Wadi Nugra - Gebel Banat

The Legend of Gebel Banat:
A sheikh living in the area of Gebel Banat had 7 daughters. These daughters were very close to each other. But they got older and they wanted to marry. The sheikh however loved his daughters and didn,t want to lose them. The daughters protested to no avail and they were deeply saddened. The seven of them climbed up the mountain, tied their long braided hair together and jumped off the mountain. And so the mountain was called Gebel Banat (the mountain of the girls/daughters).

A different version but with the same result:
The sheikh wanted to give his daughters away in marriage but the daughters didn't agree with him about his choice. So they climbed the mountain and with their hair tied together jumped off.

From Abu Sila there is a paved camel path to the right going up to Naqb el Faria. There are some interesting inscriptions here. Wadi Faria meets Wadi Nugra, a winding canyon. Along the way you'll see some Byzantine ruins. Walking here is not easy, there are many boulders and (often dry) water holes. Nearing Gebel Banat, which is on the left, there is a 20 meter high ( usually dry) waterfall. Use the existing paths to go down! After the waterfall the wadi widens and is called Wadi Gharba. Here walking gets easier. Wadi Gharba leads to Sheikh Awaad and the Ecolodge.