Petra
By the 2nd century BC, Petra had become a huge city encompassing around 10 kms, and was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.
Primarily, the Nabataeans were farmers. They cultivated vines and olive trees and bred camels, sheep, goats and horses. They were skilled at water management and built a complex network of channels and cisterns to bring water from a plentiful source at Ain Musa several kilometres away, to the centre of the city. But their main wealth came from the fact that Petra was an important hub for the lucrative trade routes that linked China in the east with Rome in the west.
Caravans laden with incense, silks and spices and other exotic goods, would rest at Petra, which offered a plentiful supply of water and protection from marauders. In return for their hospitality, the Nabataeans imposed a tax on all goods which passed through the city and grew wealthy from the proceeds.
During the time of Jesus and the Apostles, one of the East Mediterranean's greatest trading centres was located in the southern Jordan city of Petra, the extensive rock-cut capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. During the Exodus, Moses and the Israelites passed through the Petra area in Edom. Local tradition says that the spring at Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), just outside Petra, is the place where Moses struck the rock and brought forth water (Numbers 20:10-11). The Bible says that Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land but could only glimpse it from Mount Nebo because he struck the rock with his rod to bring forth water, instead of speaking to it, as God had commanded (Numbers 20:12-24).
Aaron, the brother of Moses and Miriam, who was called by God to be Moses' prophet, died in Jordan and was buried in Petra at Mount Hor, now called JabalHarun in Arabic (Mount Aaron). A Byzantine church and later an Islamic shrine/tomb of Aaron were built on the summit of the mountain, which today attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Aaron was the first High Priest of the Bible and is remembered for the beautiful blessing that God commanded him to give people: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).
Petra is sometimes called the ‘Lost City’. In spite of its being such an important city in antiquity, after the 14th century AD, Petra was completely lost to the western world. It was rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveller, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who tricked his way into the fiercely guarded site by pretending to be an Arab from India wishing to make a sacrifice at the tomb of the Prophet Aaron.
Petra Fun – Adventure
The entire area around the site of Petra offers dramatic and varied landscapes. The canyons and high places are a maze of wind-sculptured rocks, tiny meandering tracks and secluded valleys, where the only sound is the tinkling of goat bells or the reedy notes of a shepherd's flute. It is, in effect, an adventurer's playground. This is a great place for walking, trekking, horse riding and off-road cycling.
Although some activities are not permitted within the site itself, there are plenty really great locations in the area. If you’ve explored all there is to see in Petra itself and you still have energy for more, head down the wadi to Little Petra. It may not be as quite as monumental as the main site but it was an important suburb of Petra and there is still much to see here.
Petra by Night
To visit Petra during daylight is an awe-inspiring experience, to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly an out-of-this-world experience! Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh following a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouin at the Treasury. Tours start at 8.30pm and finish at 10.00pm. Tickets can be purchased from the Petra Site Office at the entrance to the site. Allow yourself plenty of time to walk through the Siq, you don't want to miss the show.
Trekking
If you have the time and the energy to face the inclination, climb up to the shrine of the prophet Aaron, 1,350 meters (4,429 ft.) above sea level. It is the highest point in Petra and you will be rewarded by spectacular views of the entire region. The climb takes about 2-3 hours, so be sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes and take plenty of water.
The Ammarin Bedouin Camp
If you want an alternative to the ordinary, spend a night at the Ammarin Bedouin Camp. The Ammarin are a local tribe that settled near Petra, in Beidha, during the early nineteenth century. With an objective to nurture the local Bedouin culture while raising awareness on the surrounding environment, the Ammarin Bedouin Camp promises to be a magnificent experience filled with entertainment that includes authentic Bedouin music, dance, and delicious local cuisine.
The tents are furnished with Bedouin style mattresses and rugs to accommodate guests while the campsite itself has a large common area that can host up to 350 guests and has modern facilities such as showers with running hot water housed in a Bedouin tent.
Visitors to the Ammarin Bedouin Camp are constantly reminded by their surroundings of the rich and magical history of the lost city of Petra. Whether you fancy a day of hiking and trekking or an afternoon of camel riding throughout Beidha and Petra, the Ammarin Bedouin Camp is well worth a stopover.
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Riding Experience
La Beduina tours give you that real 'Lawrence of Arabia' riding experience. Arabian mares are arguably the finest horses in the world, and we provide these superior mounts on all our horse tours, no matter what your level of experience, from beginner to expert you will definitely live a great experience.
The excursions combine visits of many fascinating archaeological sites with the thrill of riding one of these beautiful horses. The tour covers a distance of 25-45 km in desert and or mountainous terrain.
