The most beautiful natural sites to discover Jordan

Bathing in the Dead Sea is a unique experience, well worth trying, despite the high cost of access to the beaches. The very high salinity of the water (almost 10 times higher than in other seas around the world) ensures better buoyancy. Even non-swimmers can bathe without risk, as it is impossible to sink or swim. On the other hand, salt is very aggressive to the skin, and you won't be able to stay in the water for long. What's more, the heat is often overpowering and the sun is scorching. It's essential to rinse off thoroughly with fresh water when you leave the beach. All beaches have showers, whether public or private.

Clay. Private beaches provide visitors with jars or pots filled with mud, a mineral-rich Dead Sea clay that is incredibly skin-softening. Coat your body and, if you have a shower nearby, your face, avoiding the eye area. You'll soon feel dry and cracked under the sun like a reptile. Now's the time to get in the water and gently remove the mud. For the face, rinse off in the shower of course, but don't try it in the sea - it burns the eyes.

Bathing. After the clay, the bath. Don't try to swim, you won't make it! Instead, float, drift a little (but not too far), taking care not to get your face wet - bathing is corrosive to the skin and especially the mucous membranes! Go carefully into the water and rinse thoroughly on your way out.

The death of the Dead Sea? The Dead Sea lies between Lake Tiberias and the Jordan Valley to the north, and the Red Sea to the south. Its extreme salinity began around 40,000 years ago, when rainfall became less abundant, leading to very strong evaporation of water and, consequently, a regression of the lake and a constant concentration of salt in the water. The water level in the Dead Sea continues to fall: it is so suffocatingly hot during the summer months (the mercury sometimes registers 50°C) that over 20 mm of water disappears every year. At this rate, the Dead Sea will be completely forgotten by 2050. The cause? Overuse of the Jordan River, which is now little more than a trickle. Pumped and diverted by the Israelis, but also by the Jordanians, it is no longer able to supply the Dead Sea sufficiently. The catastrophic effects of an industrial complex exploiting the marine mineral wealth (potash) are also worth noting.

Close to the church of Saint George, this park contains interesting remains. Excavations have allowed, and still allow today, to discover the archaeological treasures of Madaba buried under the modern constructions. At the entrance of the park, one can see an exhibition of mosaics from several sites in the region. The oldest mosaic in the country, dating from the 1st century BC, comes from Herod's fortress at Macheronte. The entrance ticket also gives access to the Church of the Apostles, the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Hall of Hippolytus.

Aqaba's public beach is not the best place to bathe, or it's all dressed like Jordanians. We come here for the atmosphere: small, glass-filled craft (glassboat) and their cries of local music, itinerant vendeurs sellers and sweets, shisha car and their carpets, sands who offer a walk. On the promenade in the palm grove, vendors of sandwiches, souvenirs and beach articles. At the end, a small bar offers fresh drinks and shawarmas.

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.

This is Amman beach, close to water as well as luxury luxury hotels, with swimming pools, parasols and sun loungers, showers, dressing rooms and lockers for business, towels for rent, but also a restaurant (10 DJ), bar and basketball. But the place looks like our municipal pools: noise, rubbish, overpopulation, nothing resting, one would think on the shores of the Mediterranean in August! Advised people who are looking for calm. For those who want to live an authentic afternoon with Jordanian families, this is the ideal place. Plan a short and a tee-shirt here you bathe dressed, especially women. For the price, it is better to test a hotel with a Spa, luxurious swimming pools and a quiet beach.

