Best of the Jordan Trail

After breakfast, spend a full day exploring Amman.

Start in the old city of Amman, visiting the Citadel and the Roman Theatre, two of the most popular archaeological sites in the city, and the Jordan Folklore Museum.

We then drive Jabal Weibdeh, the arts and cultural district, passing art galleries and local antiquities and handicraft shops.

We will also stop at local restaurants to sample Falafel, Hummus and the Arab delicacy, Kenafah, eaten at times of celebration. Continue wandering through the streets and markets, until eventually returning to your hotel.

Overnight in Amman.

Depart from Amman and head north to walk through history in Jerash, regarded as one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Middle East.

From there, continue to Ajloun and visit the castle, dominating the Ajloun skyline and built to ward off the Crusader armies at the key trade and pilgrimage intersection between Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus and Mecca.

The day will also include a hike from Ajloun Castle along the fertile wadi with its lush vegetation & gardens to Mar Elias (Elijah) Church. Will provide light lunch boxes to keep you going on the hike.

Afterwards, you will be treated to a relaxing and gratifying dinner of traditional Jordanian food at a local family’s house to experience the Jordanian hospitality and support the local community in Ajloun.

Hiking distance: 8 km

Overnight in a local homestay in Ajloun.

On this day, you will leave the home stay in Ajloun and head east down the forested Wadi Zubia passing a cave spring and more ruins. We continue to the Qabla ruins where we can see remains of houses, caves and quarries.

We then head to the village of Rasoun on dirt tracks past olive groves and up steeply to the top of the ridge, where we can see caves in the cliff sides and have nice views over the Ayoun villages.

At the end of the hike you will drive south to Dana Village for the overnight.

Hiking distance: 8 km.

Overnight in Dana Village.

From Dana Village, the trail drops steeply at first and then levels into a more gradual descent through the Dana Biosphere Reserve towards the famous Feynan Ecolodge.

The reserve, Jordan’s largest, includes four distinct bio-geographical zones, which means that Dana supports an astonishing diversity of birds, plants, and animals. On your way down the valley you may see Griffin Vultures overhead as well as hyrax and copper-blue lizards on the rocks; if you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of an ibex or a desert fox, or see the footprint of a wolf in the dust.

Once your arrived at Feynan Ecolodge, the day is not over yet. Every day, a guided sunset walk leads from the lodge on a short trail (around 20-30 min) up to a nearby hilltop, for freshly Bedouin tea and stunning views westwards as the sun sets over the vast Wadi Araba deserts. You might be tired already from the hike, but it’s still well worth the effort!

Hiking Distance: 14 km
Ascend: 230m
Descent: -1140m
Hiking Level: Moderate

Overnight at Feynan Ecolodge.

Transfer from Feynan Ecologe to Ras Al Feid.

There you will start your hike towards Ghbour Whedat. Contouring the Sharah Mountains and following mostly clear Bedouin shepherd trails, you can experience some astonishing views into the remotest and wildest corners of Jordan. On the remotest sections of the trail you are on less taken and hence harder to identify hunters’ paths. The sheer peeks of black mountains overlooking our trail and steep precipitous drops of the canyons below make this day absolutely spectacular.

Hiking Distance: 17 km

Overnight in a wilderness camp.

We leave Ghbour Whedat along rocky sandstone terrain. There are often spectacular varying views of the barren desert landscape with surprise encounters of desert vegetation and animal life.

Approaching Little Petra, there are signs of increasing human habitation of Bedouin camps, sheep pens, small agricultural plots and every now and then some fellow hikers. We enter a small sandstone canyon and wind our way through to Beihdah (Little Petra).

After taking sometime to explore the site, a warm welcome awaits at our destination nearby.

Hiking Distance: 14 km
Ascent: 610 m
Descent: -560 m
Hiking Level: Moderate

Overnight in a Bedouin camp.

Petra via ‘The Back Door’! Good tracks go pleasantly down Wadi Ghurab amidst sandstone mountains guarding the approaches to Petra.

This way follows a Nabataean route out of the valley and skirting round the final mountain on a natural rock terrace which has been ‘improved’ for the safety of walkers.

Even so, it still narrows slightly before reaching a hidden plateau high above the impressive chasm of Wadi Siyyagh. Just beyond, carved into the cliff face, ‘The Monastery’ suddenly comes into view, where there is a Bedouin café for refreshments.

Nabataean steps then lead down into ancient Petra; our route then takes us through Wadi Muthlim (weather dependent) to your hotel hotel in Wadi Musa, the modern village adjacent Petra.

If the weather is very poor, there is an alternative route via Wadi Al-Khayl.

Hiking distance: 14 km.

Overnight in Petra (Wadi Musa).

Today we will revisit Petra the traditional way.

A Masterpiece half as old as time; The Red Rose city of Petra. Marvel at the beauty of the ‘Lost City’, exploring its many caves and tombs. Walk through the Siq and be astounded at the magnificent Treasury, the entrance guarding the ancient Nabatean city, now one of the Modern 7 Wonders of the World. Time to then explore the city further, such as Qasr Al-Bint or the Royal Tombs.

Overnight in Petra (Wadi Musa).

After breakfast, we drive from Petra to the hike starting point in Wadi Gseib (around 1 hour transfer).

Today’s adventure is full of variety through a bit of a mountain gap. The route today will contain several gradual ascents and descents taking you to colored canyons and rock formations, beautiful vistas and fun sand dunes. A special day ending at a memorable campsite.

Distance: 16 km
Time: 5 – 6 hours
Physical Challenge: Difficult
Trail Challenge: Moderate
Ascent: 495  m
Descent: 385 m
Waymarked: No

Overnight: Wilderness camping in Wadi Aheimar

Today’s hike heads mostly east from the Jordan Valley up the mountain to a plateau in the Wadi Rum area.

We’ll face a gradual ascent throughout the day from around 400m to 1000m through a long Wadi combined with several narrow gorges with their varied rock formations and scattered vegetation.

Views open up once more as we journey towards the mountain plateau at 1000m and the Bedouin village of Abassiya.

From there, we take a Jeep transfer to your camp in Wadi Rum.

Distance: 25 km
Time: 6 – 8 hours
Physical Challenge: Difficult
Trail Challenge: Moderate
Ascent: 660  m
Descent: 35 m
Waymarked: No

Overnight: Camp in Wadi Rum

Enjoy a roughly 2-hour jeep tour that will allow you to travel around Wadi Rums valleys, canyons, dunes and deserts, discover rock inscriptions, majestic views of mountains and landscapes and narrow gorges. At each stop you have the opportunity to hike and scramble and explore in your own time.

Later this day descend 1,000m to the lowest point on earth, at 400m below sea level. Enjoy a day relaxing at the Dead Sea, floating in the salty waters, rest by the pool or pamper yourself with spa treatments.

Overnight at the Dead Sea.

Driving distance:

Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea – around 4 hours

Enjoy the entire day at your Dead Sea resort.

At 400m below sea level, the dead sea is located at the lowest place on earth! Additionally, the extremely high salinity of the water allows you to float on the water surface without any effort.

Don’t forget to try the world-famous Dead Sea mud. It is great for the skin and is used in numerous beauty products. If you really want to treat yourself, you can book one of the various treatments in the spa.

Overnight in Dead Sea.

After this relaxing finish to your tour, you’ll depart and proceed to the Queen Alia International Airport.

Driving distance:

Dead Sea to Queen Alia International Airport – around 45 minutes

End of services.