Jordan Guide
Petra and around
Beyond the central valley
There are plenty of sights of interest to explore beyond Petra's central valley. Although they're more difficult to reach, and generally have less striking architecture once you arrive, just the experience of hiking through Petra's incredible landscape is thrilling enough: all the walks involve getting well off the popular tour-group tracks, and it's quite possible the only people you meet will be local families. Few visitors to Petra venture beyond the city-centre sights, the High Place and the Monastery, but if you do you'll be greeted by a panorama of barren peaks and wild canyons. All but experienced trekkers should take a guide to enter this wilderness.
Sights within striking distance are ranged along Petra's main valley to either side of the city. Siq al-Barid (known as "Little Petra") and Baydha, some 9km north of Petra, are accessible on long walks across country, but with the distance involved you're more likely to want to get to them on a half-day taxi excursion.