1. Khazali canyon with inscriptions and water pools
Khazali canyon is one of the most famous places in Wadi Rum. It is a less than 100 meters long deep and narrow crack in Jabal Khazali. Nonetheless, it is a must-see. The canyon’s inner walls are covered with numerous Nabatean, Islamic (Kufic), and Thamudic inscriptions and petroglyph rock drawings. The Nabatean carvings consist of camels, horses, mountain goats, people, pairs of feet, and spirits. The Islamic inscriptions are about God and the prophet Mohammed. Both Nabatean and Islamic are in good condition as they are mostly out of reach of sun, wind, rain, and people. Sadly enough, over time, water damaged the lower Thamudic inscriptions severely. So, you have to look carefully, as they are nearly invisible.
Our ancestors already came to this canyon. They created handmade pools. In wintertime, these pools fill with rainwater. Pass the inscriptions to see the pools at the end of the canyon.
2. Jabal Khazali's Bedouin road
Bedouin roads are ancient routes that Bedouin used to climb and scramble the mountains of Wadi Rum. Jabal Khazali is one of the most dramatic mountains in the area. And it is a fantastic one to climb. But scrambling this Bedouin road is a much more serious affair than Jabal Burdah. If your fitness level is moderate and you have some experience in scrambling, this climb is suitable for you.
We recommend the use of a Bedouin guide if you head out on ‘Sabbah’s road’ on the east side of the mountain. Going up this unmarked route will take you about 3 hours. In some more complicated parts, ropes are used for safety. Once you reach the summit, you can easily spend a few hours there. The summit is a mixture of domes, deep canyons, and gravel beds. The views for the top are better and more beautiful than from the top of Jabal Rum.
Most descend from the north side of the mountain. Going down will take another 3 hours. Enroute, you need to abseil a couple of parts. Some of them are spectacular. Of course, you can also go down on ‘Sabbah’s road’.
