Jordan Trail: Day Hikes

Jordan

Day trek ideas along the Jordan Trail.

4 days Ask us for pricing This is the price per person for a private tour (based on 2 people travelling) excluding international flights. Contact us for pricing for other group sizes including individuals.
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Intro, Dates & Prices

Intro

Look at some options for day treks to add to your Jordan itinerary.

Journey along part of the 400 mile long Jordan Trail that stretches from Um Qais to the Red Sea, with rugged wadis and breathtaking scenery as your backdrop. Hike through rural villages and visit the ruins of Ajloun castle or wind through the long valley of Wadi Dana and arrive at the site of old Roman copper mines. Take in the ancient archaeological monuments and structures built into the sandstone at Petra or venture out into the desert on a full day trek to Wadi Waraqa.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit unique site of Ajloun Castle
  • Enjoy the pleasures of Feynan Eco-lodge
  • Stunning carvings and landscape of Petra, UNESCO heritage site

Places Visited

Ajloun - Feynan - Petra - Little Petra - Wadi Musa - Madaba

What's Included

Arrival & departure transfers
Ground transport with driver
Accommodation
Meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan)
English-speaking guides
Entrance fees to sites & parks

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Itinerary
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Overview Itinerary Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1 : Rasoun - Ajloun

Begin the Al Ayoun trail in Rasoun. Overnight in Ajloun.

Overnight in Ajloun Nature Reserve, Ajloun

Meal plan: Breakfast

The Al Ayoun trail hike (5-6 hours) starts from Rasoun. ​Generally an easy walk, it takes you on country lanes and through the rural villages of Al Ayoun where you stop for a pre-arranged lunch with a local family. RSCN’s Soap House and Calligraphy house are also nearby for an interesting visit. The walk then meanders over semi-forested hills and past the ruins of the ancient church of Mar Elyas, to the Islamic castle of Ajloun on its dominating hilltop.

Hilltop town Ajloun is best known for its impressive 12th century crusader castle, Qailat Al Rabat. Dominating a stretch of the Jordan Valley, the fortress was the site from which Saladin launched his successful campaigns against the crusaders. Originally boasting four towers, parts of the castle, including the battlements, were destroyed by the Mongol’s attack in the 13th century, and two earthquakes in the 19th and 20th centuries did further damage, but today Jordan is committed to a restoration program. Aljoun is also allegedly the birthplace of the Prophet Elijahand, and the site of Tell Mar Elias is located just outside the city, boasting some exquisite Byzantine Church mosaics. Also nearby is the serene Lady of the Mountain Church.

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Day 2 : Dana - Feynan

After breakfast depart Dana to begin the hike to Feynan. ​Overnight in Feynan.

Overnight in Feynan Ecolodge, Feynan

Meal plan: Breakfast

The Dana to Feynan track starts from the village, and goes down into the long valley of Wadi Dana amidst splendid sandstone scenery. Follow it pleasantly down the valley eventually arriving at the award winning Feynan Eco Lodge, which is in an area of Roman copper mines. Hike time is 4-6 hours.

Feynan is located in the Araba Valley, within the boundaries of Dana Biosphere Reserve. It was one of the largest copper works in the ancient Near East. Copper production in Feynan reached its peak under the Edomites (during the 9- 5th centuries BC) when mining and smelting techniques attained a high professional level and probably influenced the economic and political power of the Edomites. Giant mounds of more than 200,000 tons of slag attest to copper productions on an industrial scale. One can imagine endless caravans of pack animals carrying juniper beams from the uplands to stoke the furnaces. What remain today are ruins of Byzantine churches, an aqueduct, a water reservoir and a smelting furnace. The site has been exploited since the Early Bronze Age (middle of the third millennium BC) as well as during the Iron Age (9-5th centuries BC), and the Roman Period (2-4th centuries).

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Day 3 : Petra

Transfer from Little Petra to Petra via the "back door" hike. Overnight in Petra.

Overnight in Petra Moon Hotel, Petra

Meal plan: Breakfast

This 3-4 hour walking track from Little Petra to Petra goes down the Wadi Ghurab, surrounded by sandstone mountains which guard the entrance of Petra. This trial follows a Nabataean route out of the valley and skirts around the final mountain on a natural rock terrace, which has been improved by the PAP for the safety of walkers. Even so, it 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. Nabataean steps then lead down into ancient Petra, past ‘The Treasury’, and through the famous ‘Petra Siq’ to the shops, cafés and hotels of Wadi Musa.

Petra is one of the world's greatest heritage sites and one of the world's seven New Wonders - an ancient rock city that was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Built around 2,300 years ago, the imposing rose-stone palaces are an impressive testament to the power and influence of the Nabateans who controlled trade around the area in the 3rd century BC. Petra is surrounded by hills in which tombs have been carved into the pink sandstone. The site includes some 800 structures.

