Petra - Jordan - page 359

The return trip from Qasr al-Bint takes around six hours. Some people hire a guide with
a donkey or even a camel for the trip, but if you're reasonably fit and not fazed by work-
ing out your own route from the network of goat tracks that head in the general direction,
then this really isn't necessary.
The trail to Jebel Haroun starts at Pharaun Column, and follows the dirt road past Be-
douin settlements to Snake Monument , a curled stone that resembles a snake on a rock
pedestal. Continue to the southwest towards the obvious white shrine (which looks de-
ceptively close); the trail is not as steep as it looks. At the bottom of the mountain, find
the caretaker if you want to enter the shrine.
SABRA
The trip from Qasr al-Bint to the remote Nabataean suburbs of Sabra (off) takes a minim-
um of five hours return. This was where trade caravans once unloaded their precious car-
goes at the fringes of the main city and the remains here include some ruined walls,
temples, bridges and a small Roman theatre. A guide is needed even to find the trail from
Snake Monument. A return trip on donkey costs from around JD80, depending on your
powers of negotiation.
An exciting option offered by some travel agencies is the adventurous two-day hike
from Tayyibeh, through the Siq-like Wadi Tibn, to Sabra, camping overnight and continu-
ing on to Petra the next day.
Horse-Riding
For those who know how to ride, it costs from around JD30 for a two- to three-hour horse
ride around the surrounding hills. A particularly exciting ride leads across a plateau at the
top of the Treasury - definitely not one for the faint-hearted as the horses pull up from a
gallop to a stop at the vertiginous cliff edge. Book a ride through one of the tourist agen-
cies in town or, for more of an adventure, ask the animal handlers near the entrance to
Petra to take you to their favourite haunt.
Information
The ticket office Offline map Google map ( /fax [phone]; 6am-4pm, to 6pm in
summer) is in the visitor centre at Wadi Musa. Although tickets are not sold after 4pm,
you can remain in Petra until sunset (5pm in winter).
Entry fees are JD50/55/60 for one-/two-/three-day passes (payable only in Jordanian
currency). Multiday tickets are non-transferable. Children under 15 are admitted free. If
you're contemplating trying to enter Petra without paying, please don't. The preservation