Jordan hiking guide

Hiking in Jordan

From water-filled wadis and sandstone canyons to desert landscapes and long-distance trekking, Jordan offers several very different ways to hike.

Water hikesDesert trailsLong-distance trekkingCanyon hiking
Best for water hikingWadi Al Hasa & canyon routes
Long-distance optionThe Jordan Trail
Desert hikingWadi Rum
Classic trekking regionDana · Petra
Start with the hiking style

What kind of hiking in Jordan are you looking for?

Jordan’s hiking experiences are not all the same. Choosing by terrain and trip style is more useful than simply searching for one “best trail.”

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Water hikes

Walk through flowing water and rocky canyon terrain. Wadi Al Hasa is especially relevant for this style.

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Desert hiking

Open landscapes, sandstone formations and remote terrain are central to hiking in Wadi Rum.

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Multi-day trekking

The Jordan Trail links regions across the country, with famous sections around Dana, Petra and beyond.

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Canyon & reserve trails

Jordan’s wadis and nature reserves offer everything from short walks to more demanding canyon routes.

Best-known hiking areas

Hiking trails and regions to know in Jordan.

This is a practical comparison, not a ranking. The right choice depends on whether you want water, desert, heritage, a short hike or a multi-day trek.

Wadi Al Hasa

A southern Jordan water-canyon experience with locally guided short and classic hikes based from Ghor Al Safi. A strong choice if your priority is walking through water rather than a dry trail.

Water hikeShort optionsSouthern Jordan

The Jordan Trail

Jordan’s national long-distance hiking route connects the country from the north to Aqaba and can also be experienced through shorter regional sections.

Long-distanceMulti-regionMulti-day

Dana to Petra

One of Jordan’s best-known multi-day trekking sections, combining dramatic mountain and valley landscapes with an arrival into the Petra region.

Multi-day trekMountain terrainPetra region

Wadi Mujib

A well-known Dead Sea canyon destination where some routes involve water, slippery rock and canyon movement. Specific routes and operating conditions should be checked before travel.

CanyonDead Sea regionSeason-dependent

Wadi Rum

Desert hiking through sandstone mountains, open valleys and remote terrain. The experience is fundamentally different from Jordan’s water-canyon hikes.

Desert hikingSandstoneSouthern Jordan

Petra hiking trails

Petra offers walks and hiking routes around the archaeological landscape, from the main Siq approach to longer viewpoints and back routes.

HeritageDay hikesPetra
Important distinction: the official Jordan Trail crosses Wadi Hasa on the Al-Karak to Dana section. That long-distance trekking route is not the same product as the locally guided Wadi Al Hasa water hikes offered from Ghor Al Safi.
Compare hiking in Jordan

Choose by experience, not just by destination name.

Hiking areaBest forTypical styleGood fit if you want…
Wadi Al HasaWater hikingShort / half-day local hikesWater, canyon terrain and a local southern Jordan experience
Jordan TrailLong-distance trekkingRegional sections or thru-hikeA multi-day journey across Jordan
Dana–PetraMulti-day sceneryTrekkingMountains, valleys and a Petra-focused route
Wadi MujibCanyon adventureWater / canyon routesA Dead Sea canyon experience
Wadi RumDesert landscapesDesert hikesSandstone mountains and open desert
PetraHeritage hikingDay walks / viewpointsArchaeology combined with hiking
Plan by conditions

Weather and safety vary by trail type.

A safe plan for hiking in Jordan depends on the region, season, route and terrain. Water canyons have different risks from desert hikes or long-distance trekking.

Water canyons: check rainfall and flash-flood risk.
Desert routes: plan for heat, exposure and navigation.
Long treks: consider water, supplies and route logistics.
Any hike: use current local information.
Read our safety guide
Short hiking trip

Only have a few hours?

Choose a day hike or short canyon experience that fits your driving route. Wadi Al Hasa’s short guided option is designed for visitors who want a water hike without committing to a multi-day trek.

See the Short Wadi Al Hasa Hike
Longer hiking trip

Building a trekking-focused Jordan itinerary?

Compare regional Jordan Trail sections, Dana and Petra trekking, desert hikes and shorter wadis so that the hiking style matches your time and fitness.

Plan your visit
Hiking in Jordan FAQ

Questions travelers ask before choosing a trail.

Jordan offers several distinct hiking styles, including the long-distance Jordan Trail, Dana and Petra trekking routes, Wadi Rum desert hiking, Wadi Mujib canyon experiences and water hiking in Wadi Al Hasa.
Wadi Al Hasa in southern Jordan is one option for a locally guided water-canyon hike. Wadi Mujib is another well-known canyon-hiking area near the Dead Sea.
No. The Jordan Trail is a long-distance route across Jordan. Its Al-Karak to Dana section crosses Wadi Hasa, but that trekking section is different from the local Wadi Al Hasa water-hiking experiences based in Ghor Al Safi.
It depends on the route. Some established trails can be walked independently, while water canyons, remote desert routes and changing-weather environments may require or strongly benefit from local guidance.
The best season depends on the region and trail type. Temperatures, rainfall, flash-flood risk, seasonal closures and water levels should be checked for the specific hike close to your travel dates.
Looking for a water hike?

Start with Wadi Al Hasa in southern Jordan.

Compare the short, classic and private guided options, then choose the experience that fits your route through Jordan.

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