Jordan Trail: Dana to Petra hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

Dana to Petra is the best-known part of the Jordan Trail, the 675 km route across the country from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba on the Red Sea. This is Region 6 of the trail. It starts in the old stone village of Dana, on the rim of the Dana Biosphere Reserve at about 1,200 m. It drops 1,000 m down Wadi Dana to the ancient copper mines of Feynan in the hot Wadi Araba, then climbs back through sandstone mountains and Bedouin grazing land to Little Petra. The last day enters Petra by the back door, past the Monastery. The Jordan Trail Association (JTA) gives it as 4 days and 72.4 km. You sleep in a guesthouse in Dana, in the Feynan Ecolodge or Bedouin camps on the way, and in a hotel in Wadi Musa at the end.

The route

This guide follows the JTA route as mapped on OpenStreetMap (sections 601 to 604, 69 km) and splits it into 4 stages, about 17.3 km each:

• Day 1, Dana to Wadi Malaga (22 km, 6–8 hours). A long descent down Wadi Dana, from juniper country to acacia desert. You pass Feynan Ecolodge at about km 13 and the Feynan ruins, and camp in Wadi Malaga at about 250 m. The JTA rates this day difficult.
• Day 2, Wadi Malaga to Ras Al-Feid (15 km, 5–7 hours). Desert hills and wadis to the spring in Wadi Feid, then a climb to a camp on the plateau. This is the only waymarked section of the four.
• Day 3, Ras Al-Feid to Little Petra (23 km, 6–8 hours). The longest climb of the trek, through the Sharah mountains on old Bedouin paths, to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) and the Bedouin camps of Al Beidha.
• Day 4, Little Petra to Petra (13 km, 3–4 hours). The Back Trail over the hills to the Monastery (Ad-Deir). Then down about 800 steps into the ancient city and out through the Siq to the Visitor Centre.

Many hikers stop at Feynan Ecolodge on day 1 and make it a 5-day trek, with a short first day and an evening at the lodge. There is very little shade. Add a day in Petra at the end: a two-day ticket costs only JOD 5 more than one day.

When to go

The JTA says February and March are the best months in the south, and September to mid-November is similarly pleasant. From May to September the floor of Wadi Araba is extremely hot, so avoid those months. In December and January the days are short, and Dana and Petra can have snow and freezing nights. The rainy season, November to March, brings a risk of flash floods in the wadis. RSCN guided trails do not run during Ramadan, and buses run less often. In 2027 Ramadan falls in February and March, in the best season.

How hard is it

The trek is hard because of heat, distance and rough ground, not altitude. Expect loose scree, steep rocky paths, sand, easy scrambling and long stretches without shade, water or phone signal. Most of the route is not waymarked, and some paths are faint Bedouin tracks. No ropes are needed.

Guides, permits and tickets

There is no trail permit, but you pay at both ends:

• Dana Biosphere Reserve: call the reserve on +962 79 911 1434 before you enter, to pay the fee. In 2026 RSCN sells the Wadi Dana trail to Feynan at JOD 20 per person for non-Jordanians, with entry and a guide included.
• Petra: you need a Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass. A one-day ticket is JOD 50 if you sleep at least one night in Jordan. A Jordan Pass costs JOD 70–80 and also covers the visa fee. On the Back Trail you buy or check your ticket at the Little Petra ticket office, at the Nabataean Cultural Village. The office closes at 14:00 in winter (2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027) and at 16:00 in summer, so start day 4 early. You must leave Petra before sunset, and camping in the park is not allowed.
• Guides: the JTA strongly recommends a local guide here. Most hikers book a Jordanian operator for the guide, camps, luggage and water. The JTA publishes lists of licensed guides and local providers for each stage. If you go without a guide, you need GPS navigation, camping gear and phone numbers for water and camp support.

Where you sleep

Dana has the RSCN Dana Guesthouse and a few small village hotels. On day 1 the Feynan Ecolodge (26 rooms, candle-lit) is right on the trail; book it well ahead. Wadi Malaga and Ras Al-Feid have no buildings, only wild campsites. Local Bedouin providers listed by the JTA bring tents, meals and water if you book ahead. Little Petra has several Bedouin camps. Wadi Musa has hotels of every class within walking distance of the Visitor Centre.

Getting there and away

Dana is about 200 km (3 hours) south of Amman, just off the King's Highway. Most hikers arrive by taxi or private transfer. Minibuses run from Tafila to Dana, but in Jordan they leave when full and run less on Fridays and holidays. Petra is about an hour by road from Dana. From Wadi Musa, JETT buses and taxis go to Amman (about 3 hours) and to Aqaba (about 2 hours). Many nationalities can buy a JOD 40 visa on arrival, but not at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge.

Water, food, money and phone signal

Carry 4–5 litres of water a day, more in warm weather, and treat natural water. Springs are few on this section, so arrange water drops with your camp provider. Feynan Ecolodge serves meals. There are no shops between Dana and Little Petra. Bring Jordanian dinars in cash for camps, guides and tips. There is no ATM in Dana or on the trail; the nearest are in Tafila and Wadi Musa. Mobile signal is patchy in Wadi Araba and the deep wadis.

What to pack

• Boots with good grip.
• A sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream.
• Long, loose clothes that cover shoulders and knees.
• A warm layer for cold desert nights, and a sleeping bag if you camp.
• A headlamp.
• Bottles or bladders for 4–5 litres, and a water filter or tablets.
• A first-aid and blister kit.
• A GPS track on your phone, and a power bank.
• Your passport, for checkpoints and Petra.

Safety in 2026

In an emergency call 911. The Tourist Police hotline is 117777. Medical care outside Amman and Aqaba is basic. The nearest hospitals are in Tafila, near Dana, and in Wadi Musa, at Petra; serious cases go on to Aqaba or Amman. Do not walk into narrow wadis when rain is forecast, or for a day after heavy rain. In 2026 the UK Foreign Office reported Iranian strikes on targets in Jordan from July and attacks around Aqaba in September. Check your government's travel advice before you book, and keep your passport with you. Follow local instructions if you hear sirens. Dress modestly and ask before you photograph people.