Gubur al Wuhaydat Trail

Trail overview

Embark on a scenic journey along the Gubūr al-Wuhaydāt Trail, where adventure meets history. After passing through the dramatic Siq Umm al-‘Aldā and the Bayda sewage treatment plant, the trail reveals a beautiful landscape of oak, juniper, and ratama trees. As you leave the paved road behind and shift onto a rugged dirt track to the right, you'll be greeted by the stunning sandstone mountains of the Disa formations to the west and the Umm ‘Ishrin formations to the east.

Explore ancient history as you traverse this path, encountering fascinating Nabataean and Roman ruins, including wine presses and water cisterns.

Approximately 6 km north of Bayhā, you'll find Gubūr al-Wuhaydāt (the Cemetery of al-Wuhaydāt). This historic site is set on a low hill and features remnants of early Nabataean structures. As you wander through the cemetery, you'll see traces of wall lines and pottery sherds dating back to the late first century and the second century CE. The graves, mostly simple with single tombstones or slabs, occasionally include stone cairns and mounds that hint at more significant burials. Notably, architectural stones from the ruins have been incorporated into the graves. Look to the east, where the mountain overlooking the Wuhaydat cemetery displays remnants of ancient Nabataean terraced farming. Please arrange your trip in advance and inquire with the Visitor Center about this trail.

Trail Details

Starting Point: Bayda/Siq al Barid

Endpoint: Safaha/Gubur al Wuhaydat/al Matal

Category: Heritage/Environmental/Geological

Distance: 10.3 Km/13517 Steps

Calories Burn: 541 Calories

Duration: 3.15-3.30 Hours/Non-stop

Grade: Easy/Moderate

Tour: One-way

Siq al-Barid, Bayda

Explore Siq al-Barid: Petra’s Northern Gateway

Located in Petra's northern suburb, Siq al-Barid served as a crucial resting place for trade caravans traveling between southern Arabia and Gaza. Caravans would stop here to rest, eat, and conduct business in the comfortable, shaded areas provided.

Often called ‘Little Petra,’ Siq al-Barid features a natural cleft in the rock, similar to the main Siq but on a smaller scale, which forms the entrance to the area. This gated complex includes a network of cisterns and dams, along with dining halls and intricately carved facades. These amenities catered to the needs of traders, with the cisterns providing essential water and Bayda being a hub of agricultural production.

The site also boasts several tricliniums or dining halls, which may have been used for welcoming visitors and conducting ritual feasts. The practice of organized feasting was well-documented by the ancient writer Strabo, who described how the Nabataeans would host communal meals with musical entertainment. Excavations have uncovered pottery statues representing musicians, which likely replicate the performances at these feasts and provide insight into the instruments used at the time.

Bayda Church

Dating from the 4th to 6th century AD, Bayda Church was originally a Nabataean hall carved from rock. During the Byzantine era, it was converted into a church, with modifications including the addition of an apse featuring a bishop’s chair in the eastern wall. Small holes in the back wall likely supported a stucco finish, while larger niches above may have held oil lamps for lighting. The hall may have originally served as a religious space during Nabataean times. This site is among several Nabataean structures repurposed by the Byzantines, including the Urn Tomb and the Monastery, which also displays carved crosses. Today, Bayda Church offers visitors a unique glimpse into the religious and architectural transitions of ancient civilizations, making it a significant destination for those interested in the rich historical and cultural heritage of the region.

Explore the rich history of Islamic Bayda

Located about 7 kilometers north of ancient Petra’s city center, Islamic Bayda, also known as Khirbet at-Baydha, reveals a fascinating chapter of history spanning from the Nabataean to the Ottoman periods. Launched in 2014 under the guidance of the Council for British Research in the Levant, the Islamic Bayda Project is dedicated to uncovering this often-overlooked era.

The project has revealed a habitation area and two mosques, marking the first of their kind discovered in Petra and dating mostly to the late Islamic period (Mamluk/Ottoman). One of the mosques, in remarkable condition, was built using parts of a former Nabataean colonnaded structure and is accessed by several steps leading down. Constructed with techniques still in use locally until recently, it features non-rectilinear walls made of diverse reused materials bonded with mud mortar. The roof, supported by two east-west arches and central pillars made from reused column drums, was likely constructed with wooden beams and mud. This mosque, which can accommodate up to 40 worshippers, probably suffered damage from an earthquake and is now ready for conservation and presentation.

The other mosque, while similar in style, displays distinctive features such as different proportions and north-south running arches. Built on earlier structures, including Nabataean remains, it is notable for its red-painted plaster covering large areas of the interior walls.

