Enjoy Jordan's spring and the picturesque green nature with the Jordan Trail
Weather of Arabia - The Jordan Trail is a long path extending in Jordanian territory, linking Umm Qais in the north and Aqaba in the south. The trail covers a distance of more than 650 kilometers, and it takes travelers an estimated 40 days to complete it, passing through 52 villages and towns.
The route extends through Jordan's diverse and stunning landscape, from the forested hills of the north to the valleys and steep slopes of the Jordan Valley Canyon, the rose city of Petra, and the majestic deserts of Wadi Rum, as well as its towering mountains and the sparkling waters of the Red Sea.
During your trip on the Jordan Trail, you will learn about the country's diverse culture and discover that you are living a rich historical experience in this ancient country. Traveling around Jordan gives visitors the opportunity to explore various aspects of its culture, from tasting diverse local cuisine to immersing themselves with the locals while staying at home. The trail passes through the history of the region as a whole, and extends to distinctive archaeological sites such as Umm Qais, Jerash, and Petra, in addition to many diverse archaeological sites throughout the Kingdom.
From Umm Qais to Ajloun
The route begins in the far north, between lush green hills and valleys, and takes you on a journey to Roman sites through rolling hills and oak forests. This region comes to life in the spring and becomes a paradise of fresh fruits due to the fertile and diverse nature of the land, which is rich in perennial olive trees and hot springs. The villages of this region are considered pioneers in the field of community tourism, from overnight stays and home-cooked meals to places selling handicrafts, all of which add a real cultural touch to the tourist’s experience in this region of northern Jordan.
Distance: 80 km
Walking days: 6 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Ruins of the Roman cities of the Decapolis in Umm Qais and Pella
- Ziglab Dam
- Cave of Christ, Beit Aydis Church
- Ruins of the Byzantine monastery on Mar Elias Hill, the birthplace of the Prophet Elijah
- Community tourism and rural landscape in the village of Laayoune
- Medieval atmosphere in Ajloun Castle, towering on top of a mountain
From Ajloun to Iraq Al-Amir
This part of the trip crosses the agricultural lands scattered in the rural villages that you will encounter as you leave Ajloun and leave the majestic castle on the mountain behind you. The trail crosses the King Talal Dam before taking you up a hill followed by fruitful agricultural lands in the village of Rmeimin, where you will see a beautiful view of a church tower and the minaret of a mosque. After that, you will descend into the fertile valleys to the town of Fuheis and continue on to Iraq al-Amir.
Distance: 74.3 km
Walking days: 5 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Khirbet and Sarabis springs
- King Talal Dam
- Rumaymin village
- Fuheis town
Dana Biosphere Reserve and Faynan
The sights of the ruins of the Crusades in the region will continue to accompany you even after you leave Karak, when you pass by Shehabiya, the old Crusades village, and the abandoned village of Khirbet Aynoun. Around you you will see fertile plains rich with orchards and abundant olive fields. You will pass through another of the Dead Sea valleys, Wadi Al-Hasa, beyond which the landscape turns into towering limestone cliffs and outcrops before you reach the ruins of Sila and Ma'tan of the Edomites. After crossing the deep Wadi El-Laboun, the trail takes you through walkable terrain to the next hill where the restored village of Dana, with hotels and camping sites, is located on the edge of Wadi Dana on the edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve.
Distance: 84.5 km
Walking days: 5 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Karak Castle
- Khirbet Ainun village
- Taboun rocks
- Wadi Al-Hasa - Burbita village
- The ruins of Ma'tan and Basirah, the Edomites
- Dana Village and Dana Biosphere Reserve
-
From Dana to Petra
It's a truly awe-inspiring part of the Jordan Trail, and National Geographic named it one of the 15 best hiking trails in the world. The road descends through Dana Hill to Wadi Faynan and then to the breathtaking peaks of Wadi Araba. This region crosses several climate zones, diverse ecosystems, hidden valleys, and amazing mazes of hills and valleys that put the entire geological spectrum of the region in front of you. The landscape varies from majestic mountain peaks to peaceful farmlands, which change every few kilometres. The most important and beautiful feature of this walk is the access point to the Nabataean masterpiece, Petra. You will have the opportunity to enter the city through its back door and follow in the footsteps of the merchants of the past. There are few hiking trails in the world that can give you a view as beautiful as Petra.
