9. Shobak to Petra

Make a brief climb from Shobak before winding your way to a dirt road that runs along the upper rim of the Araba Valley with some of the most stunning views of the entire route. Eventually, ascend to the King’s Highway; and, after one more short climb, reach the highest point of the trail, just under 1700m. From here, it’s mostly downhill to Little Petra and Petra, with wonderful views of the sites as you approach. It’s a short day, so you’ll have some time to explore Petra in the afternoon; best, though, to take an entire day to visit Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

BEGINNING:
Shobak has grocery stores, a falafel shop, and a bakery.

ON ROUTE
NO resupply between Shobak and Petra! Make sure to carry enough food and water from Shobak.

END:
Petra/Wadi Musa has numerous stores and restaurants. It is the best resupply point before the end of the trail in Aqaba.

Please note: Most springs in Jordan are seasonal, and may not carry water all year round.

• Little Petra: Ammarin Bedouin Camp (00962 7 9975 5551); Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp (00962 7 9694 1865)
• Petra (Wadi Musa): There are numerous accommodation options in Petra. We recommend La Maison Hotel (00962 3 2156 401) (3 stars), Petra Guesthouse (00962 3215 6266) (4 stars), and the Moevenpick Hotel (00962 3 215 71 11) (5 stars).

Camping

There are a couple of potential campsites on the dirt road between Shobak and the King’s Highway (see map).

JETT bus from Petra to Amman (and vice versa) daily.

No resupply between Shobak and Petra, so be sure to carry enough food and water from Shobak.

• • Views of Wadi Araba
  • Wadi Ma’tan and Little Petra
  • Petra