Wadi al Hasa — Jordan

Jordan's most famous trail, the Jordan Trail, runs 650km from Umm Qais in the north to Aqaba on the Red Sea. But the section through Wadi al Hasa — a deep canyon in the south — is where the trail goes from impressive to otherworldly. This is a slot canyon carved by millennia of flash floods, with red and orange sandstone walls that narrow until you can touch both sides. Hot springs seep from the rock. Wild figs grow from cracks in the cliff face. And there's almost nobody here.

Wadi al Hasa sits between the Dead Sea and Petra, in a stretch of southern Jordan that most tourists drive past on their way to the Treasury. The trekking is a mix of wading through shallow streams, scrambling over boulders, and walking along canyon rims with views across the Rift Valley. It's not technical climbing — but it is genuinely remote, and a local guide isn't just recommended, it's essential for navigation and safety.

The cultural context adds another layer. The Nabataeans — the same civilization that carved Petra — used these canyons as trade routes. You'll pass Nabataean rock carvings and ancient water channels that are still functional. Walking here feels like time travel with a hiking permit.

Wadi al Hasa Canyon Trek (full day): The signature experience — 6–8 hours walking through the narrowing canyon, past hot springs and waterfalls. Bring water shoes. The hot spring pools midway are the natural reward.

Dana Nature Reserve (nearby): One of Jordan's most biodiverse reserves. Hike from the cliff-top village of Dana down to Feynan through sandstone valleys and acacia woodlands. 2–3 hour trek.

Feynan Ecolodge candlelit evening: After the Dana-to-Feynan hike, arrive at this award-winning off-grid ecolodge lit entirely by candles. No electricity by design. Solar-heated showers. Bedouin tea under the stars.

Budget:: Local guesthouses in Tafila — $15–25/night with meals. Basic but warm.

Mid-Range:: Dana Guest House (RSCN-operated) — $50–70/night overlooking the Dana valley.

Splurge:: Feynan Ecolodge — $150–200/night, all-inclusive, off-grid luxury in the middle of the desert. One of the most unique stays in the Middle East.

Mansaf: Jordan's national dish — lamb slow-cooked in fermented dried yogurt (jameed) sauce, served over rice. Traditionally eaten communally with the right hand. Rich, tangy, and deeply comforting after a day of canyon trekking.

Zarb: Bedouin underground barbecue — meat and vegetables slow-cooked in a sand pit. Available at desert camps near Wadi Rum and increasingly at lodges near Dana.

Sage tea (maramiya): Wild sage grows in the canyons. Guides will pick it fresh and brew it over a small fire during rest stops. The Jordanian trail-side ritual.