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Jordan Trail: from Um Qais to the Red Sea, and Dana to Petra in four days

The Jordan Trail crosses the whole country on foot: about 650 km to 675 km from the Roman ruins of Um Qais in the north, above the Yarmouk gorge, to the Red Sea at Aqaba. It runs through the oak forests around Ajloun, the canyons above the Dead Sea, the Dana Biosphere Reserve and the copper valley of Feynan, into Petra by its back door at Little Petra, then across the sand and granite of Wadi Rum. A full walk takes about 35–42 days; most people walk one region, and Dana to Petra in four days is the most walked. The trail is not waymarked and water is scarce in the south. Here is what to expect, region by region.

By HoyooTrek editorial team · Updated · 12 min read

Two walkers on red sand in a wide canyon between towering sandstone cliffs in Wadi Rum, with desert peaks in the haze beyond
Photo: Konstantinos Kaskanis / Unsplash
High point
1,499 m · Highlands between Al-Karak and Dana
Duration
35–42 days
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Difficulty
Hard, non-technical
Guide
Not required

For guidance only. Check details with your operator and the official sources listed at the end before you book.

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On this page
  1. Where to book
  2. Choosing a route
  3. Dana to Petra (Region 6) itinerary
  4. Real costs
  5. Insurance
  6. eSIM and data
  7. Getting there
  8. Gear
  9. Add-ons
  10. FAQ

Which route should you choose?

The trail has eight regions and 35 main sections, plus side trails, through more than 50 villages and towns. From north to south: Um Qais to Ajloun (78 km), Ajloun to As-Salt (62 km), As-Salt to Wadi Zarqa Ma'in (84 km), the three wadis to Al-Karak (75 km, including Wadi Mujib, nearly 800 m deep), Al-Karak to Dana (84 km), Dana to Petra (72 km), Petra to Wadi Rum (92 km) and Wadi Rum to the Red Sea (112 km). Region lengths are from the association's own pages and change slightly from year to year.

Height varies more than you might expect. The trail drops to about -188 m in the Jordan Valley in the north, climbs to about 1,499 m in the highlands before Dana, and every region has 1,800 m to 3,700 m of climbing. The north is green, with homestays and villages close together. From Dana south it is desert and mountain, with wild camps, Bedouin camps and long gaps between water.

Red sand in front of dark sandstone mountains and pale rock domes fading into dust and haze in Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum, where the trail's last two regions cross sand and sandstone on the way to the Red Sea. Photo: Juli Kosolapova / Unsplash
RouteDaysSceneryCrowdsAcclimatisation
Dana to Petra (Region 6) itinerary belowAbout 73 km in four days, from Dana village down through Wadi Dana to Feynan, across the foothills to Wadi Feid, up to Little Petra and into Petra past the Monastery. Wild camps and Bedouin camps; the climb out of Wadi Feid and the long dry day to Little Petra are the hard parts. Add a day in Petra at the end. 4–5ExcellentMediumVery good
Petra to Wadi Rum (Region 7)About 92 km on the official region page, from Petra past Jebel Haroun and the Colored Canyon to Humeima, at the edge of Wadi Rum. Almost all wild camping; water is the main problem, with a day and a half without any between Humeima and Shakriya. 5–6ExcellentLowVery good
Wadi Rum to Aqaba (Region 8)About 93 km to 112 km depending on where you start, through Rum Village, past Lawrence's Spring and over granite passes to the Red Sea. Long sandy stretches, no water on the last stage and no mobile signal after Rum Village. 5–6ExcellentLowVery good
Um Qais to Ajloun (Region 1)About 78 km through olive groves, grassland and the oak forests around Ajloun, with homestays in Beit Idis, Orjan, Baoun and Rasoun. Green and in flower in spring, and the easiest region for food and beds. 4–5Very goodLowVery good
Organised thru-hike by the Jordan Trail AssociationThe Jordan Trail Association walks the whole trail twice a year with guides, a support car, meals and camps. 2027 dates, Amman to Amman, are 18 March to 29 April and 7 October to 18 November, at JOD 4,085 for the whole trail; single regions and weekends are also sold. 40–42ExcellentMediumVery good
Full trail on your own or with a local guideEight regions and 35 main sections, north to south. The association counts 35 days of walking; add rest days in As-Salt, Al-Karak, Petra and Aqaba. Resupply in towns and arrange water and camps in the south in advance. 35–42ExcellentLowVery good

