JORDAN TRAIL : DU WADI RUM A AQABA
The Jordan Trail is a hiking trail that runs from north to south in Jordan, from Umm-Qais to Aqaba. The 672 kilometer trail is divided into 9 sections. It follows roads, marked paths, old caravan routes or Bedouin paths used for transhumance. The Jordan Trail is not marked and the presence of a guide is essential, especially for the desert sections. Suitable equipment and good physical condition are necessary.
The last section of the Jordan Trail covers 112 km, divided into 6 stages, through splendid mountainous landscapes and ending in the intense blue of the Red Sea.
Day 1 : Humeima to Jebel Kharazah. 19 km. Medium difficulty. Count 6 hours of walking. The day is dedicated to crossing the vast plateau bordering Wadi Rum. The terrain is flat, with a slight slope at the end of the hike, on a stony ground.
Day 2. From Jebel Kharazah to Shakriya. 16 km. Medium difficulty. Count 6 hours of walking. You leave behind you the stone arch of the Jebel al-Kharazah to reach the mudflats. The massive rocks of Wadi Rum draw their contours. You reach Shakriya, the last village before entering Rum.
Day 3. From Shakriya to Rum Village. 12,1 km. Easy. Count 3 to 4 hours of walking. The day follows the paved road that leads to Rum village, in the heart of the Wadi Rum protected area (entrance fee).
Day 4. From Rum Village to Wadi Waraqa. 20.6 km. Medium difficulty. Count on 5 to 7 hours of walking. You will feel like walking on the moon as you cross the Wadi Rum Protected Area, heading southwest.
Day 5. Wadi Waraqa to Final Camp. 25.9 km. Medium difficulty. Count on 7 to 9 hours of walking. We head west, leaving behind the sandstone cliffs of Rum to reach the brown granite and pink quartz mountains. The day is mainly downhill, before going up on the last 5 kilometers, the most tiring.
Day 6. From Final Camp to Aqaba. 18,4 km. Difficult. Count on 5 to 7 hours of walking. The route may be downhill, but the sand and stone terrain makes it difficult to progress. As you advance, civilization gains ground, with highways and industrial areas. But the Red Sea draws a blue line and you are at the end of the course. Congratulations!