Mudhlim
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| | Difficulty:2A I (v1a1 I) Raps:0
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Spring, Fall (avg for this region)
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30.3224, 35.4611
30.3245, 35.4690
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Introduction[edit]
An excellent alternative return route to Wadi Musa after visiting Petra. You enter via the surprisingly narrow x, then walk up Wadi Mudhlim to the impressive tunnel that the Nabbateans dug to protect the main Petra Siq from flash floods.
It is possible to descend this canyon, but you'll receive a lot of unwanted attention (i.e. being shouted at by several locals) while leaving the main trail.
Approach[edit]
This is described in an up-canyon direction.
Having visited the many amazing sites around Petra, make your way to the Sextius Florentinus tomb (part of the Royal tombs area). The Sextius Florentinus tomb is below the most-walked trail in the area which rises up for a view of the Treasury. As soon as you descend the trail to Sextius Florentinus tomb you'll realise this is the least busy area of your whole day.
From Sextius Florentinus tomb, follow the base of the cliffs north-east for 900m, there is a trail the whole way. After 300m you're forced into the gravel wash, but you can re-gain the trail soon after. Just before your objective, you are forced back down into the wash in a little basin with a few Bedouin tents and goats, you'll climb/jump down a retaining wall and be surprised to find a slot canyon immediately to your right.
Descent[edit]
Walk up the slot canyon, surprisingly narrow and high quality. There are Nabbatean engravings along the walls, and a couple of minor climbs up chockstones.
The first canyon entering from the right is known as Siq Mudhlim, quite steep, continue in the main canyon.
The second canyon entering from the right has a flat gravel bed, this is Wadi Mudhlim, turn right into here. If you had continued in the main canyon for another 150m you would've reached the last remaining viaduct in Petra.
Walk up Wadi Mudhlim without complication for 1.2km to the amazing Petra Tunnel. You might encounter some local goat herders along the way.
Exit[edit]
You emerge back on to the main tourist trail with looks of disbelief from tourists, and, you'll gain silent admiration from the locals for all of 3 seconds before they suddenly realise they're supposed to shout at you... "taxi?".
Red tape[edit]
You must purchase a day pass to enter the Petra World Heritage site.
If you attempt to walk down this canyon you will receive multiple shouts from several locals who will follow you into the wash, you can expect to hear:
- It's closed
- It's too dangerous
- You are only allowed in with a guide
- Taxi
- You'll get lost
- Donkey
- You must take a guide
Beta sites[edit]
Offical Website : Petra
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
When the Nabataean first settled in Petra and started building houses, they found that they needed to protect themselves from the flash floods in the area. They also needed a year-round supply of water for their own use. Therefore, to control floodwaters, the Nabateans built a dam at the entrance of the Siq and cut a tunnel in the rock to divert flood waters away from the Siq. The rock-cut tunnel is 88 meters long, and 12.8 meters high and redirects water through Wadi Mudhlim to reservoirs, water cisterns, and dams inside and outside Petra.