Jordan trail

The Jordan Trail is a 675 km point-to-point trail in Jordan, crossing the entire country from north to south and gaining roughly 32,000 m of cumulative elevation over about 40 days of walking. Rated moderate to strenuous, it links Roman ruins, deep desert canyons, the rock-cut city of Petra and the sandstone towers of Wadi Rum into one continuous thru-hike.

About the Jordan trail

The Jordan Trail is the country's flagship long-distance route and a core part of its National Walking Network (NWN). Stretching 675 km from the ancient hilltop town of Umm Qais in the green north to the Red Sea port of Aqaba in the far south, it traces a continuous line through eight officially defined regions and roughly 35 day-stages. Walking the whole thing takes most thru-hikers between 36 and 45 days, depending on rest days and the number of long water-carry sections.

What sets this trail apart is its sheer variety. In the north you pass through oak and pistachio forest and olive terraces; in the centre you drop into the immense Wadi Mujib canyon system and walk within sight of the Dead Sea, the lowest land point on Earth at around 430 m below sea level; in the south you cross the Shara mountains, arrive on foot at Petra through a back route few tourists ever see, and finish among the granite and sandstone massifs of Wadi Rum. The route is managed by the non-profit Jordan Trail Association, which maintains GPS tracks, waymarking and a network of local Bedouin guides and hosts.

The trail is most often walked north to south in spring, following the cooler weather and water availability southward. Many hikers who cannot spare six weeks instead tackle a single signature region — the four-to-five-day Dana to Petra section is by far the most popular standalone trek and is regularly ranked among the world's great hikes. If you are weighing a multi-day European alternative, the dramatic Theth to Valbona crossing in Albania offers a far shorter taste of point-to-point mountain hiking.

The full route was first connected and thru-hiked as a single line in 2017, when a group of around 40 hikers completed the inaugural end-to-end walk, and the trail has grown steadily in popularity since. Waymarking is generally good but inconsistent across remote regions, so a downloaded GPS track is essential rather than optional — there are long stretches with no phone signal, no shade and no marked path on the ground. Distances on the official network total 675 km, though the exact figure shifts slightly as the Jordan Trail Association reroutes sections around new development, private land or water access. Treat the trail as a framework to be planned around your own pace and water strategy, not a fixed itinerary.

Route Overview & Stages

The Jordan Trail Association divides the route into eight regions, each broken into 3 to 6 daily stages. The table below summarises the regions from north to south. Distances are approximate and rounded; cumulative ascent is significant throughout because the trail repeatedly climbs out of and drops into deep wadis.

Added together these regions give the official figure of roughly 675 km. The cumulative ascent across all eight regions is in the region of 30,000–32,000 m, which is why even fit hikers describe the trail as moderate to strenuous rather than easy walking.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Umm Qais (Gadara): The trail's northern trailhead sits among black-basalt Roman colonnades, a Decapolis city with views over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.
• Ajloun Castle: A 12th-century Ayyubid fortress built to counter the Crusaders, set among forested hills that are unexpectedly green for the Middle East.
• Wadi Mujib: A vast canyon system draining into the Dead Sea, often called Jordan's Grand Canyon, with dramatic seasonal water and sheer sandstone walls.
• Dana Biosphere Reserve: Jordan's largest nature reserve at over 300 km², spanning four bio-geographical zones and home to ibex, sand cats and more than 200 bird species.
• Feynan: A copper-mining region used since the Bronze Age, now home to an off-grid eco-lodge powered by solar energy and lit by candlelight.
• Petra: The Nabataean rock-cut city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, reached on the trail by a spectacular high back route past the Monastery (Ad Deir) rather than the tourist entrance.
• Little Petra (Siq al-Barid): A compact Nabataean settlement just north of Petra, far quieter than the main site and a common rest stop.
• Wadi Rum: A protected desert of towering sandstone and granite jebels, Bedouin camps and the red sands made famous by Lawrence of Arabia and countless films.

Best Time to Hike the Jordan trail

There are two viable windows: spring (March to early May) and autumn (mid-September to November). Summer is dangerous — daytime temperatures in the southern deserts and the Dead Sea rift regularly exceed 40°C, and shade is almost nonexistent. Deep winter brings cold nights, snow on the northern highlands around Ajloun, and a real flash-flood risk in the canyons during January and February.

The single best month is March. In a typical spring, including as of 2026, March delivers mild daytime highs of roughly 18–24°C, comfortable nights, wildflowers across the Dana and northern sections, and the most reliable water in the wadis and springs before they dry out. Hikers walking north to south in March chase the cooler weather southward as it warms, arriving in Wadi Rum and Aqaba before the heat becomes punishing. April is a close second with slightly warmer, very stable conditions. Autumn is excellent for the southern desert regions but the northern landscape is parched and brown after the long dry summer.

