The Jordan Trail: Hiker’s guide to crossing the country in 40 days and 40 nights
Many first-time travelers to Jordan head straight for Petra and Wadi Rum and then assume they’ve seen it all. While these UNESCO World Heritage Sites are stunning and well-deserving of each and every visitor they get, don’t let yourself miss out on Jordan’s equally impressive but lesser-trafficked regions, most of which aren’t typically accessible by tour bus.
But they can be accessed on foot. Following the Jordan Trail, hikers can quite literally walk through Jordan’s deep history and heritage, learn about regional cultures, and engage with local people by sleeping in their home-stays and dining at their dinner tables. Dubbed the “Inca Trail of the Middle East,” this 400-mile route runs the length of Jordan, from Mediterranean-influenced Um Qais in the north to the modern, seaside city of Aqaba in the south. Along the way, it winds among undulating wooded hills, dramatic cliffs, and sweeping sand dunes.
The official route is broken into 40 days of hiking, but Jordan’s striking scenery, phenomenal food, and extraordinary people could easily convince a trekker to spend additional time exploring. Those on a tighter schedule can build their own adventure, choosing to section-hike portions of the trail that most interest them.
Below, we’ll look at the trail’s eight main segments and then cover your trip planning needs. However you choose to tackle the Jordan Trail, here’s what you need to know.
Before You Go
Very few people have experienced the Jordan Trail in its entirety, meaning hikers who make the journey leave footprints where few foreigners have walked. If you decide to go, you’ll experience the landscape the way ancient peoples would have, savoring solitude only occasionally interrupted by a herd of goats or group of village children.
Keep in mind that the Jordan Trail isn’t like the Camino de Santiago, the Appalachian Trail, or most other bucket-list treks: Transportation is limited between many cities, the trail isn’t always well-marked, and you can’t just hop on from the nearest parking lot. Guides — which you should definitely employ — tend to offer the full hike or popular stretches, like Dana to Petra.
Hikes like this involve a lot of planning. Here’s where to begin.