Trekking in Jordan: the magnetism of the desert

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Wadi Rum, Aqaba, Jordan / Photo: Yuliya Kosolapova (unsplash)
Wadi Rum, Aqaba, Jordan / Photo: Yuliya Kosolapova (unsplash)

Jordan is a land of unexpected beauty and great variety. Jordan offers visitors great hiking, trekking, caving, climbing and canyoning in this wondrous landscape. From its flower-carpeted meadows in the north to spectacular canyons with fast-flowing rivers, and from ancient cities to towering mountains, caves and vast deserts, Jordan has something for everyone.

Practical guide

When to go?

Too hot between June and August. Spring (late March to late May)/Autumn (late September to mid-November) is good for trekking. There can be flash floods in the canyons in winter/spring to April, so summer to early autumn is best for canyoning. The northern mountains have snow in winter.

In Wadi Rum, as in the rest of Jordan, spring and autumn are the norm, with pleasant weather. Summer is for masochists who don't need water; winter can be very cold and sometimes wet.

Cities & Services

Pella, Ajloun, Amman, Madaba, Karak, Dana, Wadi Musa, Wadi Rum village, Aqaba

For Wadi Rum, Aqaba is the closest city. Amman is too far north. There are no hotels in Rum; these are outside in the Aqaba and Petra areas. Camping, plus the villages of Rum, Rashdiya and Quweirah.

Not to be missed

  • Alpine meadows carpeted with northern flowers
  • Spectacular Dead Sea canyons
  • Multi-day excursions around Dana-Petra
  • The ancient city of Petra
  • Caving and climbing in the exotic limestone regions of Jordan.
  • The huge red cliffs and canyons of the Rum. The world famous Bedouin hunting routes of Wadi Rum and Jordan's highest mountain.
  • A night in an authentic Bedouin camp.

Trekking routes

Routes around Pella, Ajloun, the Dead Sea Hills, Dana, Petra and Wadi Rum. Covers Jordan's new nature reserves.

Wadi Rum and Aqaba Mountains

Wadi Rum is in southern Jordan, near the Red Sea port of Aqaba, remote and splendid in both landscape and culture, but only a five-hour flight and a short drive from Europe.

Wadi Rum in Jordan is one of the world's premier desert climbing and trekking areas, with a myriad of trekking and climbing options.

Wadi Rum / The Rest House area / Jebel Rum, 1754m / Jebel Um Ishrin, 1753m / Eastern Rum / Burdah, Khush Khashah and Khazali Massif and the South / North of Rum The Aqaba Mountains / Barrah Canyon / Burdah & the Domes of Abu Khsheibah /

Petra

Petra / Jebel Harun and south of Petra / Humeimah /

Dana

North Dana / The Dana Nature Reserve of the RSCN / Shaubak /

The Dead Sea Hills

Madaba / The RSCN Mujib Nature Reserve / Karak /

Northern Jordan

The Jordan Valley Hills " Ajloun / Yabis and Pella / Yarmuk //

The northeast desert " Nature Reserves in the North-East / Azraq //

Amman " RSCN Dibeen Forest Reserve / King Talal Dam / The Dead Sea of the North //

Climbing in Jordan

  • Saqeb
  • Ajloun
  • Karak and Shaubak
  • Petra
  • Rum
  • The Aqaba Mountains