,000-year-old Neolithic village nearby, for those interested in prehistoric archaeology.
Practical info
Tips
- This is a visit to add to Petra, not a replacement: see the Petra page and Visiting Petra. The simplest way is a round trip by taxi from Wadi Musa with waiting (about 15 to 25 JD depending on the source and the duration, price to negotiate before leaving), or to include it in a tour. You can also combine Little Petra with the hike from the back of the site to the Monastery (allow several hours, you need a Petra ticket and it is best to take a guide), see the Monastery. Closed shoes and water. For a day trip that includes it, see Petra from Amman; to sleep nearby, read Wadi Musa. In the evening, Petra by Night rounds off the day.
How to get there
About 9 km north of Wadi Musa, on the Beidha road. By taxi or car, 15 to 20 minutes; public transport is scarce (at least one minibus from Wadi Musa around noon, according to one guide, to be confirmed). If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car for the day.
Opening hours
Nearby
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