Gubūr al-Wuḥaydāt Trail

One-way walking distance

10.3 km

Duration

3.15 - 3.30 hr

Level of Intensity

Easy / Moderate

After passing through Siq Umm al-‘Aldā and the sewage treatment plant in Bayda, the trail meanders through picturesque terrain adorned with oak, juniper, and ratama trees. The path then diverges from the paved road leading down to Wadi Araba, shifting onto a rugged dirt track to the right. To the west, you’ll encounter the sandstone mountains of the Disa formations, while to the east, you’ll see the sandstone mountains of the Umm ‘Ishrin formations. Along the way, you'll discover Nabataean and Roman ruins, including wine presses and water cisterns.

Gubūr al-Wuḥaydāt (the Cemetery of al-Wuḥaydāt) is located about 6 km north of Bayḍā. This site features a cemetery spread across a low hill, with the remnants of earlier Nabataean structures. Traces of wall lines are visible throughout the area, alongside pottery sherds dating back to the second half of the first century and the second century CE. The graves are arranged around the ancient structures, with some partially situated atop the walls. Most graves are simple, marked by single tombstones or slabs, though a few stone cairns and mounds suggest more significant burials. Architectural stones from the ruins have been repurposed in the graves. The mountain overlooking the Wuhaydat cemetery to the east is adorned with remnants of ancient Nabataean terraced farming.

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