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Glimpse of Jordan
Petra
A 45 minute walk into the desert will bring you to the High
Place of Sacrifice, an ancient sacrificial altar as stately and
fearsome as its name. (Bring plenty of water if you plan to take
this hike.) The pathway is dotted with all kinds of other structures obilisks, tombs, altars, etc. Another worthwhile walk is a loop
that passes the Lion Fountain, Tomb of the Roman Soldier and
Triclinium (be sure to go inside), and the Garden Tomb allow an
hour and a half. Be sure to stop and take in the view from the top
of the last hill. Bedouins who live at the ruin site often sell
souvenirs and beverages in the most unlikely nooks and crannies of
the complex.
Even if you opt out of these mini excursions, a visit to Petra
demands a minimum of several hours. Fortunately, there are a number
of nearby hotels (some fairly luxurious) and rest houses, so you can
take your time seeing the sprawling old city. We prefer to spend at
least a full day at Petra so we can enjoy the dramatic views that
occur during early morning and late evening light. (If possible,
stay overnight during a full moon it's a fabulous sight.)
Just north of Petra are a number of other places of archaeological
and historical significance. Al Barid, often called
a "miniature etra," is another complex of tombs, temples, residences
and other carved rock buildings that were used by the Nabataeans and
the region's traveling merchants. At Beidha is an
excavated village dating back several thousand years. Some scholars
believe that its settlers were among the first humans to evolve
beyond the primitive hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
Farther up the road is the hilltop castle of Shobak,
a 12th-century fortress built by the Crusaders. Within its crumbling
walls are ruins of churches, wells, baths and even an olive press.
The Dana Nature Reserve, outside of Shobak, is one of Jordan's rare
green areas (with more than 500 species of flora) and is home to
gazelles, hyena, jackal and other animals. The park contains
campgrounds and hiking trails. Petra is 120 mi/195 km south of
Amman.
Wadi
Rum
We think Wadi Rum has some of the most dramatic scenery in Jordan
you may even recognize its vistas from the film Lawrence of
Arabia. Enjoy the otherworldly feeling in its Valley of the
Moon geologic area. The scenery is spectacular dry riverbeds,
a natural rock bridge, 6,000ft/1,830m mountains and
wind sculpted black hills accented by pastel coloured sand. This
backdrop provides a perfect setting for ibexes (which seem to be
a hybrid of deer and mountain goat) and hyraxes (they look like
cousins to squirrels, although their nearest relation in the
biological family is an elephant!). Many prehistoric sites are
scattered through the area, particularly the Nabataean sites
dating from the 4th century BC and before.
Wadi Rum can be seen on a day trip or short camping trip from either
Aqaba or Amman. Some excursions even include camel or jeep trips
into the desert. Tours by hot air balloon are also available,
offering an impressive view of the area. Very limited supplies
are available in Wadi Rum (in the centre of the area). For those
on their own, the nearest town for purchasing supplies is
Quweirah. Plan at least half a day to explore this
dramatic and mystical landscape. Wadi Rum is approximately
150 mi/240 km south of Amman.
