Monastery, Petra

Continuing from the Royal Tombs through the Collanaded Street to Qasr al-Bint al-Faroun (Castle of the Pharoah's Daughter, the only free standing structure in Petra) and then a further one half hour climb is the Monastery. Built in 3rd Century BC, it is similar to the Khazneh. However, it is 50m wide and 45m high.

On your route to/from the Monastery, take time to look at some of the caves. In 1997, it would appear that some of them are still inhabited.

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The entrance fees is 50 Dinar for a day visit 55 for 2 days visit 70 for 3 das visit
.No cash points (ATM) around.
if you want to go to the monastry you need at least 30 to 40 min walk many stairs.
My advice is to rent a donkey ,I myself did not it was a mistake cous it was not easy.

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This place is supurb. It is well worth the trouble to get here

I semi cheated and took a donkey up and walked down, well worth the extra expence.

Beware that there are hundreds of steps to climb, and it takes aprox 1 hour or more to do so.

At the top as well as the monastry there is a cafe where you can get food and drink.

Souvenir stalls also line some of the steps up.

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Although it takes some effort to get to The Monastery, you will be awarded for the trouble.
The hike up the mountainous terrain might be considered as difficult for some people, and you might see very obese tourists on the back of small donkeys. I will rather not comment on this.

Take enough water with you. There is ‘restaurant’ at the top of the mountain.

Other than the Monastery, there are also several look out points on high cliffs from where you will be rewarded with spectacular views!

The Monastery is huge, and reminds a lot of The Treasury, but it seems a much more simple design.

After a long way up among tombs, you finally arrive to the Monastery. This building was used as a church during the Byzantine period, that's the origin of the name.
Once on top of the mountain, the view of the mountains and valleys around also rewards for the climbing.

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While the Treasury may be the face of Petra, the Monastery may very well be its heart and soul. Sitting high up in the mountains and with its towering facade that is even more impressive than that of the Treasury the Monastery is a perfect must see complement. Part of the reason the Treasury gets as much love as it does is that its easy to visit while seeing the Monastery requires a 40 minute hike up a mountain trail. But anything worth seeing requires a little effort and the Monastery is worth the effort. With it scenic setting high above Petra its easy to understand why the Nabetaeans chose that location for the Monastery...it is very peaceful and serene. From the Treasury it will take the average tourist about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to the Monastery so be sure to factor that it if your only in Petra for a day. The locals offer donkey rides to the top so if your looking for an easier way up that would be it. However the trail itself is very hiker friendly and I saw many senior citizens that made the hike. So in other words there isn't any excuse not to visit the Monastery during your visit to Petra!

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Once you've made it up to the Monastry, don't give up. Walk the last bit to the 3 or 4 different view points looking out over the mountains and south part of the Dead Sea in the distance. It is so worth the walk for the absolutely stunning views.

Each view point has a little tented shop and you can get a tea from a couple of them.

Your time walking around Petra will be stunning, but it will also involve a fair amount of walking. For example, in my opinion, you need to leave yourself 1 hour 30 minutes to walk from the Monastry back out to the entrance.

The walk up to the Monastry is 850 steps and I can imagine in the height of summer is a bit of a killer. You can save your legs by going by donkey or mule the vast majority of the way up. You can allow yourself to get a bit ripped off by the owners of the animals, but you can easily go up for 4JD which I think is well worth it and is also a great fun experience. The donkeys and mules all looked in extremely good condition and well looked after.

You will be offered a donkey (or air conditioned four-by-four) almost everywhere in Petra, but I'd get one from the bottom of the climb up to the Monastry.

The monestary is located right by the very back of petra and it´s a long and steep hike to get there, buit you are awarded with one of the most stunning buildings in Petra once you get there, so take your time to see this place if you have the stamina for it.

Similar in design to the Treasury & just as impressive, far bigger though 50m wide & 45m high. The Monastery with its towering columns & large urn flanked by two half pediments is definately worth the walk or ride up to it.