Day 1: View of Wadi Dana from Dana settlement
For years, Jordan has been associated with its epic history and landscapes, from the hidden ruined city of Petra to the red-sand dunes and canyons of Wadi Rum.
It's a country with stunning history, but not really known for hiking - the Jordan Trail, a recently introduced epic 650km route stretching the entire length of the state from its north to the south, may however well change that perception.
Each hike must have its most popular and admired part, and for the Jordan Trail it comes two-thirds of the way through the route with the stage from the Dana Biosphere Reserve to the ancient city of Petra.
Starting in one of Jordan's most scenic nature reserves, it takes four days mostly on the little-trodden and unmarked paths to finally reach the country's most iconic sights at Petra, which one enters - contrary to the vast majority of visitors - backdoor and alone.
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Having stayed in Amman overnight after our arrival and having arranged a camping gas canister via our hotel, we drove our rented car (seemed to be a better choice for us than public transport) to Wadi Musa (the town at Petra). Then we took a taxi to the small settlement of Dana, located right at the edge of the eponymous nature reserve.
The trek starts with impressive views from the curved sandstone cliffs above the reserve and then slowly descends down the long valley of Wadi Dana, following a good track which winds down amidst a splendid sandstone scenery.
Close to the Feynan Eco Lodge, scattered Bedouin settlements (rather simple tents with livestock around) started to appear, and the landscape got more rural character.
The Feynan Eco Lodge itself then emerged from the dusty plains like a Star-Wars building from another planet, with mud-rendered architecture slightly reminding me of ancient settlements in Mali I have seen pictures of. The large building looked both beautiful and bizarre, solar-powered and candle-lit at the same time, and with timeless caravanserai mood of the past centuries.
Day 1: View of Wadi Dana from Dana settlement
For years, Jordan has been associated with its epic history and landscapes, from the hidden ruined city of Petra to the red-sand dunes and canyons of Wadi Rum.
It's a country with stunning history, but not really known for hiking - the Jordan Trail, a recently introduced epic 650km route stretching the entire length of the state from its north to the south, may however well change that perception.
Each hike must have its most popular and admired part, and for the Jordan Trail it comes two-thirds of the way through the route with the stage from the Dana Biosphere Reserve to the ancient city of Petra.
Starting in one of Jordan's most scenic nature reserves, it takes four days mostly on the little-trodden and unmarked paths to finally reach the country's most iconic sights at Petra, which one enters - contrary to the vast majority of visitors - backdoor and alone.
-----
Having stayed in Amman overnight after our arrival and having arranged a camping gas canister via our hotel, we drove our rented car (seemed to be a better choice for us than public transport) to Wadi Musa (the town at Petra). Then we took a taxi to the small settlement of Dana, located right at the edge of the eponymous nature reserve.
The trek starts with impressive views from the curved sandstone cliffs above the reserve and then slowly descends down the long valley of Wadi Dana, following a good track which winds down amidst a splendid sandstone scenery.
Close to the Feynan Eco Lodge, scattered Bedouin settlements (rather simple tents with livestock around) started to appear, and the landscape got more rural character.
The Feynan Eco Lodge itself then emerged from the dusty plains like a Star-Wars building from another planet, with mud-rendered architecture slightly reminding me of ancient settlements in Mali I have seen pictures of. The large building looked both beautiful and bizarre, solar-powered and candle-lit at the same time, and with timeless caravanserai mood of the past centuries.