Jordan Trail

The Jordan Trail: Jordan end to end on foot

Completed in 2017 and maintained by a consortium of Jordanian NGOs with USAID support, the Jordan Trail runs 650 kilometres from Umm Qais in the far north — where the ruins of Gadara look out over the Sea of Galilee — to Aqaba on the Red Sea. It is divided into eight sections of varying length and difficulty, each passing through a distinct landscape and cultural zone.

The trail is routed away from roads wherever possible, travelling through nature reserves, Bedouin territories, agricultural highlands, and desert canyons. It passes within range of Jerash, the Dead Sea, Dana Biosphere Reserve, Petra, and Wadi Rum, connecting Jordan’s headline attractions with the landscapes between them that most visitors never see.

Full-trail completion takes approximately 36–40 days for fit hikers averaging 15–20 km per day. The majority of visitors walk one or two sections — most commonly the Dana-to-Petra section, which has the highest concentration of dramatic scenery, logistical support, and guide availability.

The 8 sections

Section 1: Umm Qais to Ajloun (~70 km, 4–5 days): Northern highlands through olive groves, wildflower meadows, and the forests of Ajloun. Green and gentle, with village homestays. The trail’s best birdwatching section.

Section 2: Ajloun to Zubia (~65 km, 4 days): Descends through Ajloun Forest Reserve and crosses the Zarqa River valley. Less dramatic than southern sections but ecologically rich.

Section 3: Zubia to Madaba (~70 km, 4–5 days): Drops to the Jordan Valley and runs near the Baptist Site at Bethany, offering a biblical landscape rarely seen on foot.

Section 4: Madaba to Karak (~45 km, 3 days): King’s Highway highlands, passing agricultural villages and viewpoints over the Dead Sea and Wadi Mujib.

Section 5: Karak to Dana (~75 km, 5 days): Crossing the southern plateau through Tafila and descending toward the Dana highlands — the prelude to the iconic section.

Section 6: Dana to Petra (~80 km, 4 days): The showpiece. Full description below.

Section 7: Petra to Rum (~70 km, 4–5 days): From the back of Petra through Wadi Saabit and across the desert plateau toward Wadi Rum. Demanding and remote; limited water sources.

Section 8: Rum to Aqaba (~75 km, 4–5 days): Final desert section, crossing open terrain from Wadi Rum to the Red Sea. Disorienting and beautiful; requires experienced navigation.

Section 6: Dana to Petra in detail

This is the section that most guides and trekking agencies promote, and the concentration of positive reviews is justified. The four-day route descends from the village of Dana on the plateau edge, drops through the dramatic gorge of Wadi Feynan to the valley floor, crosses through a sequence of wadis, and approaches Petra from the north via Little Petra (Siq al-Barid).

Day 1: Dana village → Wadi Feynan (camp at Feynan Ecolodge or wild camp). Dramatic descent of 1 000 m through a narrow canyon; arrive in the copper-mining valley of Feynan.

Day 2: Wadi Feynan → Wadi Ghuwayr (also called the Blue Canyon). River walking through a narrow canyon with natural pools — the most memorable stretch of the section.

Day 3: Continue through Wadi Hamra and climb toward the Shara massif.

Day 4: Final approach through Wadi Muthlim and down into Petra via the Siq al-Barid (Little Petra) entry. Arriving in Petra on foot from the back is significantly more atmospheric than the tourist bus route from Wadi Musa.

Water: Critical concern. Sources vary by season. The trail organisation’s website (jordantrail.org) publishes seasonal water availability updates. Carry 3–4 litres capacity minimum; do not rely on water sources marked on older maps.

Guided vs. independent: Independent hiking is possible but requires significant navigation experience and logistics (water caching, gear). The vast majority of visitors book this section as a guided tour with a local operator who handles logistics, food, and camping gear.

Amman: Dana to Petra 4-day trekking adventure Jordan Trail: Dana to Petra 4-day trekking tour

Planning the Jordan Trail

Official resources: The Jordan Trail Association (jordantrail.org) is the definitive planning resource. The site provides:

• GPX tracks for all sections
• Water source maps (updated seasonally)
• Accommodation directories (camps, ecolodges, homestays)
• Guide registration and recommended agencies
• Safety advisories

RSCN (Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature) manages the reserves the trail passes through (Ajloun Forest Reserve, Wadi Mujib, Dana Biosphere Reserve). RSCN guides can be arranged through their offices in each reserve.

