Al-Khubtha Trail- Hiking to the Treasury From Above Viewpoint in Petra
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There are a lot of scenic hikes and viewpoints in Petra, but the one that wowed me the most was Al-Khubtha Trail and its view of the Treasury from above.
The Al-Khubtha Trail viewpoint is not the only spot where you can enjoy a view of the Treasury from above, but it is the official Treasury viewpoint and the only one you can access for free. The other high viewpoint you can hike to, left of the Treasury, is controlled by Bedouins who claim you need a “guide”, so they charge people money for access. It’s the same case for the short walk to a lower viewpoint to the right of the Treasury. For those reasons, my guide recommended hiking Al-Khubtha Trail, plus he said it’s the safest route to a Treasury viewpoint.
So with those tips in mind, I decided to hike Al-Khubtha Trail to see the Petra Treasury from above and did not regret my choice one bit!
About Al-Khubtha Trail in Petra
Al-Khubtha Trail climbs up the north end of the Jabal al-Khubtha massif via a series of rock steps, then proceeds to a lookout point at the massif’s southern end that offers a remarkable view of Petra’s Treasury from above.
Along the rocky route, there are panoramic views of the ancient city centre, the theatre, and the orange-hued mountains Petra is known for. At the Al-Khubtha Trail viewpoint at the end of the hike, there is a Bedouin tent where you can buy a drink to sip on while enjoying an elevated view of the Treasury far from the crowds.
The round-trip hike is 3 km/1.9 mi and has an elevation gain of approximately 322 m/1056 ft. Plan for 1.5- 2 hours to complete the hike at a relaxed pace, including time to take pictures and enjoy a break at the Treasury viewpoint.
Hiking Al-Khubtha Trail to the Treasury from Above Viewpoint- My Experience
Al-Khubtha Trail starts alongside the row of Royal Tombs, in front of the beautiful Palace Tomb. There is a sign with directional arrows at the trailhead by the Palace Tomb. Keep straight on the path beside the mountain (this is the mountain that the viewpoint is on).
Not far from the Royal Tombs the trail curved right around the end of the mountain, then turned right again to climb a staircase in a narrow canyon. I loved how the steps were carved from the rock and hugged the canyon wall. The staircase wasn’t too slim, and there was a low ledge on the cliff side, so I felt safe. Even though this was just the start of the hike, the views were already stunning!
At the top of the canyon, the trail curved right and then descended to a nice viewpoint looking north toward a mountain.
Continuing on, the trail now headed south up another rocky staircase. I stopped to look back at the viewpoint I just left and thought the scenery looked better from a slightly higher vantage point.
As the trail continued to climb, I passed by some unattended tents and enjoyed admiring the shapes of the rocks framing the trail.
Once the trail got higher up, I walked over to the edge of the mountain and saw a spectacular view of the theatre down below on the Street of Facades. The rock-carved theatre impressed me much more from above than it did close up because from here I got a full picture of its grand size and mountainous surroundings.
A little further ahead, near the highest point on Al-Khubtha Trail, I came to an area with some shelters made out of rock. A sign here said there was a panoramic view of the theatre to the right, so I walked over that way but the theatre view was better earlier on the trail.
The last part of the sign was a little misleading because it had an arrow indicating the panoramic view of the Treasury was straight ahead. Yes, technically the Treasury was south, but there was no obvious trail heading straight behind the sign. Looking around unsure where to go, I eventually noticed a cairn by the little “house” on the left and a black arrow painted on some rocks.
Getting closer, I saw another black arrow painted on the ground pointing to some steps carved in the rock. Looking down into the valley, I could see a clear trail so I was confident that going left at the “house”, not straight like the sign implied, was the correct way to go.
The next section of the hike proceeded south downhill in the valley. The trail had loose rock and was less obvious in some places, but I saw another black arrow letting me know I was on the right track. But with towering rocks framing the valley, there really was only one way to go!
Continuing downhill, the scenery didn’t change much but I was still enjoying being surrounded by rock.
Eventually, I came to a spot where there was a gap in the rocks, so I walked over to the edge and got my first glimpse of the Treasury from above. It was exciting to see and I couldn’t wait to get to the official Treasury viewpoint!
Soon I reached the end of Al-Khubtha trail and saw a Bedouin tent set up at the viewpoint blocking the scenery. There was a sign saying come into the tent to see the view for free, so in I went.
The view of the Treasury from above was stunning! It also really put into perspective just how tall the cliff face is that the Treasury is carved into.
I loved getting to see the Treasury from a different vantage point. From higher up, it was easier to see the architectural details at the top of the Treasury, including the urn crowning the tholos and the sculpted figures of gods and goddesses.
The best part was getting to enjoy the view in a quiet spot away from the crowds, with a friendly little cat by my side. Since there were no other tourists in the tent, it was easy to be fully present in the moment, taking in the scenery without distractions.
While sitting at the cliff edge, I also noticed the other viewpoint across the Siq, the one my guide told me not to visit. There were a lot of steep stairs going up the mountainside, so I was glad I didn’t go that way!
Before leaving the tent, I decided to purchase a drink from the Bedouin family and relax a bit longer. The freshly squeezed pomegranate juice was so delicious and refreshed me for the hike back to the trailhead.
The return hike was on the same trail, so it was straightforward now that I was familiar with it. I was back at the trailhead within 30 minutes.
Final Thoughts About the Al-Khubtha Trail and Viewpoint
I really liked hiking Al-Khubtha trail because the journey was just as enjoyable as the destination. The hike wasn’t strenuous and there were so many great views of Petra’s landscape and landmarks.
Of course, the highlight was getting to see the Treasury from above. Having that incredible view all to myself was so special and a favourite memory from my visit to Petra. I’m glad I decided to include this hike on my Petra itinerary because it was a wonderful experience to have on my first trip to Jordan.
Tips for Hiking Al-Khubtha Trail
Trail Details: Here is some information about Al-Khubtha trail so you can prepare for your hike.
- Type of Trail- Out and back
- Distance- 3 km/1.9 mi round trip
- Elevation Gain- 322 m/1056 ft
- Difficulty- Moderate
- Length of Time- 1.5- 2 hours at a relaxed pace with breaks
- Trailhead- In front of the Palace Tomb, along the row of Royal Tombs
Facilities: There is a tent at the viewpoint where you can buy some drinks.
Safety: Avoid getting too close to cliff edges.
Gear/What to Bring: Wear sun protection and comfortable hiking shoes with good grips. Bring water and a snack to enjoy at the viewpoint.
Information was correct at the time of publishing, but can change without notice.
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