Holiday in Dana Nature Reserve

What makes Dana Nature Reserve special as a destination?

The Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan's largest nature reserve and a hidden gem away from the famous Petra-Wadi Rum route. The 308 square kilometer reserve stretches from the mountain ridges of the Jordan Rift Valley to the desert landscape of Wadi Araba and encompasses four different ecological zones in this dramatic elevation difference — from Mediterranean vegetation to sandstone desert to savanna landscape. The village of Dana, picturesque on a mountain ridge above the eponymous Wadi, is the starting point for hikes. The stone houses of the centuries-old village have been lovingly restored and now house a guesthouse of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). From the terrace, one looks into a massive gorge with color layers ranging from red to gold to white — particularly breathtaking at sunset. The hikes in the reserve are among the most impressive in Jordan: The Wadi Dana Trail leads down through the gorge to the ruins of a Copper Age settlement. The Rummana Trail offers panoramic views over the entire Rift Valley. And the multi-day crossing from Dana to Feynan — a desert ecolodge lit entirely by candles — is one of the most unique trekking experiences in the Middle East. The Feynan Ecolodge at the southern end of the reserve is an award-winning sustainability project: solar-powered, without electricity in the rooms, illuminated solely by hundreds of candles. In the evenings, guests gather on the rooftop terrace for stargazing — the night sky over the desert is one of the clearest in the world. Dana is home to 700 plant species and 215 bird species, including rare species such as the Nubian ibex, the Syrian striped hyena, and the sand cat. For nature lovers looking to escape the mass tourism of Petra and Wadi Rum, Dana is the perfect retreat.