Explore the Jordan Trail: A 650km Epic Hike Through Jordan's Diverse Landscapes
There's no better way to truly connect with a country than by hiking its trails and watching its landscapes reveal themselves step by step. For centuries, pilgrims have understood that extended walks deepen your bond with the land. In recent years, epic long-distance hikes have surged in popularity among travelers.
From the USA's Appalachian Trail to New Zealand's Te Araroa, adventurers are embracing grand journeys. Now, the Middle East offers its own: the newly launched Jordan Trail, a remarkable 650km route spanning the length of Jordan.
Jordan has long drawn visitors for its ancient history and stunning scenery, from the lost city of Petra to Wadi Rum's vast dunes and canyons. While not traditionally a hiking hub, the Jordan Trail aims to redefine it as an outdoor paradise.
This north-to-south trek showcases Jordan's incredible diversity. It starts at Umm Qais, a historic site with views over Israel, the Palestinian Territories, the Golan Heights, and Lebanon on clear days. The northern terrain is lush and fertile, with farming villages and forested paths in Ajloun, dominated by a Crusader-era hilltop castle.
Olive groves guide you through mixed Muslim and Christian villages. Highlights include the serpentine lake at King Talal Dam and Fuheis, home to Jordan's only microbrewery, Carakale, for a refreshing beer.
Southward, the landscape turns arid and dramatically beautiful, passing the Dead Sea and deep canyons like the 1km-deep Wadi Mujib, with refreshing springs at their bases. Trails follow ancient Roman roads and the King's Highway, used by merchants and pilgrims for millennia.
The trail's pinnacle is the four-day stage from Dana Biosphere Reserve to Petra. Often called the 'Inca Trail of the Middle East,' it descends Wadi Dana's valley amid rich birdlife and ibex sightings, through Bedouin lands to the eco-focused Feynan Ecolodge.
Continue via rocky desert and gorges to Little Petra's Nabatean ruins, emerging from a chasm for your first glimpse of Petra's iconic Monastery—a world-class hiking reward.
Beyond Petra, the trail escapes crowds for solitude: pine-crunching forests in the north, whispering sands in Wadi Rum, and the Red Sea's gentle waves at Aqaba.
The full 650km can take 36 days straight, but experts recommend seven weeks for rest, like Dead Sea swims and spa visits.
Divided into eight 80km legs (4-5 days each), it's flexible for all levels. The official Jordan Trail website provides maps, GPS, accommodations from campsites to homestays, and guide contacts.
For the full experience, join the Jordan Trail Association's annual March through-hike—ideal weather and community vibes. Amid regional challenges, Jordan promotes itself as an adventure haven, proving slow travel—footstep by footstep—offers profound discoveries.