4-day Dana to Petra (Region 6) itinerary at a glance

The itinerary below is Dana to Petra, the region most people walk, in the four stages the association uses for its own hikes. Day 1 is long and mostly downhill: about 22 km and 1,000 m of descent through Wadi Dana to the copper-mining area of Feynan, with water at Feynan Ecolodge and none at the Wadi Malaga camp. Day 2 climbs an old donkey and camel path over a saddle and drops to Wadi Feid, the last reliable water before Little Petra. Day 3 is the hardest, about 23 km on loose sandstone with almost no shade. Day 4 walks into Petra from behind, past the Monastery and down the main valley, then out through the Siq to Wadi Musa.

In all, the region has about 2,825 m of ascent and 3,027 m of descent. Plan a rest day in Petra at the end, and transport back from Wadi Musa to Amman or on to Wadi Rum and Aqaba.

  1. Day 1 Dana village Wadi Malaga, below Feynan night at 250 m
  2. Day 2 Wadi Malaga Ras al-Feid night at 750 m
  3. Day 3 Ras al-Feid Little Petra (Beidha) night at 1,070 m
  4. Day 4 Little Petra, via the Monastery and Petra Wadi Musa night at 1,100 m

Official sources give region totals, not stage altitudes. The altitudes above are approximate, from GPS waypoints: Dana village about 1,200 m to 1,230 m, Feynan and Wadi Malaga about 250 m to 280 m, Wadi Feid about 700 m to 750 m, Little Petra about 1,070 m. Wadi Musa spreads from 1,050 m to 1,450 m. Stage distances change slightly between the association's pages and its event booklets.

What it really costs

Package prices depend on group size, camps or guesthouses, and whether a support vehicle carries your bags, so compare them on the booking sites. These are the fees to plan around if you organise the walk yourself or want to check what a package includes. JOD 100 is about $141.

Petra entry, foreign visitors staying overnightFor one, two or three days. A visitor who does not stay a night in Jordan pays JOD 90. Arab nationals pay JOD 30 for one day. Walking in from Little Petra, buy the ticket at the Little Petra office or carry it already; check before you go.
JOD 50, 55 or 60
Jordan Pass (not sold to Arab passport holders)Includes Petra for one, two or three days and entry to more than 40 sites, Wadi Rum among them. It also waives the visa fee if bought before arrival and you stay at least two consecutive nights. Valid for three months from purchase and one month from first scan.
JOD 70, 75 or 80
Dana Biosphere Reserve entryJOD 2 for Jordanians and JOD 5 for residents. The Jordan Trail Association asks walkers to call the reserve before entering to pay the fee.
JOD 10 plus tax for foreign visitors
Wadi Rum Protected Area entryCamping at the Rum Village rest house is JOD 2 with your own tent, JOD 3 with theirs.
JOD 5 for foreign visitors
Jordan visa on arrival, if you need oneSingle entry for one month. Some passports need none, for example those of the six GCC states. A JOD 10 departure tax is paid at land borders, not at airports.
JOD 40, about $56
Jordan Trail Association thru-hike, 2026 and 2027Whole trail with guides, meals, camps, homestays and transport from Amman. In 2026 a single region cost JOD 420–720, a weekend JOD 180–240 and a day hike JOD 40.
JOD 4,085, about $5,760
Jordan Trail PassA booklet with section notes and stamps along the trail, sold by the association since 2020; collect every stamp for a certificate.
JOD 20
Travel insurance
Hiking cover with rescue from remote areasInsurance notes
Gear
Sun protection, water capacity and a warm layerGear list

Fees and estimates checked on 3 November 2026.

