the book of Deuteronomy, Moses stood on Mount
Nebo to view the Promised Land. From here, you can
see Jericho and Jerusalem in the distance on a clear
day. Some stones from a 4th-century church remain
at the site, and a collection of beautiful Byzantine
mosaics are preserved inside the present-day shrine
at Nebo, where the 6th-century basilica once stood.
Three Wadis to Karak (47 miles) Hiking from Wadi
Wala and Wadi Hidan, trekkers cross Wadi Mujib,
described in the Bible as the Ammon Valley. Today
Wadi Mujib is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of
Jordan. The trail then crosses a fertile plateau, passes
the ruins of Magdelina and ends at the imposing castle
of Karak.
Biblical references: Karak is the Crusader castle, and
it also was the capital of the biblical kingdom of Moab.
The castle dates to 1140, but it has been a fortress
since biblical times. The Bible says that the king of
Israel and his allies from Judah and Edom “ravaged
Moab and besieged its king, Mesha, in the fortress of
Kir Heres,” as Karak was known then.
Karak to Dana (52 miles) From the southern
fortifications of Karak, the trail goes past the abandoned
village of Khirbet Ainun, descends to the orchards and
olive groves of Al-Iraq, zigzags between limestone cliffs,
passes Edomite ruins and arrives in Dana, at the edge of
a wildlife reserve.
Dana to Petra (46 miles) Named by National
Geographic as one of the best hikes in the world, this
section of the Jordan Trail crosses several climate
zones and provides the full spectrum of the region’s
geology, from majestic mountaintops to peaceful
countryside. The route ends at the ancient city of Petra,
the Nabatean city in the rocks, which was named one of
the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 and is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Biblical references: Many believe that the narrow
entrance to Petra, known as the Siq, was the place
where Moses parted the rocks to find flowing water
for his people during the Exodus. Known in the Bible
as Sela (or Selah), Petra was also one of the rest stops
for the wise men as they journeyed to see baby Jesus
with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Also,
Jesus spoke Aramaic, the language of the Nabataean
people who founded Petra.
Petra to Wadi Rum (68 miles) This section offers
trekkers a taste of desert silence as they journey
from deep, rugged wadis into sandy plains with
sandstone buttes.
Wadi Rum to the Red Sea (40 miles) Heading from
Wadi Rum, a World Heritage site with sandstone desert
mountains, the trail passes beneath towering cliffs en
route to the Bedouin village of Titen. As they follow old
shepherd paths, hikers get glimpses of the Red Sea and
the mountains of Sinai before descending down to long
sandy wadis to the sea.
Biblical references: The most well-known reference
to the Red Sea is found in the book of Exodus with the
story of Moses parting the Red Sea so that the people
of Israel could escape the Egyptians.
The best times of year to hike the Jordan Trail vary by
regions, but consider late May to mid-September as
too hot for trekking. To learn more about the trail, visit
jordantrail.org or contact Asfour at malia@
visitjordan.com.
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