Distance: 72.6 km
Walking days: 4 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Dana Biosphere Reserve
- Faynan ruins and ancient copper mines
- Feynan Ecolodge
- The hidden spring and waterfall in Wadi Faynan
- Little Petra
- Petra, the capital of the Nabataeans and one of the wonders of the world
From Wadi Rum to Aqaba
Starting from the village of Wadi Rum, the road will take you down the slopes of Mount Wadi Rum and Mount Umm Eshreen through the vast area of Wadi Rum, which Lawrence of Arabia described as “majestic and echoing.” You will continue walking through the beautiful desert area, and the trail will pass you by Mount Khazali and Mount Qattar, and the road will blend with the beauty of the natural landscape of the desert mountains of sandstone in Wadi Rum. Here, the path follows ancient shepherd paths and continues west through desert valleys and granite mountains lined with basalt rock. In the last part, you will encounter the first view of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, behind which lie the mountains of the Sinai Valley. The final destination is the warm waters of the Red Sea and the port of Aqaba.
Distance: 75.9 km
Walking days: 5 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Wadi Rum (a World Heritage Site according to UNESCO)
- Bedouin village in Wadi Rum
- Ain Lawrence (Ain el Shalala) and the Nabatean Temple
- Stunning desert scenes - sandstone domes and striped granite and basalt mountains that change color throughout the day
- Bedouin camps
- Taten village
- Aqaba (Red Sea)
From Iraq Al-Amir to Wadi Zarqa Ma'in
As you walk away from the northern areas and Amman towards the Dead Sea, you will pass by the ancient Iraq Emir Palace before descending onto the rally road to reach the Jordan Valley. When you start seeing the Dead Sea, you will notice the changing climate and landscape and the appearance of Bedouin tents along the way. The route begins by taking a Roman trail and you will see basalt cliffs and the Zarqa Ma'in Valley and its springs that do not dry out throughout the year.
Distance: 58.8 km
Walking days: 3 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Al-Fuhais
- Iraq Al-Amir, Al-Abd Palace and burial caves
- Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Association
- Nebu mountain
- Roman road
- The Dead Sea valleys are in Wadi Zarqa Ma'in and Wadi Al-Wala
From the Three Valleys to Karak
At this stage of the walk, you will begin to pass through some of the picturesque valleys of the Dead Sea, the first of which is Wadi Mujib, which is one of the largest valleys in Jordan with fertile agricultural land and rich red soil. You will also see Bedouin tents, which in turn form a distinctive general view. The Majdolin ruins will lead you to Wadi Bin Hammad before descending to Wadi Al-Tawaheen. Finally, Wadi Al-Zayatin will take you to Karak Castle, which stands tall on the summit overlooking the surrounding area.
Distance: 75 km
Walking days: 4 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Wadi Zarqa Ma'in
- Wadi Al-Hidan
- Wadi Mujib
- Magdalen Monuments
- Karak Castle
From Petra to Wadi Rum
Connecting the legendary sites of Petra and Wadi Rum is a week-long hike across one of the longest stretches of land on the Jordanian Trail. Here, in this amazing, empty desert with wonderful rock formations, lies the best place to stargaze and enjoy peace and tranquility. You'll start out with sweeping, rugged valleys and then move to wide, sandy plains, making this section of the trail take you to places rarely reached by humans. The road ends in the village of Wadi Rum, giving you a glimpse into Bedouin life in the isolation of this part of the trail.
Distance: 125.4 km
Walking days: 6 days
The most important sites in the region:
- Petra
- Mount Aaron (site of Aaron's burial site on top of the mountain)
- Al-Hamimah, ancient Umayyad ruins
- Sandstone mountains cluster in a sea of sand
- Wadi Rum, Mount Rum, and Mount Umm Eshreen
Browse on the official website