Insurance that covers Jordan Trail

Choose a policy that covers hiking in remote desert and mountain areas, including search and rescue and evacuation by road or air. Much of the southern trail has no mobile signal, and some camps are hours by 4x4 from the nearest village.

Check that your policy is valid for Jordan when you travel. The UK government warns that insurance may be invalid if you travel against its advice, which in late 2026 covered the area within 3 km of the Syrian border. Keep the Tourism Police number, 117777, with you.

Staying connected in Jordan

An eSIM installed before you fly works on landing in Jordan, and local SIM cards are sold at Queen Alia airport. Signal is good in towns and the north, but poor on the remote sections: on the first day from Dana there is coverage only on high ground and at the end, and there is none after Rum Village until close to Aqaba.

Download offline maps and the association's GPX tracks before you start, because the trail is not waymarked, and carry a power bank.

Getting there and where to stay

Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), about 30 km south of Amman, the usual start for both ends of the trail. Aqaba's King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) is close to the finish but has few flights. Coming from Saudi Arabia by road, there are three land crossings, all open around the clock.

Flights

Getting there by air

Amman has direct flights from Gulf hubs including Dubai (Emirates, flydubai, Royal Jordanian), Abu Dhabi (Etihad, Air Arabia, Royal Jordanian), Sharjah, Doha (Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian), Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam (Saudia, flynas, flyadeal, Royal Jordanian), Kuwait, Bahrain and Muscat. A connection through one of these hubs works from most of the world. Royal Jordanian also flies to Aqaba from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. The UK government warns that regional tension can close airspace at short notice: check current schedules.

Transfers

By road from Saudi Arabia

Durra crossing links Haql with Aqaba, about 30 km from each, and is open to all nationalities. Mudawwara, 322 km from Amman, is on the Desert Highway towards Ma'an and Wadi Rum; Umari is 155 km from Amman. Visas on arrival are issued at all three, and a JOD 10 departure tax is paid when you leave by land.

Transfers

To the trailheads

JETT buses and minibuses run from Amman to Wadi Musa; daily buses link Petra and Aqaba with Wadi Rum; buses from Amman to Ajloun take about an hour and a half. Dana, Feynan and most camps in the south are reached only by private car or 4x4, so arrange transfers with your operator or camp.

Gear: rent or buy

Nothing technical, but sun, loose rock and distance. The association asks every walker to carry at least 3 litres of water a day, and on dry stretches you will need more. Spring and autumn nights in the highlands are cool: in Wadi Musa, nights are about 6 °C in March and 7 °C in November, and in winter Dana can get snow.

  • Broken-in boots with ankle support for loose stone and screeBuy
  • Water bottles or bladder for at least 3 litres, plus purification tablets or a filterBuy
  • Wide-brimmed sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreenBuy
  • Light long-sleeved shirt and trousers against sun and thornsRent or buy
  • Warm jacket and a sleeping bag for nights down to about 0 °CRent or buy
  • Trekking poles for steep descents into the wadisRent or buy
  • Headlamp for early starts in the heatBuy
  • Phone with offline maps and the official GPX tracks, plus a power bankBuy
  • Sandals for wadi crossings and the evening in campRent or buy

Add a few days in Jordan

The trail passes three of Jordan's best-known sights and ends at the Red Sea, so spare days before or after are easy to fill.

A full day inside Petra

The walk in from Little Petra sees only part of the city. A two- or three-day ticket costs little more than one, and leaves time for the High Place of Sacrifice and the royal tombs.

Wadi Rum by jeep or camel

A protected desert of sandstone and granite mountains on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with Bedouin camps for a night under the stars.

Aqaba and the Red Sea

The trail ends on the Gulf of Aqaba, with snorkelling and diving off the south beach and the Sinai mountains across the water.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Jordan Trail?

Hard, mainly because of heat, terrain and water, not altitude. Days are 12 km to 26 km, often on loose stone, sand and scree, often with 500 m to 1,000 m of climbing or descent. The trail is not waymarked, and in the south you carry water between distant sources. Dana to Petra is rated difficult to challenging on three of its four days. There are no technical sections, but some short exposed paths, for example near the Monastery above Petra.

