DANA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Thanks to the excellence of the RSCN's environmental conservation program, the reserve has become one of Jordan's major natural attractions and a model to follow. This inclusive program is established in partnership with the local populations, in order to allow them to benefit from the economic spin-offs of the site's tourism development. The Dana Biosphere Reserve stretches from the Rift Valley to the edge of Wadi Araba and comprises four more or less distinct ecosystems. The surrounding peaks are among the highest in the kingdom, rising to 1,600 meters, while the lowest point in the reserve is 50 meters below sea level. The first impression is primarily visual, with extraordinary views from the heights, mountains shaped by the winds, and cracks running into the depths of the earth. But this unevenness also generates a surprising diversity of environments: the reserve is home to more than 700 species of plants (8 are endemic), 42 species of reptiles, 258 invertebrates, 215 birds, 45 mammals (of which 25 are threatened with extinction). Among the latter, we note the ibex, the Syrian wolf, the mountain gazelle, the wild cat, the daman, the desert hyena, the rare Blandford's fox... Dana is also home to several archaeological sites that have established that the region has been inhabited for more than 6000 years.

During excavations, archaeologists discovered several stone engravings depicting hunting and pastoral scenes dating back to prehistoric times. The presence of copper mines exploited more than 6,000 years ago explains this ancient settlement. The most interesting site is certainly Khirbet Feinan, at the intersection of Wadi Ghweir and Wadi Feinan, south of the reserve. Here one can see the remains of churches and buildings dating from the Roman period, as well as the remains of an old copper mine heap.

There are many hiking trails in the Reserve, to be undertaken by oneself or accompanied by a guide, lasting from a few hours to several days. The Reserve has several drop-off points where you can spend the night, which are also the starting points of the treks: Dana Guest House, Feynan Ecolodge, Rummana Camp (from March 15 to October 31).

What to expect when trekking in Dana? Dana Biosphere Reserve is generally very windy and its high altitude location means cool nights, even in summer. In winter, snow is not uncommon. Therefore, bring warm clothes, especially if you are going to spend the night in a tent. A fleece and a windbreaker are part of the minimum to bring in any season. Also bring a good pair of walking shoes; the terrain is rocky and uneven and unless you plan to walk only around the village of Dana, a pair of sneakers will not be enough. Some hikes include river crossings. Finally, a hat, a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen and a water bottle (or even several for long walks) should be included in your hiking backpack. If you are hiking in winter, you can add a hat and a pair of gloves. Don't forget your camera either, because you will cross some absolutely splendid landscapes and meet Bedouins with a preserved lifestyle, which is not so frequent in Jordan anymore.

Starting from Rummana camp. Campsite Trail. 1.5 km, duration 1 hour, easy. This loop around Rummana camp is mainly an opportunity for bird watching. The Cave Trail. 1.5 km, duration, 1 hour 30 minutes, easy to moderate. The trail goes along the sheer drop (beware of vertigo) of Shaq al Kalb to caves that probably housed hermits. Rummana Mountain Trail. 2.5 km. Two hours. Medium. The trail climbs to the top of Rummana from where the view stretches over the mountains to Wadi Araba.

Starting from the Dana Guest House. Dana Village Tour. 2 km. 1 hour. Easy. This tour goes through the village of Dana and its heights and allows you to meet the inhabitants in their fields or their handicraft production workshops. Nawatef Trail. 2 km. 2 hours. Easy to medium. Guide required. You reach the village of Al-Qasdiya by shuttle, then go down to the springs of Al Nawatef through beautiful mountain landscapes (beware of vertigo). White Dome Trail. 8 km. 3 to 4 hours. Medium. From March 15 to October 31. Guide required. This hike leads from Dana village to Rummana camp through the fields on the Wadi Dana plateau. Can be done from Rummana Camp. Shaq Al-Reesh Trail. 8 km. 4 hours. Medium to difficult. Guide required. You reach the village of Al-Qasdiya by shuttle bus and descend to the bottom of a beautiful canyon to reach Shaq al-Reesh (beware of vertigo). Wadi Dana Trail. 14 km. 6 to 7 hours. Medium. This half-day hike takes you through beautiful sandstone canyons to Feynan. The same hike can be done from Feynan Ecolodge. Wadi Dathneh Trail. 19 km. 8 to 10 hours. Very difficult. Guide required. The descent in Wadi Dathneh is done from Nawatef by taking a vertiginous path. Wadi Ghwair Trail. 16 km. 7 to 8 hours. Difficult. Guide required. A shuttle bus takes you to Al-Mansoura in the mountains around Shobak. From there you descend into Wadi Ghwair, a canyon quite similar to the one in Petra. You cross it along the river and then go up to Feynan Ecolodge. One of the most beautiful hikes to do in the Dana Reserve.

