Ras Al-Feid to Petra

We leave Ras Al Feid along a rocky sandstone terrain. Throughout are spectacular varying views of the barren desert landscape with surprise encounters of desert vegetation and animal life.

Fauna:
Striped Hyaena, Eurasian Badger, Red Fox, Blandford's Fox, Afghan Fox, Grey wolf, Golden Jackal, Asiatic Jackal, Long-eared Hedgehog, Nubian Ibex, White-crowned Black Wheatear.

Flora:
Rheum palaestinum, Polypogon maritimus, Anthriscus lamprocarpus, Plantago cylindrica, Avena sterilis, Atractylis phaeolepis, Astragalus spinosus, Artedia squamate, Aristida adscensionis, Arabis aucheri, Andrachne telephioides, Anastatica hierochuntica, Anabasis syriaca, Alyssum dasycarpum, Alyssum damascenum.

Approaching Little Petra there are signs of increasing human habitation of Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots. We enter a small sandstone canyon and wind our way through to the site of Beihdah.The Ras al-Feid area is accessible only by jeep; the nearest village, Jahayir, is a 2-hour 4×4-drive away. Qbour al-Wahdat and al-Farsh areas are accessible by jeep and by the paved road that runs past the water treatment plant. There is no public transport to Little Petra, but public taxis are plentiful. Wadi Musa has the nearest bus terminal on the following day.Petra via ‘The Back Door’! Good tracks go pleasantly down Wadi Ghurab amidst sandstone mountains guarding the approaches to Petra. This way follows a Nabataean route out of the valley and skirting round the final mountain on a natural rock terrace which has been ‘improved’ by the PAP for the safety of walkers. Even so, it still narrows slightly before reaching a hidden plateau high above the impressive chasm of Wadi Siyyagh. Just beyond, carved into the cliff face, ‘The Monastery’ suddenly comes into view. (Bedouin café). Nabataean steps then lead down into ancient Petra, through which the route goes before exiting past ‘The Treasury’ and though the famous ‘Petra Siq’ to the shops, cafés and hotels of Wadi Musa.Entry to Petra requires a pass, which can only be purchased at the front entrance. This route does not approach Petra through this entrance, so a pass must be purchased in advance.