Do I need a guide or a permit?

There is no permit for the trail itself, and no law requires a guide on it. The Jordan Trail Association strongly advises a local guide on every region, because the trail is unmarked, remote and short of water. You pay entry fees where the trail crosses Dana Biosphere Reserve, Petra and Wadi Rum Protected Area; call Dana reserve before entering. In Wadi Rum, only licensed local operators may take visitors into the protected area, so camps and transport there go through Bedouin operators. Check current rules with the association before you go.

What about food, dietary needs and faith on the trail?

About 95% of Jordanians are Sunni Muslims, and meat in villages, homestays and Bedouin camps is normally halal; ask your operator to confirm, especially for packed lunches. If you eat vegetarian or vegan, have an allergy or follow another diet, tell your operator when you book. Kosher food is not something to expect on the trail; bring your own if you need it.

Towns and villages along the trail have mosques, so in the north and around Al-Karak, Dana and Wadi Musa prayer stops are easy to plan. On wild-camp days between Feynan and Little Petra or in Wadi Rum there is none, so agree prayer stops with your guide and carry a qibla app. Water for wudu is limited in the desert, so plan for tayammum. For any religious practice, ask your guide how the walking day can leave time for it.

Which languages do guides speak?

Arabic is the language of the country, and local guides, Bedouin hosts and the association's own guides speak it; the association's events include a licensed English- and Arabic-speaking guide. Ask your operator for other languages, such as French or Spanish, and for a guide from the area you are walking through if you want one.

Should I tip guides and camp hosts?

Tipping is customary in Jordan for guides, drivers and camp staff, usually in cash at the end. There is no fixed rate; ask your operator what is usual for your group and the length of your walk.

Which visa do I need?

It depends on your passport. Many visitors get a visa on arrival for JOD 40, or have the fee waived by buying a Jordan Pass before arrival and staying at least two nights; some nationalities need a visa in advance. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, for example, can enter without a visa, but the Jordan Pass is not sold to Arab passport holders, so they pay each site separately, at the lower Arab rate in Petra (JOD 30 for one day). Check the current rules with Jordan's Ministry of Interior or an embassy.

Can I buy the Jordan Pass?

Not with an Arab passport; the Jordan Pass website says so plainly. Other nationalities can buy it online before arrival for JOD 70–80; it covers Petra, Wadi Rum and more than 40 other sites. It waives the visa fee only if bought before arrival, for a stay of at least two consecutive nights.

How do I get into Petra from Little Petra?

You need a valid Petra ticket before you walk down past the Monastery. The association says tickets can now be bought at an office at Little Petra, though older notes on its pages say only at the main gate, so buy a Jordan Pass or a ticket in Wadi Musa first if you can, or ask your camp near Little Petra.

When is the best time to go?

March to May and October to November. The association runs its thru-hikes in these months. Spring brings flowers in the north; in May the south is already hot, with Aqaba about 37 °C by day. From June to September, heat makes most regions dangerous; in winter, Dana and Petra can be cold and snowy, and rain brings flash floods.

Is the Jordan Trail safe?

As of 3 November 2026, the UK advises against all travel within 3 km of the Syrian border, and warns of regional tension and airspace closures at short notice. The United States has had Jordan at Level 3, "Reconsider travel", since March 2026. Read both before you book. On the trail, the main dangers are heat, lack of water and flash floods: in October 2018 a flood near the Dead Sea killed 21 people, and in November 2018 more than 3,700 visitors were evacuated from Petra. Never camp in a wadi bed, and leave a wadi at once if rain starts.

Is there enough water on the trail?

In the north, yes, from villages and homestays. From Dana south, no. Wadi Feid is the last reliable source for about 24 km before Little Petra, there is a day and a half without water between Humeima and Shakriya, and none on the final stage to Aqaba. Natural water must be purified. Most walkers use camps or a support car to place water.

Sources and last check

Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 3 November 2026.

Image credits

LebanonLebanon Mountain TrailUnited Arab EmiratesJebel JaisNepalAnnapurna Circuit