Hike the Jordan Trail From Dana to Petra - 8 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Amman, Half-Day City Tour, Transfer to Dana

Welcome to Jordan's bustling capital, Amman! Meet your driver outside the airport and get right into exploring with a half-day private city tour, starting at the Amman Citadel perched atop Jabal al-Qal'a. Enjoy panoramic views of the city below, then wander through the site to see the remains of iconic structures, like the Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace, and a Byzantine church. Wrap up your visit at the on-site Jordan Archaeological Museum, where you can learn about the country's rich history. Continue to the Roman Theatre of Amman, which dates back to the second century CE.

Day 2: Hike from Dana to Feynan Ecolodge (Day 1)

Enjoy a nourishing breakfast in preparation for your five-day hike along a portion of the 419-mile (675 km) Jordan Trail, which starts in Umm Qais in the north and ends in Aqaba in the south. Today's 8.5-mile (13 km) trek starts in the cool, verdant heights of Dana. Follow your private guide down through the diverse ecosystems of the Dana Biosphere Reserve and watch as the scenery shifts dramatically from lush, green highlands to rugged rocky terrain as you make your way to the Wadi Feynan region.

Day 3: Hike from Wadi Feynan to Ras al-Feid (Day 2)

Lace up your hiking boots and return to the trail for an 11-mile (17 km) trek to the remote Ras al-Feid. This segment of the trail showcases the raw beauty of the desert landscape with its sweeping vistas and towering cliffs. It also takes you past mines built by ancient peoples who inhabited this region, like the Nabataeans and Edomites, to extract and process copper ore. Mining reached its peak under the Romans as they used their engineering prowess to enhance the productivity of existing mines, but in the process, many enslaved people died. 

As you get closer to Ras al-Feid, you'll cross over dry river beds and vast open plains surrounded by the tranquil silence of the desert. After four to six hours, you'll reach a cozy camp already set up for you. Enjoy dinner around the campfire, and don't forget to look up at the sky full of stars uninterrupted by city lights before retiring to your tent for some much-deserved rest. 

Day 4: Hike from Ras al-Feid to Ghbour Whedat (Day 3)

Day three of your hike takes you 10.6 miles (17 km) to Ghbour Whedat, nestled amid towering sandstone cliffs and expansive desert plains. Leave the tranquility of Ras Al-Feid behind as you traverse the ever-changing desert scenery, with vibrant hues of red and orange painting the rock formations. Amid the rugged terrain, resilient desert vegetation, such as acacia trees and hardy shrubs, cling to life, offering a splash of green in the arid surroundings.

Follow the contours of the Sharah Mountains along Bedouin shepherd paths. Along the way, you may encounter remnants of ancient civilizations that once thrived here. Keep a close eye on the rock surfaces to spot ancient petroglyphs. As you approach Ghbour Whedat, you'll gradually climb up the surrounding hills for panoramic views of the vast desert below. After four to six hours, you'll arrive at tonight's campsite. 

Day 5: Hike from Ghbour Whedat to Little Petra (Day 4)

After spending three days hiking through remote areas, you'll start to see signs of civilization on today's 8.7-mile (14 km) trek, such as Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots. You'll also pass Nabataean ruins, including wine and olive presses, aqueducts, cisterns, and reservoirs. After six to eight hours, the landscape will transition to rocky outcrops and undulating hills as you approach Little Petra, believed by archaeologists to be a suburb of Petra where traders traveling along the Silk Road would stay. When you arrive, settle into your Bedouin camp for the night. 

Day 6: Back Door Hike to Petra's Monastery (Day 5), Petra by Night

Meet your driver for a short transfer to the starting point of your penultimate trek: a "back door" trail to Petra's iconic Monastery. Follow your guide down the trail, winding through rocky canyons, hidden valleys, and ancient Nabataean ruins. As you make your way up the cliff, you'll get glimpses of the surrounding wilderness and red sandstone rock formations, as well as rock-cut tombs and ancient inscriptions. After two hours and about 5 miles (8 km), you should arrive at the Monastery, where you'll part ways with your guide to explore the area on your own.

Look up at the structure's imposing facade, towering over 147 feet high (45 m), making it the tallest structure in the UNESCO-listed city. Step inside to discover the chambers and expansive halls, offering glimpses into the daily life and religious practices of the Nabataeans. When you're ready, descend the 850 steps that lead down to the main section of the archaeological site and make your way to one of the on-site cafés to rest and grab a bite to eat. Stay until darkness falls to watch the glow of thousands of flickering candles illuminate the ruins.

Day 7: Self-Guided Tour of Petra

Spend the day exploring Petra, also known as the "Rose City," at your own pace. Pass through the Siq, a narrow canyon flanked by towering cliffs, to enter the UNESCO-listed archaeological site, where you'll be greeted by the iconic Treasury. Admire the impressive facade carved into the red sandstone cliffs over two millenniums ago by the Nabataeans, then wander through the complex, revealing rock-cut tombs, temples, and dwellings. Stop at the Royal Tombs for a glimpse into the craftsmanship and artistic ingenuity of the Nabataean civilization.

Stroll down Colonnaded Street to the Great Temple, where you'll be greeted by towering columns, imposing facades, and intricate carvings that hint at the sacred space's original grandeur and scale. Step inside to reveal a series of courtyards, chambers, and ritual spaces where worshippers once gathered to honor their gods and goddesses. On your way back to the site's entrance, stop at a café for a drink or shop for souvenirs at one of the Bedouin stalls before returning to your hotel. 

Day 8: Transfer to Amman, Depart