Bir al-Arayis

Discover the Historic Bir al-Arayis

Bir al-Arayis is the largest enclosed cistern built by the Nabataeans in the region. With a depth of around seven meters and a capacity of approximately 1.2 million liters, it was ingeniously designed to collect and store vast amounts of water. The cistern was fed by channels that directed rainwater from the expansive catchment area of the surrounding mountains.

This vital water source served the residential area of Bayda and likely provided water to trade caravans passing through on their way to or from Petra. To date, around 200 Nabataean cisterns have been discovered in and around Petra.

Restored for community use, the cistern is known locally as Bir al-Arayis, or "Brides' Cistern." The name reflects a local tradition where brides would bathe here in preparation for their wedding night, leaving their mark with a red henna handprint. The bridegroom would then leave a black henna handprint. Although the cistern is no longer used for this tradition, you can still see some of these handprints along the upper part of the walls, though many have faded over time.

The Colonnaded Hall  

Immerse yourself in the splendor of ancient Nabataean opulence with the Colonnaded Hall at Bayda. This remarkable site offers a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of Petra’s elite during the Nabataean era. Situated in a picturesque area known for its lush vineyards and thriving wine production, Bayda was a favored retreat for the wealthy citizens of Petra seeking relaxation and entertainment in a stunning natural setting.

The remains of this grand complex, uncovered in 2005 by the American Center for Oriental Research, reveal a magnificent hall perched on a dramatic promontory. Constructed towards the end of the 1st century BC, the hall was designed to serve as an exquisite venue for leisure and grand festivities.

The hall’s reconstruction showcases its former grandeur. It was adorned with elegant columns topped with capitals intricately carved with grapes, vines, and divine figures. Excavations uncovered 31 human-headed capitals representing Greco-Roman deities, including Venus, Bacchus, Demeter/Ceres, Dionysus, Hebe, Heracles/Hercules, Hermes/Mercury, Pan, Persephone/Kore, and Zeus/Jupiter.

These artistic features highlight the hall’s luxurious nature and its connection to divine themes, particularly those associated with Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. The hall’s design underscores its role as a center for opulent celebrations and a testament to the wealth and cultural sophistication of the Nabataean elite.

Twin Obelisk Stelae Carved on a Rock Surface in Siq Umm al-'Alda

Siq Umm al-'Alda, where the Twin Obelisk Stelae are Carved into the Rock Surface, is a Historically Significant Site. Located just 2 km north of Siq el Barid, this ancient passageway once connected Petra with Wadi Araba and Bir Madkhur. It played a crucial role in trade, linking Petra to the Mediterranean port of Gaza. The area is notable for its rock-cut cisterns designed to collect rainwater and numerous dams for managing floodwaters.

At the entrance to this scenic gorge, you'll find the impressive twin obelisk stelae, intricately carved into the rock. These stelae, adorned with a Nabataean inscription, are linked to a shaft tomb. Their obelisk shape is culturally significant for the Nabataeans, often associated with burial practices and the souls of the deceased, referred to as ‘nefesh,’ a term related to the Arabic word for ‘self.’

A Greek inscription from around 416 AD, written in red ink, mentions a financial officer named Neros, who was responsible for overseeing the area’s water systems and caravan routes. Today, Siq Umm al-'Alda remains a popular recreational spot for locals.

The gorge is also adorned with ancient juniper and oak trees that have thrived for centuries. Visitors can admire numerous Nabataean inscriptions etched into the rock faces, adding to the historical allure of the site.

Winepresses

Uncover the Ancient Winepresses of Bayda 

The Bayda area is renowned for its wine presses, highlighting its role as a major center of wine production in Nabataean culture. To date, 36 wine presses have been discovered in Bayda, mostly situated near or within agricultural fields. This fertile region, home to many of Petra’s farms and vineyards, produced enough wine to supply both the residents of Petra and its visitors.

The wine presses, carved from rock, feature a standardized design with three main sections: a rounded treading floor, a rectangular intermediate vat, and a rounded collecting vat. Grapes were placed on the treading floor and stomped to release their juice, which then flowed into the intermediate vat for initial filtering before being collected in the final vat. Steps carved into the rock leading down to the collecting vat can still be seen.

Wine was not only a staple of daily life but also held spiritual significance for the Nabataeans, associated with deities such as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. Ritual feasting in banqueting halls near tombs often involved drinking up to 11 cups of wine. Vines were a popular motif in Nabataean art, featured in frescoes like those in Siq al-Barid, as well as on pottery, column capitals, and sculpted figurines.