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Trekking / Hiking in DanaJO
The stone village above Jordan's largest nature reserve, and the start of the Dana-to-Petra trek, the Middle East's finest multi-day walk.
Why here
Dana to Petra is Region 6 of the 675km Jordan Trail and widely cited as the Middle East's finest multi-day walk: 72 to 80 kilometers over four to five days from the stone village above Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan's largest nature reserve, through Wadi Malaga and Little Petra, entering Petra itself through the back door. The route drops and climbs through sandstone canyons and Bedouin grazing country, camps are wild and supported, and the finish line is a World Heritage city you walk into rather than queue for. The Jordan Trail Association stewards the route and runs an annual guided spring thru-hike; the trail itself is free to walk.
Best months
March-April and October-November are the seasons; summer heat is dangerous in the canyons and February can work in a mild year. Supported camping with water logistics handled by the operators is the standard format. Dana reserve entry fees and the Petra ticket at the finish are bundled by guided groups.
Getting there & around
Start in Dana village, two and a half hours from Amman; finish at Petra's back entrance near Little Petra with a valid Petra ticket. Fifteen-to-twenty-kilometer desert days want real fitness but no altitude.
Skill levels: intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Experience Jordan Adventures
OutfitterAmman operator running dedicated four-day and nine-day Dana-to-Petra treks with licensed Jordanian guides, Bedouin trail crews, and pack-donkey support.
Terhaal Adventures
OutfitterAmman adventure operator running three-day Dana-to-Petra treks and longer Dana-Petra-Wadi Rum combinations with Jordanian and Bedouin guides and full camp support.