• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT

Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan: hikes and peaceful camping

Last updated on October 21, 2017 By Claire, the Travel Planning Geek

Discover the Dana Nature Reserve! Jordan is famous for its magnificent ruins like Petra as well as its colorful desert Wadi Rum, but this lesser known place has a lot to offer. I only spent a night and half a day but I think it deserves a lot more time to discover all the trails and interesting rock formations.

Travel Guide Jordan - Plan your trip to the Dana Nature Reserve

Navigate back to the complete Jordan Travel Guide


INFO & PLANNING TIPS - DANA NATURE RESERVE

After the discovery of the ruins of Jerash early in the morning, we hit the road, direction the Dana Nature Reserve. The hike and night at the Dana reserve was one of the reason I selected the tour with Terhaal, I wanted to spend time out of the cities and the touristic places. As I requested a few changes from the original tour I was going to sleep at the camp instead of the village which was a great idea (because I love camping).

The Dana Nature Reserve is a great landscape to hike. It stretched from the Sharaa mountains at 1800m to the dunes of Wadi Araba. My driver left me at the top of the reserve and a truck came and picked me up to drive me to the camping site. This area is beautiful and very quiet. The camping site is well isolated and I was really pleased upon arrival. During my stay I completed the Rummana Mountain and the White dome trails.

TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - Dana Nature Reserve

Getting to Dana Nature Reserve

  • From Amman it is a 3 hours drive South on the Desert Highway. After 165km, at Al Husayniya village you will find the crossroad to the Dana Nature Reserve with 25km more km in the moutains.

Visiting the Dana Nature Reserve

  • You can stay at one end of the WHite dome trail in a hotel in the Dana village or at the other end at the camping.
  • No cars is allowed down to the camping. You stop at the parking and someone come and get you. So don’t forget something in the car like some of my fellow travelers did:-)
  • The Rummana Mountain trail is steep at the beginning and is rated moderate. It takes 2 hours to complete. Look for piles of rock to find the path.
  • The White dome trail takes 3 hours and can be completed only with a guide
  • The reserve has some good documentation: RSCN (Royal society for the conservation of Nature) description of the trails; and the brochure.

Rummana Mountain Trail

As I was early in the afternoon, I decided to do before diner one of the walk that is allowed to be done alone. This one is called Rummana mountain trail. It is rated moderate which I agree for the beginning section which is quite steep. It took me 2 hours to complete the tour and it provided great views in all directions.

The rock formations and their colors made the steep climb easier. And once at the top it was just easy walking enjoying the scenery.

Rocks on the Rummana mountain trail, Dana Nature Reserve photo 1
Rocks on the Rummana mountain trail, Dana Nature Reserve photo 2

Sunset at the Dana Nature Reserve

Back from the hike I rested a little in the big Bedouin tent. Later I decided to find a place to enjoy the sunset. The village of Dana is famous for its sunset view. The campsite however does not have a direct view of the sun setting. You can hike to a place where you can see it but then the walk back in the dark would be dangerous. So I decided just to walk a bit below the campsite and find a nice view point and it was great. I sat on a big rock facing the domes and the cliffs across and I quietly admired the change of colors. This was a very peaceful moment.

The view was a little bit similar to the sunset I saw over Petra but way off the beaten path.

Sunset Dana Nature Reserve photo 1
Sunset Dana Nature Reserve photo 2

Rummana Campsite

After this relaxing moment, I enjoyed a nice dinner with the other campers and spent an excellent night in my tent (especially as there was not muezzin call at 4am like I had in Amman). 

The next day, I walk up well rested and went to the same place for this time enjoying sunrise. Again I could not see it directly because of the mountains but the colors were softer than for sunset and it was an enjoyable moment.

tent at Rummana campsite, Dana Nature Reserve
Rummana campsite, Dana Nature Reserve, photo 1

Dana Reserve White Dome Trail

After breakfast, I had a guide organized for me to do the White dome trail. It is not allowed to do this hike by yourself. It starts at the campsite and go all the way to the village with amazing views of the domes and the valley. It is not too difficult and takes roughly 3 hours.The hardest is the sun, no shade at all and the fact that it is climbing at the end.

White dome trail, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan photo 1
White dome trail, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan photo 2
White dome trail, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan photo 3
White dome trail, Dana Nature Reserve, Jordan photo 4

If you have enough time and love hiking, I really recommend stopping! This is very quiet and nature is amazing. I got out very relaxed before the busy Petra.


Want to see MORE of JORDAN?

Discover more things to do with planning information and photos in my online Jordan Travel Guide.

PREVIOUS LOCATION: 

ROADS OF JORDAN

NEXT LOCATION: 

4WD DISCOVERY OF WADI RUM

Jordan destination guide travel planning addict

What do you prefer: history or nature?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Culinary tours says

    May 28, 2015 at 6:48 AM

    Really adventure able place

    Reply
  2. Pauline says

    July 31, 2016 at 11:55 PM

    Hello,

    I would like to know how to book a night in the Rummana campsite (if needed) and how much does it cost. Indeed, I am going to Jordan in two weeks and I don’t want to miss this place.

    Thank you,

    Pauline

    Reply
    • Claire Robinson says

      August 1, 2016 at 11:53 AM

      Hi Pauline.
      That is a good question. My night was book but the travel tour company.
      I did some research and apparently you have to email or call the Dana Nature Reserve: Tel: (+962 3) 2270 497/8 or [email protected]
      Have a great trip!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search my ZigZags

Hi! I’m Claire

ZigZag On Earth photo

I am the Travel Planning Geek behind the ZigZag Travel Guides. My goal is to provide you with clear and practical information to help you plan unforgettable trips! Read more

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr

LoireLovers.fr

CorsicaLovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2023 ZigZag On Earth · Log in