Better known as Little Petra, Al-Beidha is a historical suburb of the city of Petra. To reach it, you enter a 350 metre long gorge known as ‘Siq-al-Barid’, and popularly referred to as ‘cold siq’ because its high walls block out the sunlight. Little Petra is thought to have functioned as the entry point for Petra’s North and West trade-routes in ancient times, and housed the Caravans from Negev, Gaza, Jerusalem, Egypt and the Mediterranean Coast. Like in Petra, the buildings are carved into the sandstone, and are compromised of residences, storage areas and tombs. A spectacular tomb houses a painted fresco of grapes, birds and flowers, dating to the 1st century AD. Take in its picturesque surroundings and countryside and bask in its stillness and atmosphere, which has largely disappeared from the park’s more frequented central areas.



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Day 4 : Wadi Rum - Wadi Waraqa - Madaba

The Rum village to Wadi Waraqa trek through the desert will take a full day and includes a picnic lunch. From Wadi Waraqa, transfer to Madaba. Overnight in Madaba.

Overnight in Mosaic Hotel, Madaba

Meal plan: Breakfast

The Rum village to Wadi Waraqa hike takes roughly 5-7 hours. From the Wadi Rum rest house at the northern end of Rum village, the trail heads south until the end of the village. You continue straight on 4×4 roads, passing near Bedouin tents and passing by the Lawrence Spring at 2.7km. Many 4×4 tracks pass through this area, and sometimes it makes sense to use them, other times the ground nearby will offer a firmer, faster walking surface. Continue in the same direction, heading south at roughly 195 degrees, passing the Qattar spring visible at a green spot at the base of the mountain on your right at 9km. From the spring, head to the right of sandstone mountains that are straight ahead, up and over a small sandy area into a tighter valley that offers more shade. Continue straight to cross a more established 4×4 road and lightly up an even sandier valley that narrows past the al-Qidr mountains. Pay attention to the GPS to turn west/right through very soft sand to reach a wide valley. You will then head across the valley to the south of Jabal Antara, where the sandstone mountains start to fade and the entrance to Wadi Waraqa is visible to the west. This is the southern most point of the Jordan Trail, and from here you’ll head west to reach the Red Sea! The sand also fades around this point for more granite/quartz/gravel surfaces.
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Accommodation

Accommodation

All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.

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Ajloun Nature Reserve

Ajloun (1 night)

Delightful accommodation within Jordan's famous Ajloun Nature Reserve. The perfect place to relax and get close to nature, this is one of the most memorable locations in Jordan.

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Feynan Ecolodge

Feynan (1 night)

Deep in the heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve, at the end of a rugged track, an idyllic candle-lit lodge rests in the magnificent Wadi Feynan. Here, set against the glorious desert landscape, guests staying at the 26-room lodge can be found adventuring through the untouched outdoors, sipping mint tea with the native Bedouin, exploring local archaeological sites or simply unwinding in the serene courtyards and terraces of the candle-lit complex; safe in the knowledge that they are vacationing in a socially and environmentally-responsible way. Hailed as one of the top fifty ecolodges in the world by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, the solar powered Feynan Ecolodge offers the most developed eco-experience in Jordan; an experience made possible by a unique partnership between EcoHotels and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, a Jordanian NGO devoted to the protection of the Kingdom’s finest natural landscapes.

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Petra Moon Hotel

Petra (1 night)

Situated just 150m from the entrance gate to Petra, the hotel features spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs. It is a family owned hotel standing on the site of the original family home. Enjoy dining on traditional and international cuisine under moonlight on the rooftop terrace and relax with a drink at the bar.

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Mosaic Hotel

Madaba (1 night)

A perfectly situated hotel, within walking distance of the iconic St George's church, the Mosaic Hotel combines contemporary interiors with spacious rooms, fitted with all the modern amenities. Intimately designed, the hotel offers its guests a great dining experience, serving contemporary foods and authentic Jordanian food made with local, seasonal produce.

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Reviews

Thank you for organising our Jordan trip. We both had a fantastic time, everything went very smoothly,and this is the first time I have ever used an ‘organised trip’ but it made everything stress free and enjoyable. Very well organised. The driver Bashir, was absolutely brilliant - very friendly, kind,patient, and informative and really made the trip special and memorable for us and we learnt many things on route that would never have known if it wasn’t for local information. Thank you very much for your support for a wonderful trip!

Nikki Kemp , Tailormade Jordan

What a great trip this was. Jordan is a magical county, the people friendly, the weather marvellous, the sights, sounds and smells unique. The small group got on well and I will definitely be back on one of your trips again soon.

Marie , Along Bedouin Trails, Jordan

Jerash was fascinating, loved the mud at the Dead Sea, Bethany was very interesting. Petra by night... AMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAZZZING, candle-lit all the way to the treasury with two musical instruments being played - the sound echoing around the city was truly mesmerizing, a wonderfully mystical experience. Fantastic guide too. Thanks for all your help.

David & Julia McPhail , Tailormade Jordan

Travel The Unknown provided me with an excellent opportunity to discover the amazing country that is Jordan. Without their organisation and attention to detail I would have never have experienced so much diversity and interest in such a short time. Thanks so much.

Ian Shaw , Land of the Bedouins, Jordan
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