Project UNESCO Tourist Trails and new signage systems 00 — Petra Basin: Trail to al-Habis Crusader castle

You are here (Petra Basin). Trail 1: allow 10–15 minutes. Trail 2: allow 20–25 minutes.

 

This trail leads to al-Habis, a prominent rocky hill containing the remains of a Crusader fortress constructed in the early 1100s. The elevated position was selected for its strategic advantages: it provided wide visual control over the main routes crossing Petra, allowed regulation of movement through the valley, and offered a defensible location during attacks. Today, al-Habis is also known for its panoramic views over central Petra.

Two routes lead to the summit:

• Trail 1 ascends directly from the side of Qasr al-Bint along the cliff. Along the route, remnants of Nabatean rock-cut chambers can be observed.
• Trail 2 is a gentler ascent, offering views toward Qasr al-Bint, the Great Temple, and the Pharaoh’s Column, and presenting a clear perspective of the hill and castle before arrival.