Last Updated on May 9, 2023 by PowersToTravel
On our Jordan Horizons Tours trip to Jordan, the agency arranged for a site-specific guide in Petra. In my experience, site-specific guides have been knowledgeable, but are often out to line their pockets as they bring us to their local friends and shops to buy. After all, they have us only for a limited time to make their money. They also don’t have to be with us for days to suffer the frustration we may have with their tactics. In addition, because they are guides, they are educated and want you to pay attention to their lecture. I don’t usually like to pay attention.
So while I had high hopes for Petra, I didn’t have high hopes for the Petra guiding.
What a wonderful experience we had in Petra. What a wonderful guide was our Zaid! As we strolled down the path through the Al Siq, he taught us the Nabatean history, the meaning of the carved sculptures and Roman history as well. I was interested, but I was also very interested in taking pictures. I hate when guides don’t realize that much of the experience is getting the good pictures, the right light on the red rock, the pictures without other tourists. Guides are often insulted as I stray around and hang back and Greg is left to be the studious one.
Zaid is the first guide I have met who embraced my approach to the experience. He quickly took my camera and started taking excellent pictures of Greg and I, even teaching us how to make panoramic shots, which really showed the height and narrowness of the canyon. Zaid educated and photographed, and returned to me my camera as well, all with a wonderful smile.
He matched his steps to ours, never hurrying us, allowing me the time to wait for people to clear from a special view.
When we finally arrived at the Treasury we found camels waiting for us. Actually the camel-drivers and camels were waiting for anyone who would pay! I immediately knew I wanted a camel ride at Petra. The camel-driver tried to take my camera, and I knew that we would be in for a high additional price to have pictures taken which probably wouldn’t be as good as I would want.
“Zaid! Where is Zaid?” I exclaimed. Greg saw him squatting at the wall’s edge, resting after his initial guiding. “I want Zaid to photograph us!” Zaid was immediately up and ready to help us. He took the most wonderful pictures which captured my excitement of the day. He missed out on his break but never showed any disappointment.
(I want to be clear – I am not an Instagrammer, or someone who wants the perfect picture of herself in a flowing dress! I just want the pictures to reflect the beauty of the places we visit and help me remember exactly how special it was!)
We continued our downhill walk through the Street of Facades, the Nymphaeum and the Colonnaded Street. Upon learning that Greg was very keen on getting to the Monastery, and that I knew I couldn’t do it (600+ steps uphill), Zaid negotiated mule rides for us. He instructed us in greater detail how to see the sights we had just passed, where to get lunch. It was clear that he was about to leave us!
Greg gave him the biggest tip Greg has ever given a guide. Greg used to be a guide at Fort Adams, in Newport Rhode Island, and appreciates effort. For my part, I promised to feature him in my blog. And so I have.
To Zaid, thank you for the best moments of our trip to Jordan!
Contact Info
He didn’t give me an email address, just a phone number: +9 627721320445. Zaid Hlalat. I’m sure if you deal with any agencies, they’ll know him.
Just now I googled “Zaid Hlalat” and I found him! He’s on Facebook. You can probably reach him that way as well.
