Sports and leisure activities Petra

The Jordan Trail is a hiking trail that runs from north to south in Jordan, from Umm-Qais to Aqaba. The 672 kilometer trail is divided into 9 sections. It follows roads, marked paths, old caravan routes or Bedouin paths used for transhumance. The Jordan Trail is not marked and the presence of a guide is essential, especially for the desert sections. Appropriate equipment and a good physical condition are necessary.

The Jordan Trail traverses spectacular landscapes of colored sandstone and limestone mountains. Some sections can be particularly strenuous, but you will be rewarded with chance encounters with Bedouin and beautiful starry nights. The 90.6 km hike is divided into 5 stages.

Day 1: Petra to Gaa' Mriebed. 22.1 km. Difficult. Count 6 to 8 hours of walking. The day starts with the arduous climb to the High Place of Sacrifice in Petra (ticket required). You follow an ancient Roman road, then the Wadi Sabra to reach the mudflat of Gaa' Mriebed.

Day 2. From Gaa' Mriebed to Wadi al-Saif. 14.3 km. Easy. Allow 4 to 5 hours of walking. The day has little difference in altitude and is mostly downhill, except for the last 3 km which are steep. You will spend the night at the foot of a beautiful red and white sandstone cliff.

Day 3. From Wadi al-Saif to Wadi Gseib. 12,3 km. Medium difficulty. Count on 3 to 4 hours and a half of walking. The day begins with a short climb before continuing downhill, sometimes steeply, along the Wadi Al-Saif. The mountains are decorated with ochre and gold. You spend the night on the edge of Wadi Araba.

Day 4. From Wadi Gseib to Wadi Aheimar. 15,6 km. Medium to high difficulty. Count on 5 to 6 hours of walking. You return to the mountains along the Wadi Araba and cross canyons embedded in high cliffs of red sandstone or white chalk. The first sand dunes appear and it is on their soft bed that you will sleep.

Day 5. From Wadi Aheimar to Humeima. 11,5 km. Medium difficulty. Count 4 to 5 hours of walking. The hike takes you from Wadi Araba to the valley of Wadi Rum through beautiful mountain landscapes. You will walk on the bottom of the valley, with a regular ascending slope and on a sandy ground. A final steep descent takes you to the village of Humeima.

This hike from Al-Beidha offers splendid views of the Petra mountains and Wadi Araba, and leads to the monastery (Ed-Deir) of the ancient city. It has recently been signposted and is easier to follow than before. From Al-Beidha to the Visitor Center in Wadi Musa, it takes 13 km and half a day's walk, excluding sightseeing. You can buy your entrance ticket at the ticket office next to the Little Petra parking lot. This is also where you buy your ticket for the shuttle bus. The shuttle leaves you at the foot of the mountain, leaving you only 45 minutes to climb. The hike is not very difficult, as the difference in altitude is fairly slight. It does, however, include some vertiginous cliffside sections.

From the Little Petra parking lot, take the path to the Neolithic village. Descend into the Wadi Siq al-Ghurab and continue south-west for around 1.2 km. When there's only one more mountain in sight, turn left and go around the hill to the right, climbing onto the plateau. Continue in a south-easterly direction. Once you've passed the three boulders, turn right immediately southwards and continue for 450 metres to the end of the small, steeply-sided wadi. Then head south-west, where you'll soon see a sign for the path that climbs steadily up the mountainside and onto cliffs with occasional staircases.

Count 1.5 km and 1 hour of walking, depending on your pace. Medium difficulty.

This short hike is an opportunity to see some beautiful rock formations and to stay away from the tourist circuits. If you are lucky, you will not see anyone. The trail starts on the left side of the Bab As-Siq path, between the Tomb of the Obelisks and the entrance of the Siq. It does not present any particular difficulties, except that you walk on the rocks. If you take the services of a guide, you can continue to the Treasury.

It is a 4.5 km and 5 to 6 hour walk, depending on your pace.

This hike leads to the tomb of the prophet Aaron, the brother of Moses. You will need to start early to get over the 400m elevation gain to reach the highest peak in Petra at 1329m. The trail starts from Qasr al-Bint and follows the same section as the hike to Umm al-Biyara. It follows the valley floor for most of the way around the mountain. But the last part is particularly difficult. From the top you can see the whole region, from Wadi Araba to Petra.

Count 4.3 km and 2.5 hours for a visit at full speed, at least 5 hours if you take your time. Easy.

The Main Trail starts at the Visitors' Center, crosses the Lower As-Siq, the Siq, the Street of Façades, the Street of Colonnades and the Great Temple, to the Temenos and Qasr al-Bint. The hiking trail slopes gently downwards in one direction and is dotted with an impressive number of remains, including the famous Treasury. The Main Trail provides an introduction to the intricacies of Nabatean architecture and an appreciation of the grandeur of the ancient capital.

Allow 1.7 km and 2 to 3.5 hours with visits. Difficult.

This trail runs alongside the Royal Tombs for a flat, easy section, then dips to the right into the mountains. It begins with a long flight of steps. The path is stony and steep, requiring good footwear. Halfway up, admire the view of the amphitheater and the center of the ancient city. Once at the summit, the effort is worth it. The views over the Treasury are fantastic. Be careful not to get too close to the cliff, as there have been fatal accidents.

Count 1,6 kilometer and 45 minutes to 2 hours of ascent, with the visits. Difficult. The path to the Monastery starts from The Basin restaurant. If the climb is not technically difficult, it is tiring. There are 850 steps to climb. This is the same path that the Nabateans used 2,000 years ago. Take regular breaks to enjoy the views of the Al-Khubtha jebel and the Petra cirque. There are a few tombs along the way that are worth a look, including the Triclinium of the Lions.

Count 6 km and 4 hours of hiking. Medium difficulty.

This long hike takes a full day round trip. It starts from Qasr al-Bint, runs along Jebel al-Habis and into Wadi Sabra, until it reaches an oasis. It is of moderate difficulty, with little difference in altitude, but the last part is tiring, as the path follows the sand bed. Just before reaching the narrow valley, you will pass the ruins of a theatre, an acropolis and Roman baths which have not yet been excavated. They are slightly higher up on the left.