Dana Nature Reserve 7-day itinerary

Drive from Amman (3 hours via the King's Highway) or from Petra (2 hours north). The King's Highway route is one of the most scenic drives in the Middle East — ancient castles, deep canyons, and highland villages.

Walk the 15th-century village lanes. Stone houses, a small mosque, terraced gardens, and families who have lived here for generations. The RSCN visitor centre has maps and trail information. Register for guided hikes.

First sunset from the cliff edge — the gorge drops 1,000m to the Rift Valley floor. Dinner at your guesthouse: traditional Bedouin food. Stargazing with zero light pollution.

Hike the Rummana Mountain Trail (2.5km loop, 1.5 hours, JOD 8 with guide). Climbs through sandstone to a viewpoint over Wadi Dana. Look for ibex, hyrax, and raptors.

Continue to Rummana Campsite (RSCN, JOD 35–55 full board) — tent accommodation on a hillside with panoramic views. The campsite trail connects to the main Wadi Dana trail for different vantage points. Lunch at the campsite with valley views.

Evening at Rummana — campfire dinner cooked by Bedouin staff, tea brewed on the fire, and stargazing from the hillside. The isolation and silence are profound.

Begin the Wadi Dana trail from Dana Village (14km, 5–6 hours, guide JOD 8). Steep descent through sandstone cliffs and juniper woodland. Carry 3+ litres of water.

Pass through four eco-zones as you descend 1,000m: sandstone → juniper → scrubland → Saharan desert. Look for ibex, Tristram's starling, and raptors. The final 4km is flat and exposed.

Arrive at Feynan — solar-powered, candlelit, and extraordinary. Candlelit dinner and rooftop stargazing with a Bedouin guide. Full board JOD 80–120/night.

Hike to ancient copper mines (4,000 BC) — green-stained rocks and smelting furnaces visible on a 2-hour trail. One of the oldest industrial sites in the world.

The lodge arranges visits to local Bedouin families. Genuine cultural exchange with tea, fresh-baked bread, and conversation about desert life. Many families have lived in the area for generations.

Walk into the surrounding desert for sunset — the flat terrain and clear air create extraordinary light. Return for candlelit dinner at Feynan. The silence of the desert night is profound.

4x4 transfer from Feynan to Dana Village (JOD 35–45, 1 hour via dirt road). The drive through the desert passes Bedouin camps and ancient copper sites.

Visit the Dana Nature Shop — RSCN-supported crafts made by local women including silver jewellery, leather goods, and herbal products. The money directly supports village livelihoods. Walk to the old olive press and terraced gardens.

Request a zarb dinner — Bedouin underground barbecue. Meat and vegetables wrapped in foil, buried on hot coals, and slow-cooked for hours. The guesthouse digs it up at dinnertime in a theatrical unveiling. Needs 24 hours advance booking.

Drive 40 minutes south to Shobak Castle (Montreal, JOD 2 or free with Jordan Pass) — a Crusader fortress built by Baldwin I in 1115. Perched on a hilltop in the middle of nowhere, it's less restored than Karak but more atmospheric. Explore the underground tunnels, the church, and the Islamic inscriptions added after Saladin's conquest.

Drive the King's Highway north or south — one of the world's oldest trade routes. Stop at the highland villages for lunch. The landscape of rolling hills, olive groves, and ancient stone villages is beautiful. If heading south, Tafila has good local restaurants.

Return to Dana for a final evening. Sunset from the cliff edge never gets old. The light changes every evening — some nights the Rift Valley fills with mist, others are crystal-clear to the Dead Sea.

Last sunrise from the Dana cliff edge. Walk the village one more time — say goodbye to the families and shopkeepers. Pick up last-minute handicrafts from the nature shop.

Continue south to Petra (2 hours) or northwest to the Dead Sea (2.5 hours). Both are natural next stops after Dana. The drive to Petra via the King's Highway is spectacular.

If heading to Petra, arrive in Wadi Musa by evening. The town has a range of accommodation from hostels (JOD 8–12) to luxury hotels. The Petra entrance is a 10-minute walk from the town centre.