What was once a gigantic oasis is no more. It became the main source of water supply for the country's capital and northern cities, and the level of its water tables and marshes has dropped considerably in recent years. The oasis was once home to a vast bird sanctuary with over 280 species of birds. An endemic species of fish populates the ponds: the cynobelia of Azraq. Due to this upheaval, migratory birds have changed their itinerary and many now take refuge in Lake Tiberias, further northwest, on the borders of Lebanon, Syria and Israel. In 1967, a count counted 347,000 birds. In 2000, there were only 1,200 at the same time of year. A 12 km2 reserve, managed by the RSCN, was created to protect what remains. In 1993, the oasis was replenished with water and species were reintroduced. The effects are still minimal and deep pumping continues, not to mention the wild and illegal wells dug by the inhabitants. Only 10% of the oasis has been saved. The Azraq Nature Reserve is nonetheless a pleasant and original stopover in the middle of these desert expanses. The RSCN has gone to great lengths to diversify the activities around the reserve and include the surrounding populations. In addition to hiking trails and bird watching, tours are organized in the surrounding area to meet with local people and visit some of the historical sites left out of the traditional itineraries.

The Visitor Center is open at the same hours as the Reserve. It is here that you can organize your excursions, reserve the services of a guide or pay your entrance fee to the Reserve.

Observable species. Birds from Anatolia, Siberia, Scandinavia or Africa continue to stop for a few months in the Azraq Reserve. We can observe desert sirlis, Cetti's warblers, desert bullfinches, marsh harriers, warblers, avocets, small gravelots or minute sandpipers.

Hiking. Two observation trails have been developed in the Azraq Nature Reserve allowing you to hike while admiring the local wildlife. The 30-minute Marsh Trail winds through the wet and dry areas and leads to an observation platform above the artesian wells that recharged the marshes. Continuing the loop, you pass a basalt wall from the Umayyad period and can stop at a lookout hut. The Water Buffalo Trail takes you in search of buffalo with a guide from the Reserve. It takes 3.5 kilometers and 2 hours of walking on easy terrain. Guide required.

Biking. The RSCN organizes two cycling tours from Azraq Lodge. The Mudflat Cycling Trail follows a 12 kilometer route with little difficulty and lasts 2 to 3 hours. The goal of this tour is to reach Qa'a, a dried mud lake at the gateway to the eastern desert. On the way, the guide will give you explanations about the typical environment of the oasis, its history and the local tribes. Guide required. TheAzraq Village Cycling Trail allows you to ride around the area for 22 kilometers and 4 to 5 hours. It is a continuation of the Muflat Trail and includes visits to an old Druze village, Qasr al-Shaer and Qasr al-Azraq. Guide required.

Bus. The RSCN organizes two minibus tours departing from Azraq Lodge. TheAzraq Bus Tour lasts 2 to 3 hours and is a 7 kilometer circuit. You will have to walk 2 kilometers on easy terrain. It includes a visit to Qasr al-Azraq, a Druze village and Ain es-Sil, a farm from the Umayyad period. TheUsaykhim Bus Tour covers a distance of 40 kilometers and takes 5 to 6 hours. You will have to walk 5 kilometers on easy to moderate terrain. The minibus will take you to Wadi Usaykhim, where you can admire some very old inscriptions. You will then climb to the top of the mountain to visit the fortress of Usaykhim, which marked the northernmost point of the Roman Arabian Province.

Cultural Activities. If you are staying at Azraq Lodge, the RSCN can arrange for a Druze folkloric show with traditional songs and dances. The Druze are a small community in Jordan, numbering only 1 million worldwide. They have played an important role in Levantine history and are known for their esoteric and impenetrable spirituality. Open-air cinema sessions are organized, showing films and documentaries with nature as the main theme. Other activities can be arranged with the Bedouin community in the area. You can learn the subtleties of Turkish coffee, try to bake your own "arbood" bread on the coals, try your hand at milking goats, have a traditional mansaf... The RSCN has also concocted a program allowing you to meet the Chechen community settled in the surroundings. You will be able to put on the heavy traditional costume, including the goat hair chapka, totally inappropriate in these latitudes. The meeting with the Bedouin and Chechen communities is done by bike. Guide required.

The ancient city of Gerasa had two thermal complexes. The thermal baths fulfilled an important social function, allowing the exchange of news and the latest gossip while attending musical performances.

