How to contact me

There are multiple ways for you to contact me. if you have any questions about bedouin life feel free to write to me on facebook or email. even better if you are ever around petra, and want a real bedouin cultural experiance feel free to contact me for a place to sleep in my house or cave ( check out the pictures as a point of reference)

Shared Room: Depends

My family lives in a house in Bedouin Village Umm Sayhoun. You can decide where you want to stay. You can stay in my room in my familie's house or in the cave.

If you want to stay with my family you can stay in my room with computer, TV, shower and kitchen. If there is no bed, you can sleep on the mattrass.

If you decide to stay in the cave, you will experience real Bedouin eco life.

My family lives in the Bedouin Village Umm Sayhoun, but me myself I live in a cave 8 km from the village.
I live alone.
In the cave I can host 8 people and if there are more people I can host them in tents.
I have three sweet wild cats who are living outside the cave in teh nature.
I smoke and don't drink alcohol.
I like mountain climbing, hiking and driving in my 4X4.

If I have time I can pick you up from the bus station in Wadi Musa or somewhere else in Wadi Musa.
If I have time I can of course show people around.

I don't have a fixed time to go to bed

I have blankets and sleeping bags, but if I will be hosting many persons I will not have enough. In this case it's better to bring your own sleeping bag.

You can stay as long as you want.

My cellphone number: 00962-785389662 (if you are calling outside Jordan) or 0785389662 (if calling from Jordan)
My brother Ghassan mobile phone number: 00962-(0)776210519
House telephone number: 00962-(0)32155599
Contact on facebook under my name ghassab al bedoul

Come and Try!!!

Jordanian Bedouin Kicked Out of Petra's Caves

It's a very common trait in these parts for Bedouin born before the mid-80s.

But several decades ago, the freshly independent Jordanian government took notice of Petra as a source of revenue. Strategies for relocating the Bedul since the 1960s have included ideas about returning them to farming so that Petra could become an open-air tourist museum, free from the incursions of its native inhabitants.

After World War I, Emir Abdullah (who presided over postwar Transjordan from 1921 through independence in 1946 until his death in 1951) met with the Bedul Sheiks in 1923. When asked whether they wished their territorial claims to Petra and its environs formally recorded, hence making them responsible for taxation (which they could not afford), they alternatively accepted government trusteeship of the land in return for a guarantee of traditional rights of occupation and use.

While international interest in Petra, intensified by tourism, increased throughout the 20th century, the Bedul continued their traditional activities of goat pastoralism and rainfall farming of wheat and barley. Even in the late 1980s, most of the farming was done without mechanization, the fields tilled with ards, and even harvested by hand.

By the late 1960s, a formal development plan for Petra National Park was funded by USAID, and U. S. National Park Service was enlisted to advise on the future of Petra. Relocation of the Bedul away from the most significant Nabataean monuments was advised at that time.

In the 1970s there was armed resistance against the Jordanian government's initiatives, which ultimately constructed a pair of government-built settlements in 1984/85.

On December 6, 1985, Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The relocation process held several consequences the affects seen from this are both good and bad. On the bright side, the relocation process very much improved the living condition of the Bedouins in Petra. right now the Bedouins have a better life with more opportunities. for example, the most important aspect of Bedouin life is water, and therefor the affects of living in an urbanized  city make it much easier for drinking water in the desert without having to worry about your family being thirsty. 


However, even with all the positive that came with the modernization of the local Bedouin tribe, many people including myself still attempt to keep the old way of living intact. there are still those of us who live in cave inside Petra. even though we adapted to our environment and our therefor reaping all the benefits of modern life, we still keep our rich tradition of hospitality and love of nature alive.


the Bedouins still keep there culture and hospitality until this time, even if they live in cities or villages. this culture will never die. with the help of king abdullah, it is easier for every Jordanian in this country to live in peace, prosperity, and tradition.

What is a bedouin

A Bedouin is one who was born and raised in the desert or mountain wilderness and lives alongside nature in black tents or in caves. Someone who raises goats, sheep, donkeys, horses and camels, and who knows how to milk and shepherd the goats. One who knows how to use all kinds of herbs as food, drink and medicine. A person who can navigate and live with ease in the desert. His life is simple—but his famed hospitality and generosity is no myth. A Bedouin accepts and appreciates what he has and is willing to share this. He is happy to give and to assist. He is proud of who he is and is loyal to his land. A Bedouin sees bounty where you perceive barrenness and finds poetry in everything. It is more than a name, it is a way of life.

About me

I am a Bedouin who was born in the caves inside Petra!!! My whole family lived in Petra from many generations. As you might know Bedouins are very kind people and if you are not sure about it just come and tried by yourself!!!! I grew up in this wonderful city, then when I was 22 I went to Germany to study, and I ended up living there during 17 years working in a hospital. I came back to Jordan one year ago and now I am working by myself as a tour guide in different languages, specially German and English.


I still have a nice house five minute walk from Petra, but i like to spend most of my time in my cave. my cave is in a very beautiful area, around 8 km outside of Petra. it is 2000 year old cave, with enough place to move, hike, and spend a great day full of relaxation and meditation. you can also enjoy the silence of the mountains, and the beutifull panoramic view from on top of the mountains. If you want you can always come and feel free to share the Bedouin cultural experience with me.