Petra is among the highlights of the Jordan Trail
IAN STALKER
Duha Fayyad is inviting energetic sorts to trod over terrain that has hosted the likes of Roman Legions, Biblical figures — and Indiana Jones.
Fayyad is the vice-president of the Jordan Trail, a 675-kilometer walkway that links northernmost Jordan with the Red Sea-fronting resort destination of Aqaba, with those who hike it in its entirety seeing some dramatic Jordanian tourist attractions.
“It is a completely different experience. You miss out on so much when you take a vehicle,” hiking enthusiast Fayyad says of the non-mainstream manner of exploring her homeland.
The Jordan Trail officially opened in 2017 and covers eight regions that Fayyad reports differ noticeably. Northern Jordan, for instance, has a lot of greenery, while desert awaits those who head to the southern part of the country.
Trail officials rate day-long hikes by degree of difficulty, with the scale ranging from Moderate to Challenging.
Among trail highlights are Petra — the ancient Nabatean city carved from rockfaces and part of which was showcased in the blockbuster movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — and Wadi Rum, the desert retreat associated with Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab revolt.
Those who opt for the entire marked trail can do it at their own pace, perhaps taking over 6 weeks to complete it, at times staying in homes in villages along the way, eating local dishes with the “super hospitable” occupants of those houses.
Trekkers can expect their hosts to speak basic English.
Camping is another option, with some areas with having few local people.
“It forces you to connect with the nature and the land,” Fayyad says of hiking.
Participants may spot both domestic and wild animals, with the latter possibly including the likes of foxes, birds and different reptiles.
Fayyad says those who complete the trail — overseen by NGO Jordan Trail Association — will see parts of the country that are steeped in history, with the trail’s mid-section built along Roman trade routes.
Hikers are advised to have guides.
Jordan can see extreme heat in the summer, with many hikers avoiding that season. Water drops are provided in some sparsely populated areas.
More information can be found at jordantrail.org.