The western thermal baths. Below the northern tetrapyle, in the opposite direction of the Decumanus, you will notice some ruined buildings, made of big blocks of stone, and pierced with big arches. This is the old thermal complex of the city of Gerasa, dating from the 2nd century. It included a caldarium (room with hot water basin), a tepidarium (room with warm water basin) and a frigidarium (room with cold water basin). One of the chambers still has its dome on top of the square room. The remains of the hypocaust ovens used to heat the water in the caldarium can also be seen.

The eastern baths. Located outside the walls, behind the mosque facing the southern bridge, these thermal ruins are among the largest and best preserved in the Near East. They were the subject of major excavations between 2016 and 2018, during which fragments of sculptures were found, now on display at the Jerash Archaeological Museum. This huge complex was built in several phases: the first began around 140 with the construction of 7 buildings, including the huge baths with walls that could exceed 11 meters in height. Towards the middle of the 3rd century, the complex was extended to the north with the addition of 13 rooms and an exedra with columns decorated with statues.

Situated in front of the nymphaeum, the thermal baths made a rather late appearance in Gadara, since they date from the IVth century. They covered a surface of 2,400 m². Very damaged shortly after their construction, they were reduced to a more modest size. They included several baths housed in closed and decorated halls. Their use was abandoned around the 7th century, when the city was under water and firewood rationing. The great earthquake of 749 and its successive aftershocks were the reason for the baths.

Hot water rich in sulphur, potassium chloride and soda ash gushes out of the mountains of Wadi Zarqaa from a 45-metre high waterfall. These springs have been known since antiquity for their virtues, notably for their effect on rheumatism. The entrance fee gives you access to the small natural hot water pool located under the waterfall (on the right of the entrance, going down). Jordanian families come here to relax on weekends. If it is a bit expensive, the place is really magical and perfect to relax after a hike.

North of the village of Ruwaished, the oasis of Burqu appears like a mirage in the middle of the desert. The landscape is revealed in all its splendor at the end of a generous rainy season, when the waters of the lake come to lick the foot of the tower. It is best to hire a guide to get there, as the Iraqi border is very close and the tracks are not marked. The site is worth a visit, but you need to be very motivated: it is too far away to be included in a one-day itinerary on the Desert Castles Route. You will need to bring a tent to stay there.

The oasis is home to many migratory birds that pass through the area, and more and more birders are visiting. A reserve project has been under consideration for many years. The lake is not a natural oasis; it was formed after the Romans built a dam in the third century when they had just built yet another fortress on their eastern defense line. It served to protect the caravan route and the oasis of Burqu, where merchants and their mounts stopped. The place continued to be inhabited, especially during the Byzantine period, when a church was built and inscriptions were left. Rooms were added by the Umayyads under the Emirate of Walid I (705-715). This was one of the first castles to be remodeled by the Umayyads, of which only a part of the tower and the foundations remain visible today.

This is one of the places where, during the Exodus, the patriarch is said to have struck a stone with his staff to bring forth water. There is another Ayun Musa in Egypt, in the Sinai, and the two countries dispute the authorship of the biblical event. A very thin stream of water cascades down between the mosses of a rock face. You'll know you've found the source by the rubbish that lies on the ground. You will discover the unspectacular remains of a Roman road, tombs dug into the rock and some Byzantine buildings

This 30 km2 reserve was created in 2012 in the Yarmouk River valley, at the crossroads of the Jordanian, Syrian and Israeli borders. For the time being, no ecotourism project is under consideration. Nature, unperturbed in this area long disputed by the three nations, has regained its rights. Ecosystems have developed and the fauna and flora are intact. Besides otters and gazelles, the area is also very important for migratory birds

Fifa is a 27 km2 reserve located south of the Dead Sea on the border with Israel. It is located at the lowest point on the planet, 426 meters below sea level. This subtropical oasis is a godsend in this arid region. It provides a haven for many migratory birds and endangered endemic plant species. It also attracts animals that roam the plains of the Wadi Araba desert, including the Syrian wolf and the caracal.