Dana Biosphere Reserve

Dana is the country's largest nature reserve and its most varied, running from roughly 1,500 metres on the plateau down to around 50 metres above sea level in the Wadi Araba, and passing through four biogeographic zones on the way. That vertical range gives it an unusual species list for a small country: several hundred plant species, Nubian ibex, caracal, sand cat and a long list of birds. Perched on the rim is Dana village, an Ottoman-era settlement of stone houses that was largely abandoned and has been partly restored, with guesthouses run on a community model that channels income to local families. The classic walk descends the wadi from the village to Feynan, an off-grid lodge lit by candles and reached only on foot or by four-wheel drive.

What you actually see

• Dana village - restored Ottoman stone houses on the canyon rim with a view down the wadi.
• The Dana to Feynan trek - the classic descent through the reserve to the desert floor.
• Feynan Ecolodge - candle-lit, solar-powered and staffed by the local Bedouin community.
• Wadi Ghuweir - a narrow water-carved canyon walk for the more ambitious.

When to go

Spring, March to May, for wildflowers and moderate temperatures, and autumn, September to November. Summer on the lower reaches is dangerously hot; winter on the rim is cold and can snow.

Honest expectations

The famous descent is one-way and downhill, which means arranging transport at the bottom or a long climb back; most people book a transfer. Trails vary from easy to genuinely demanding and several require a guide, which is both a safety measure and a source of local income. Accommodation is limited and books out in spring.

Nearby

Petra is about an hour south along the King's Highway; Shobak castle lies between.