Jordan’s journey highlights: Wadi Rum & Petra

Deep within the deserts of southern Jordan, lie two unbelievable sights: the mysterious historic metropolis of Petra, and the boundless Wadi Rum. You may spend at some point and one night time in every place and see the highlights, or, you might spend days exploring every crevice. I’m Tristan, an NYU pupil, avid backpacker and journey geek who spent every week doing simply that lately…

Petra, generally known as the “Crimson Rock” or “Rose Metropolis” was the capital of the traditional Nabatean individuals. The Nabateans have been a cave-dwelling tribe that managed a part of the Silk Street commerce routes a protracted very long time in the past and far of their historical past continues to be debated.

To get into Petra, stroll by means of Al-Siq, a protracted canyon hall carved by the river way back. Discover the stratification of the rock, the canyon’s layers are superbly marbled.
Via the clearing, the Treasury, Petra’s most iconic construction, begins to seem. (In case you haven’t seen the third Indiana Jones film “The Final Campaign”, you must watch it earlier than going! Simply don’t get any concepts; it isn’t potential to enter the Sanctuary.)

Petra is a large park, with dozens of web sites and trails scattered off of the primary previous metropolis boulevard. The entire trails are walkable, and most issues are inside a 45-minute radius. Nonetheless, among the actually far websites throughout the park (Tomb of Aaron, and so forth.) can take as much as 6 hours to get to on foot.

In case you solely have 1 day in Petra (there are 1, 2, or Three-day passes), I extremely counsel taking a donkey/mule or camel to expedite the journey, and looking out on the map beforehand to be sure you’ll have time to see what you need.

Unsure which path to take? One of the best factor to see (after the Treasury, which you’ll be able to’t miss) is the Monastery, which even bigger. To get there, stroll or take a donkey up the slim winding path. The various historic tombs and amphitheater are typically alongside the way in which to the Monastery, so in the event you arrive early within the day with a plan, it’s potential to see all the key websites at a relaxed tempo.
For a wide ranging view, head as much as the highest of the mountain which overlooks the Treasury. Most individuals don’t come up right here, but it surely’s an ideal photo-op.

Cut price exhausting, the guides might let you know it’s 20JD to experience the donkey up the hill to see the Sanctuary– it’s not, you are able to do it for five, it’s solely a ten or twenty-minute experience. Longer treks are about 10-20JD, for actual, and should take an hour or longer.
To experience the horses again to the doorway after a protracted day mountain climbing, it’s 2JD — the horse experience is definitely included within the ticket, but it surely’s customary to tip the horsemen. You don’t must tip lots, so talk about the tip earlier than using, and don’t allow them to con you into tipping outrageous quantities.
On the finish of every path, there are unbelievable viewpoints and bedouin-tent-style cafes. Additional up from the Monastery, there’s a view over Petra’s mountain into Israel. I sat up right here with some pals and frolicked with the Bedouins for some time.

I hope you want your espresso black and your tea additional candy!

“Petra at Evening” is a further exercise supplied on the park; round eight or 9, three days every week, there’s a conventional Bedouin music present and the Treasury is lit up. I went to Petra by night time final yr, and it was unbelievable. Al-Siq is filled with luminaria main as much as the magnificent Treasury, the place we have been served tea and listened to oud and flute music.
This yr, it was horrible– they lately added coloured lights, making the Treasury neon inexperienced, then purple, then blue, it’s actually unlucky. I wouldn’t suggest it anymore. Nonetheless a pleasant expertise however fairly tacky.
You probably have plenty of time, take a look at ‘Little Petra’, extra ruins which might be a bit of farther away from the remainder of the park. Little Petra is free to enter and near the Bedouin village. The Bedouin listed below are nothing just like the slightly-obnoxious businessmen of Petra, and can you present you nothing however hospitality.
(Political correctness isn’t actually a factor for the shopkeepers right here, so don’t be offended if individuals loudly name to you by your nationality, or at the least, what they assume your nationality is.)

Wadi Rum

Additional into Jordan is the well-known Wadi Rum, a very nice tenting spot. Not your typical tenting although– Bedouin-style tenting. Scattered all through the desert are Bedouin tents of various luxurious. Final yr, I stayed in a conventional material tent and slept on the bottom.
This yr, we stayed in a a lot nicer place, the “tents” even had showers in them; so don’t really feel thrown off by the thought of ‘tenting’, it’s probably not tenting until you need it to be! The most costly locations are basically Four-star accommodations; non-public king-sized beds inside futuristic dome-shaped buildings, some even have giant skylights on the ceiling so you may stargaze out of your mattress!
Decrease to mid-level Bedouin tents, about $10/night time.

Wadi Rum is understood for its rock bridges and red-orange sand. Jeep or camel excursions take vacationers on excursions every single day, to discover the expansive desert. Apart from the attractive panorama, there are additionally Nabatean ruins and carvings, Basic T.E. Lawrence’s previous lean-to, and different small websites.

The archeological websites are fascinating however nothing in comparison with Petra. My recommendation is simply to benefit from the jeep experience, hike up the largest rock you’ll find, and soak all of it in. It doesn’t get significantly better than this; the wind in your hair and the new desert solar beating down whilst you cruise across the sandy trails. (In case you haven’t seen the film, Lawrence of Arabia, add that one to your listing too.)

After a day trekking round, your Bedouin hosts will put together some sort of feast; there are a number of fascinating Bedouin cooking methods, a few of which contain cooking meals underground. It’s at all times a giant manufacturing! Bedouin hospitality is unparalleled.

After dinner, drink some extra candy Bedouin tea and chill out underneath the celebs. I extremely suggest planning your journey across the moon cycle– the most effective day clearly is the New Moon– my first journey to Wadi Rum, I noticed extra stars than I’d ever seen in my life. Completely insane. Final weekend, sadly, the moon was about 80% full so we might hardly see any stars.
Nonetheless don’t know the way to do that ‘astral pictures’ factor however you get the thought– plenty of stars!
It’s enjoyable to hang around with your folks in Petra and Wadi Rum, but in addition completely doable as a solo traveler. Both means, be certain to take a while to speak to the Bedouin and ask them about their lives; the Bedouin lifestyle is fascinating and the tradition is wealthy.

A Bedouin man displaying me his rababa, a conventional bowed instrument

When is the most effective time to go to Jordan?

Additionally, I extremely suggest going late February-April or October-November when it’s not too sizzling however not too chilly both! It’s freezing in January, and boiling within the Summer season.

How secure is it to journey in Jordan?

Don’t fear– Jordan is totally secure, in all probability safer than America.

Study the language: Fundamental Arabic (Jordanian Levantine dialect)

Whats up (Peace): Salam
Good Morning: Sabbah el-khreer
Good Night: Messeh el-khreer
How are you?: Kayf ha-lek?
What’s your identify?: Shu Ismek ?
My identify is: Ismi..
I’m misplaced: Ana die-e-aw
The place is the…?: Wayn el…
Rest room: hammam
Bus station: mahata el autobeese
I would like: Bidi
What is that this?: Shu hathe?
How a lot?: Adesh hathe?
Sure (formal): nam
Yeah: aye-wa
No: leh
Sorry: asif
Please/Excuse me: lao samaht
Thanks: shukran

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