The Jordan Trail runs the full length of the country — about 650 kilometres from Um Qais in the green north to Aqaba on the Red Sea — threading together Roman ruins, Crusader castles, desert wadis, and the rose-red city of Petra. Few people walk it end to end, but its eight regions break neatly into section hikes, and the Dana-to-Petra stretch is one of the great multi-day walks in the Middle East. Whether you are planning a week or a full thru-hike, the trail rewards careful water and season planning.
The trail at a glance
A full thru-hike takes roughly 40 days. Most hikers pick sections instead. The signature section is Dana to Petra: about 80 kilometres over 5 to 7 days, starting in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, descending to the Feynan area, crossing the arid Wadi Araba, climbing the Sharah Mountains past Bedouin camps, and entering Petra through the back door at the Monastery — a far more satisfying arrival than the main gate. Other strong sections include Petra to Wadi Rum (about 5 days through deep wadis and open desert) and the northern hill country around Ajloun.
Best time to go
March to May and September to November are the prime windows, when daytime temperatures are comfortably warm rather than punishing. In the south, October to April works well; avoid June to September, when desert sections can push toward 40°C and water sources dry up. Winter brings cold nights and occasional snow in the northern highlands, plus short days — fine for experienced hikers, less pleasant for a first long walk. Weather can shift quickly in the mountains, so pack layers whatever the month.
Water, navigation, and safety
Water is the defining logistics problem. Long stretches of the trail run through genuinely arid country, and you should carry more than you think you need — most experienced hikers suggest planning for at least 4 to 5 litres per day in warm weather and confirming resupply points in advance. The Jordan Trail Association publishes maps and GPS tracks, and many hikers arrange support or join guided sections through the association or local operators. A local guide is strongly recommended for remote stretches: navigation can be tricky, and a guide adds cultural context you would otherwise miss. Mobile coverage is patchy in the deep wadis, so download offline maps.
How to section-hike it
If a 40-day thru-hike is more than you want, the trail is designed to be cherry-picked. A strong one-week itinerary pairs the Dana-to-Petra section with two days exploring Petra itself; a two-week trip can add Petra to Wadi Rum and a rest day at the Red Sea in Aqaba. The northern sections around Um Qais and Ajloun are greener and see almost no foreign hikers — worth adding if you want solitude. Wherever you walk, start early: desert miles are dramatically easier before midday, and the low sun on sandstone is the day’s best photography anyway.
Costs and budgeting
Independent hiking is inexpensive once you are on the trail: budget roughly 30 to 50 Jordanian dinars per day for food, water, and simple accommodation or campsite fees, with wild camping widely practiced on remote sections. Guided multi-day sections through operators typically run several hundred dollars per week including food, guiding, and support. The Jordan Pass is worth buying before arrival — it bundles your entry visa with entry to Petra and other sites, and it pays for itself quickly.
Getting there
Most hikers fly into Queen Alia International Airport near Amman; Aqaba’s King Hussein Airport is closer to the southern trailheads at Wadi Rum and Petra. From Amman, buses and private taxis reach Dana, Petra, and the northern trailheads. The Jordan Trail Association’s website gives transport notes for each section. Build in a buffer day at each end: trail logistics in Jordan run on flexible schedules, and a spare day absorbs a missed bus or a rest day your legs will thank you for.
Arjun Mehta is the pen name behind Mountains Bliss — practical mountain-travel guides with routes, costs, seasons and safety notes, researched from real trekker discussions and cross-checked before publishing. No sponsored posts, ever.
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