As-Siq, Natural gorge and trail in Petra, Jordan
As-Siq is a natural gorge in southern Jordan that serves as the main entrance to the ancient city of Petra. The path winds between sandstone walls that rise high on both sides, narrowing in some places to just a few meters across.
The Nabataeans used the gorge as the entrance to their capital city and gradually developed it with a paved road and water channels. When the Romans took control of Petra in AD 106, they repaved the route to suit their own needs.
The walls of the gorge are carved in several places with small niches cut into the sandstone. The Nabataeans used these hollows for offerings and religious rituals, and they are still clearly visible as you walk through today.
The path is largely flat and accessible for wheelchairs, though some sections have uneven ground. Early morning or late afternoon is cooler and less crowded than midday.
Just before the entrance to the gorge, the Nabataeans dug a tunnel around 88 meters long to redirect floodwaters and protect the path. At the entrance, you can still see the remains of a large arch that once marked the start of the route and collapsed in 1895.
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