Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
flowers and birds on the underside of the interior arch are a rare example of Nabataean
painting, though the walls have been blackened by Bedouin campfires. Cut into the rock
opposite the room is a large
cistern
Offline map
;
there are also worn water channels at
various points along the siq.
At the end of Siq al-Barid are some steps. You can climb to the top for great views and
plenty of picnicking opportunities. With extra time and interest you can explore the
Nabataean quarries and cisterns of Umm Qusa, located just before the entrance to Siq al-
Barid.
Al-Beidha
( daylight hr)
The Neolithic ruins of
Al-Beidha
date back some 9000 years
and, along with Jericho, constitute one of the oldest archaeological sites in the Middle
East. The remains of around 65 round (and later rectangular) structures are especially sig-
nificant because they pinpoint the physical transition from hunter-gatherer to settled her-
der- agriculturalist communities. The settlement was abandoned around 6000 BC, which
is why it's still intact (later civilisations didn't build upon it). For the casual visitor, the ru-
ins require imagination. Follow the marked trails as the site is fragile.
To reach the site, follow the trail starting to the left of the entrance to Little Petra for
about 15 minutes.
RUINS
Al-Wu'ira
( daylight hr)
Built by the Crusaders in AD 1116,
Al-Wu'ira
was overrun by
Muslim forces 73 years later. A fantastic bridge (previously a drawbridge) leads over the
gorge to a gatehouse and the limited ruins.
Look for the unsigned turn-off, about 1.5km north of the Mövenpick Hotel, and on the
left side of the road leading to Siq al-Barid (Little Petra).
CASTLE
Activities
If you come prepared, it's possible to
hike
from Siq al-Barid to Petra's Monastery (Al-
Deir), or to Petra centre via Wadi Mu'aisireh al-Gharbiya. You'll need a guide for the
four-hour trek (JD35 - ask at the car park by the entry to Siq al-Barid or at one of the
camps below) as route-finding is tricky. You must also have a valid ticket to Petra (you
can't get one at Siq al-Barid).
