Aqaba Port to Little Petra and Shobak: Private day trip

Little Petra is believed to have been built during the 1st century as a suburb of the famous Nabatean capital, as both an agricultural and residential center, and stopping point for traders on the Silk Road. Like its big sister, Little Petra was abandoned after the decline of the Nabataeans, and used only as a camp by Bedouin nomads until its excavation in the mid-20th century. Reached by a sun-blocking canyon, this free destination offers visitors a more immersive experience than Petra - you can explore the site freely. One of the most unique sights is a dining room discovered in 2010 that has Hellenistic-style frescoes considered to surpass even those at Herculaneum in Italy. It’s also worth taking a little time to visit the nearby archaeological site of Beidha - a neolithic settlement dating back to the 11th millennium BC.

Built in 1115 by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, Shobak Castle was the first of many fortifications erected beyond the Jordan River to guard the road from Egypt to Damascus. Having resisted a number of attacks, it finally fell to Saladin's troops in 1189 after a two-year siege that saw the defenders selling off their family members for food. Today, the castle experience begins when visitors first glimpse its imposing silhouette from a distance. Within the castle complex you’ll find original Crusader elements alongside Mamluk additions and modern restorations, such as a church with a Crusader cross or keep with Quaranic inscriptions. In the catacombs of one church, you can find Islamic tablets, Christian carvings, rocks used for catapults, and what is allegedly Saladin's throne. While plans to hold large-scale reenactments on site haven’t yet been realized, the staff dress as Saladin's soldiers and are happy to pose for pictures.