Jordan Trail

What is the Jordan Trail?

The Jordan Trail is a national hiking trail. It crosses the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba and the Red Sea in the south. Offering 40 days of trekking and more than 600 kilometers of trail, it connects diverse landscapes and stunning views with the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

Along the trail, you will witness the rolling hills of the north, the rugged wadis and cliffs overlooking the Jordan Rift Valley, the salty waters of the Dead Sea, the rose-red rock structures of Petra, the dramatic sands and towering mountains in Wadi Rum, and the colorful corals of the Red Sea. It is also a journey through the layers of Jordanian history, and an encounter with the country’s people and their cultures, traditions, and cuisine.

The Best Sections of the Jordan Trail

Below are some of our favorite sections of the Jordan Trail. If you would like one or several sections with us, you can either click on one of the buttons, or have a general look at our Trek & Walk Tours.

National Geographics Best Hiking Trails in the World

Dana to Petra

The crown jewel of the Jordan Trail is the famous Dana to Petra Trek. There are various options in how to do this part – e.g. in 4-, 5-, or 6-days, or with transfers mid-route to bypass steep ascent or descents. The trek passes a rich variety of Jordan’s most beautiful landscapes, stunning views, and important historical and cultural sites.

The Dana to Petra Trek was recently named one of the best 15 multi-day hikes in the world by National Geographic, and we’d love to show you why! Depending on your fitness level, time availability, accommodation requirements, we can put together a custom package that suits your needs, or reserve you a spot on one of the group tours on the Trek that we offer nearly every month – we are looking forward to hear from you!

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Um Qais to Ajloun (Ayoun Region)

This section of the Jordan Trail offers unique chances to explore Jordan’s green north. It passes through light forests, fields, vineyards, age-old olive groves, dams, and cave springs. Hikers also don’t miss out on the Ayoun region’s rich cultural and historical heritage – from the Roman ruins in Umm Qays to the Crusader Castle in Ajloun, there are many sites to discover.

3-Day Tour

Petra to Wadi Rum & Aqaba

In the south for the desert lovers, there is the longer Petra to Aqaba route, passing through the martian landscape of Wadi Rum. There are lots of options for extension in Wadi Rum, including scrambling or climbing, camel tours, horse riding tours, and the opportunity to live with the bedouin, experiencing their local way of life.

Whatever your fitness level, time availability, budget, and comfort preference, we can customise a tour for you.

Petra to Wadi Rum Trek

Best of the Jordan Trail

Local Communities

It is part of our company’s philosophy to support the growth of local community-based tourism service providers across the country. In the Ayoun region, we worked closely with local hikers to help them develop as guides for our groups, and establish family homestays. We have run workshops for their owners to educate them on the standards expected by tourists wanting to stay in their homes, and regularly send individuals and groups to these families for overnight accommodation.

We have also supported local providers to develop new products that they can use, such as developing a story-telling visit. We worked with one of the local families to help them develop a range of local stories they could share with incoming groups, shared over a meal, to educate and inform groups about local life. We tested this with a local international school from the capital, bringing Jordanian and international students to hear the stories.

Meeting Local Communities along the Jordan Trail

Development of the Jordan Trail

The Jordan Trail was a project that came about with the effort of many people that slowly but increasingly built up over a 20-year period. Our interest in the idea of the Jordan Trail came naturally from our outdoor pursuits. Our efforts on the Jordan Trail started with joining our friends Tony Howard and Diane Taylor, long-time explorers, and adventurers, in trying to join up all the pieces in the puzzle of trails crossing the country. We hired a young adventurer to work full time on the project from 2013 to 2015. Together with other Jordanian and foreign hikers we would research on Google Earth and maps, and then drive around endlessly scouting Jordan for the best paths; before finally walking and GPS-ing routes.

Local communities often were invaluable in pointing out and showing old walking and shepherding trails, as well as in providing limitless quantities of sweet tea. Next was map-making and incorporating all the information in a website. By 2015 the project was getting too big and needed to be formalized. We helped set up an association to continue the development of the Jordan Trail. Since its inception, the Jordan Trail Association has become the focal point and took the lead in developing the Jordan Trail. We remain supportive and active in any way we can.

Hike the Jordan Trail with us!

Currently, many sections of the Jordan Trail are still difficult to hike independently. This is mostly due to various logistical challenges, such as transportation, accommodation, water, and food. But, don’t worry. In recent years several tour companies in Jordan have developed a wide range of hiking tours throughout the country.

One of these tour companies is Experience Jordan Adventures. Our experienced team has spent years hiking Jordan from north to south to be ready to help you plan your walk along the trail!

Start planning your trip today!