Season: March to May is optimal — wildflowers, reliable water sources, cool temperatures. October to November is the second best window, with clear skies and cooling after summer. Avoid June to September unless planning very early morning starts; temperatures in southern sections can exceed 40°C by 10:00. Winter hiking (December–February) is possible in the north but requires cold-weather gear and awareness that some trails become slippery.

Fitness requirement: The Dana–Petra section involves roughly 20 km per day over mixed terrain. Basic hiking fitness is adequate — this is not technical mountaineering. Proper hiking boots, trekking poles, and layering are recommended. The full trail demands much higher fitness and navigation skills.

Logistics and accommodation

Camping: Designated camping areas are marked on official maps. Wild camping outside designated zones is possible in most of the trail’s more remote sections. Always ask locally before camping near villages or cultivated land.

Ecolodges: Feynan Ecolodge (run by EcoHotels, booking via their website or RSCN) is the most celebrated accommodation on the entire trail — a solar-powered lodge in a remote valley with exceptional Bedouin cooking and no road access. It sits on Day 1 of the Dana–Petra section and can also be booked independently as a standalone experience.

Village homestays: Several sections pass through villages with organised homestay programmes. The Geopark area around Ajloun, the villages near Karak, and the Dana plateau all offer this. The trail organisation website maintains a homestay directory.

Guides: Mandatory in RSCN reserve sections, strongly recommended elsewhere. RSCN-registered guides can be booked through their offices or through the Jordan Trail Association guide directory.

The Jordan Trail from Wadi Rum

Hikers completing Section 7 (Petra to Rum) or Section 8 (Rum to Aqaba) enter Wadi Rum from the north via the Protected Area boundary. Entry registration at Wadi Rum Village is required. The final section into Aqaba crosses open desert — the Red Sea at the end is an earned reward.

For those walking only the Dana–Petra section, the logical itinerary is:

1. Fly to Amman → drive to Dana (3h via King’s Highway corridor)
2. 4 days hiking to Petra
3. 1–2 days in Petra, then Wadi Rum and Aqaba

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FAQ

How difficult is the Jordan Trail’s Dana to Petra section?

Moderate. Each day covers roughly 15–22 km over mixed terrain — gravel tracks, wadi beds, some rocky scrambling, and loose sandy paths. The daily elevation gain and loss is significant (500–800 m some days). Most people with regular hiking experience and appropriate footwear complete it without difficulty. The main challenges are heat management, water availability, and carrying enough load for camping.

Do I need a guide for the Jordan Trail?

For the Dana–Petra section, a guide is not legally mandatory but is strongly recommended for first-time trekkers. Guides handle water logistics, navigation in the unmarked sections, and camp arrangements. For RSCN reserve sections (parts of Dana), a registered guide is formally required. Independent trekkers with strong navigation skills and experience in arid environments can manage the trail without a guide using the official GPX tracks.

How far in advance should I book the Dana to Petra trek?

Book 4–8 weeks ahead for March–May peak season. October–November is also popular; book 3–4 weeks in advance. The trek can sometimes be arranged with a week’s notice outside peak season. Feynan Ecolodge accommodations, in particular, fill up quickly and should be booked as early as possible.

Can I hike the Jordan Trail without camping?

On some sections, yes — villages and ecolodges allow hut-to-hut style hiking. The Dana–Petra section has a mix of camping and lodge accommodation. The northern sections (Umm Qais to Madaba) pass through enough villages to make lodging-based hiking feasible. The southern desert sections (Petra to Aqaba) are more remote and typically require camping. The trail organisation website details accommodation options by section.

Is the Jordan Trail well-marked?

Partially. The trail is marked with painted blazes in some sections and is well-documented on GPX tracks available from jordantrail.org. Marking is inconsistent, particularly in remote desert sections. The GPX file loaded on a phone with an offline map (Maps.me, Gaia GPS) is the most reliable navigation tool. Do not rely solely on ground markers.