Whichever season you choose, plan around water rather than scenery. Springs and seasonal pools that flow freely in March can be dry by late May, and reliable water on the southern desert regions may be 20–30 km apart. The Jordan Trail Association publishes seasonal water-point updates each year, and arranging supported water drops with a local operator is common practice on the driest stages. Nights in spring can still drop close to freezing on the higher northern and central highlands, so pack a warm layer even when daytime temperatures feel summer-like.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Accommodation on the Jordan Trail is a mix of wild camping, Bedouin homestays, village guesthouses, eco-lodges and town hotels. Wild camping is permitted across most of the route and is free, but in the protected reserves (Dana, Mujib and Wadi Rum) you must camp at designated sites or in managed camps. Budget roughly €20–35 per night for a Bedouin homestay or basic guesthouse including a home-cooked dinner and breakfast, €40–70 for a mid-range hotel in towns such as Madaba, Karak or Aqaba, and €60–110 for the off-grid Feynan eco-lodge. Many hikers book a few nights of comfort around the harder sections and wild camp the rest, which keeps the overall lodging budget low.

Getting There & Back

The international gateway is Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) near Amman, served by direct flights from across Europe and the Gulf. From the airport it is about a 2-hour drive north to the Umm Qais trailhead; shared taxis and private transfers are the usual options as there is no direct bus. At the southern end, the trail finishes in Aqaba, which has its own airport (King Hussein International, AQJ) with domestic flights to Amman taking about 1 hour, plus long-distance JETT and minibus services back to the capital that take 4–5 hours. Most hikers arrange logistics, water drops and transfers through the Jordan Trail Association or a local operator.

Permits & Fees

There is no single permit for the whole trail, but several sections charge entry fees. The Dana Biosphere Reserve charges around 8 JOD (about €10), Wadi Rum protected area roughly 5 JOD (about €6.50), and Petra is the big one at about 60 JOD (about €78) for a 3-day ticket. The Jordan Pass, bought online before arrival, bundles the tourist visa with entry to Petra, Wadi Rum and dozens of other sites and saves most hikers money overall. Solo hikers should note that several reserves require a local guide for certain stages, particularly the technical canyon sections.

Gear & Packing List

The defining gear challenge on this trail is water. On the desert sections you may need to carry 4–6 litres at a time between sources, so a pack that carries heavy loads comfortably matters more than ultralight bragging rights. A robust 50–60 litre pack such as the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60 or the more structured Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider handles both the water weight and a multi-day food carry. For lighter section hikes such as Dana to Petra, a daypack-style option like the Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 is plenty. If you want to compare current options, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests several of these head to head.

Beyond the pack, prioritise sun protection (wide-brim hat, long sleeves, high-SPF), at least 4 litres of water capacity, a reliable filter or purification for spring water, sturdy trail shoes that drain quickly, and a warm layer for cold desert nights that can drop near freezing in spring. Daily energy demand is high on the climb-heavy stages — read our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day to plan food weight and avoid the classic afternoon bonk.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Jordan Trail's blend of long mileage, big descents and cultural waypoints appeals to you but six weeks is out of reach, consider a shorter point-to-point classic to build experience first. The two-day Theth to Valbona crossing in the Albanian Alps shares the same hut-to-village rhythm and dramatic mountain scenery in a far more compact package, making it a strong training objective before committing to a multi-week desert thru-hike.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Jordan Trail?
March is the single best month, with mild 18–24°C days, cool nights, spring wildflowers and the most reliable water in the wadis. April is a close second. Autumn (mid-September to November) suits the southern desert sections. Avoid summer heat above 40°C and the January–February flash-flood and snow risk in the north.

How difficult is the Jordan Trail?
It is rated moderate to strenuous. The walking itself is rarely technical, but roughly 30,000–32,000 m of cumulative ascent across 675 km, long water carries of 4–6 litres, extreme heat and exposed desert terrain make it physically demanding. Solid multi-day fitness, heat tolerance and careful water planning are essential for the full thru-hike.

How many kilometres per day will I walk?
Most hikers cover 15–25 km per day, averaging around 18 km. Stages are designed to end at a water source, village or camp, so daily distance varies with terrain and resupply. Allow 36–45 days for the full 675 km including rest days; popular section hikes such as Dana to Petra take 4–5 days.

Where do you sleep on the Jordan Trail?
Options include free wild camping along most of the route, Bedouin homestays and village guesthouses at roughly €20–35 per night with meals, town hotels at €40–70, and the Feynan eco-lodge. In the Dana, Mujib and Wadi Rum reserves you must use designated camps. Many hikers mix wild camping with occasional indoor nights to manage cost and comfort.

Do I need a permit to hike the Jordan Trail?
There is no single trail permit, but several sections charge entry: Petra (~60 JOD / €78 for 3 days), Dana (~8 JOD / €10) and Wadi Rum (~5 JOD / €6.50). The Jordan Pass bundles your visa with Petra, Wadi Rum and other sites, saving money overall. Some reserve stages and canyon sections require a licensed local guide.

Official route information, GPS tracks and current conditions are published by the Jordan Trail Association, while details on the protected reserves you cross are maintained by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.