Wadi bin Hammad

Wadi bin Hammad runs down from the Karak plateau towards the Dead Sea, and the stretch that people walk is a narrow gorge with warm mineral water running through it, deposits of travertine building up over the rock and ferns and moss growing thickly on the walls where the water seeps, which is a startling thing to find in a desert country. The walk goes up the streambed with repeated crossings.

The landscape

• The warm water - mineral flow that stays warm through the gorge.
• The hanging ferns - vegetation growing thickly where water seeps from the walls.
• The travertine - the mineral deposits built up over the rock.
• The streambed walk - the route up the water with repeated crossings.

When to go

April to October is the walking season. Winter flash floods make the canyon dangerous. The water is warm year round.

Good to know

Flash flooding is a real danger and the canyon should not be entered when rain is forecast anywhere upstream. The walk is entirely in water and footwear gets soaked. There are no facilities.

Nearby

Karak is east, and the Dead Sea is west.

Key facts