Starting from Feynan Ecolodge. Sunrise Hike. 2 km. 2 hours. Medium to difficult (adults only). Guide required. This hike follows the Bedouin shepherds' trails that lead the herds to the top of the mountain. The climb is short but strenuous, and rewards you with a magnificent sunrise that sets Feynan and Wadi Araba ablaze. Sunset Hike. 1,5 km. 2 hours. Easy. Guide required. This healthy walk of about 20 minutes leads you to the Feynan guides' lodge. You can watch life go on in the Bedouin village below, while the setting sun casts its palette of pinks, ochres and purples on the surrounding mountains. Feynan Plants Hike. 3 km. 2 hours 30 minutes. Medium to difficult. Guide required. Your naturalist guide will explain the use of the plants that the Bedouin use as soap, medicine or herbs. This is also an interesting bird walk. Copper Mines. 6.5 km. 3 to 4 hours. Easy. Guide required. Your guide will take you to the copper mines of Feynan, probably the first in the world to be exploited intensively. Extraction, transport, smelting, all the steps of the process are still visible. Archaeological Treasures. 5,5 km. 3 to 4 hours. Easy. Neolithic settlements, Roman ruins and aqueduct, Byzantine monastery and church, the surroundings of Feynan are full of archaeological remains to discover freely. Wadi Dana Sampler. 6.5 km. 3 to 4 hours. Easy. You can hike into the bottom of Wadi Dana by heading west and encounter preserved Bedouin villages, where the inhabitants still live in goat hair tents. Wadi Ghwair Sampler. 7.5 km. 4 hours. Easy to medium. March to October. This hike passes through ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins before entering the Ghwair Canyon where a spring flows and you will have to cross it to discover an 11,000 year old Neolithic habitat.

Rift Valley Mountain Trek. This 6-day trek is for the hardy hiker. While the walking is not terribly difficult, you will be covering miles of rocky trails and rolling hills. This trek follows the Jordanian rift valley and connects the Dana Biosphere Reserve to Little Petra, a few kilometers north of Wadi Musa. You will be rewarded by sumptuous landscapes with all the colors of the desert. You will cross isolated Bedouin camps and sleep like them, in goat hair tents. The trek can be reduced to 4 days if you do not have enough time. You can arrange it from the Dana Visitor Center or from the Wild Jordan office in Amman.

Day 1. 14 km. 5 to 7 hours. Medium. From 1,300 meters to 320 meters above sea level. You follow the Wadi Dana Trail from Dana village to Feynan Ecolodge. You will spend the night there by candlelight.

Day 2. 18 km. 7 to 8 hours. Difficult. From 320 meters to 820 meters of altitude. From Feynan, you take the Wadi Ghwair, a splendid canyon with sandstone changing color and crossed by a river that you will have to cross several times. You then go back up to Al-Bustan and spend the night in tents with the Bedouins.

Day 3. 15 km. 5 to 7 hours. Medium. From 820 meters to 1 360 meters of altitude. From Al-Bustan you go up to Shobak and its castle. You will cross wild mountain landscapes and cultivated fields, old villages still inhabited and caves that were once used as tombs.

Day 4. 14 km. 5 to 6 hours. Easy. From 1,360 meters to 1,210 meters of altitude. The trail starts from the abandoned village of Sihan at the foot of Shobak Castle to gain a viewpoint of the Shobak Mountains. You then take the road to Al-Hazeem in the direction of Ras al-Faid, leaving the Shobak mountains behind.

Day 5. 18 km. 7 to 8 hours. Medium. From 1,210 meters to 1,240 meters of altitude, with 100 meters of positive elevation change. The day starts through juniper landscapes and impressive rock formations. Then two hours of ascent allow us to reach the summit of Al-Saffaha before descending to the Bedouin camp of Gbour al-Waidat.

Day 6. 15 km. 5 to 6 hours. Moderate. From 1,240 meters to 1,047 meters of altitude. This last day takes you through a high desert with spectacular views of the Wadi Araba. As you progress, you reach the pink sandstone mountains for which Petra is famous and see the early Nabataean remains that extended far beyond the presently defined site. The hike ends in Little Petra where you can spend the night in a Bedouin cave or a cozy hotel, before embarking on a tour of the Nabatean sites. Again, miles of trails await you.