Last updated September 16, 2026
Best Hikes in Jordan & Israel: Desert Treks, Petra & Ancient Trails
This region combines several completely different hiking experiences: multi-day desert traverses in Jordan, sandstone routes into Petra, Bedouin landscapes in Wadi Rum, long-distance trails across Israel, pilgrimage walking through Galilee and steep desert-oasis hikes near the Dead Sea. The strongest first question is not “which hike is best?”—it is which type of journey you want.
Current travel context · September 16, 2026
Security and access conditions in this region can change rapidly. This article is an evergreen hiking-planning resource, not confirmation that every route, border crossing or destination is appropriate for travel today. Check your government’s current advisory and local park/trail notices immediately before departure.
Which hike should you choose?
For the strongest multi-day trekking experience, start with Dana to Petra. It combines wilderness, large elevation changes, Bedouin landscapes and a final approach to one of the world’s great archaeological sites.
For a shorter trip with the biggest visual payoff, choose the Petra Back Trail from Little Petra to Ad Deir.
For desert hiking and overnight atmosphere, Wadi Rum is the standout. It is better understood as a large guided hiking landscape than as one fixed trail.
For a long pilgrimage-style walk, the Jesus Trail links Nazareth with the Sea of Galilee. For a much larger national thru-hiking objective, the Israel National Trail crosses more than 1,000 km of terrain—but current security and route-access conditions must be checked section by section.
Four hiking days through one of Jordan’s strongest landscape transitions.
Little Petra to the Monastery from the quieter northern side.
Open sandstone wilderness, Bedouin camps and guided route flexibility.
Nazareth to Capernaum through Galilee.
Jordan & Israel hike comparison
Long-distance mileage does not tell you everything. Water logistics, navigation, heat, flash floods and current access matter just as much.
| Hike | Country / region | Distance | Typical format | Difficulty | Guide? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dana to Petra | Jordan | 72.4 km | 4 hiking days | Difficult / challenging | Strongly recommended | Best overall multi-day trek |
| Petra Back Trail | Jordan | 7 km one way | 3¼–3½ hr walking | Moderate | Optional depending current rules/logistics | Best short archaeological hike |
| Wadi Rum | Jordan | Flexible | Half-day to multi-day | Moderate to serious | Very useful | Desert immersion |
| Jordan Trail | Jordan | 675+ km | ~35 hiking days | Major thru-hike | JTA strongly recommends local guidance in remote sections | Full-country journey |
| Jesus Trail | Galilee | 65 km | Often 4 days | Moderate | Optional when current conditions allow | Pilgrimage + history |
| Israel National Trail | Israel | 1,000+ km | 56 mapped sections | Major thru-hike | Independent possible where open | Long national traverse |
The hikes that define this regional cluster
These six routes own the child-page architecture. The parent summarizes the decision; the child guides own route-level logistics.
Dana to Petra Trek
This is the regional centerpiece: Dana Biosphere Reserve, Wadi Feynan, remote ridges and canyons, Little Petra and a final approach into Petra.
The Jordan Trail Association says the trail is not continuously marked and strongly recommends local guidance because water and connectivity can be limited.
Open Dana to Petra guide →
Petra Backdoor Hike
Approach Petra from Siq al-Barid / Little Petra and reach Ad Deir from the back side instead of entering through the main Siq first.
Petra’s official tourism authority describes agricultural land, rugged ascents and descents, views into Wadi Araba and the final arrival at the Monastery.
Open Petra Backdoor guide →
Wadi Rum Hiking
Wadi Rum is not one trail. It is a huge sandstone-and-granite hiking area where a local Bedouin guide can connect canyons, arches, peaks, inscriptions and camp locations.
Longer hikers can connect Wadi Rum to the Jordan Trail: Petra–Rum is about 125 km, while Rum–Aqaba continues roughly another 76 km.
Open Wadi Rum hiking guide →
Jordan Trail
The complete north-to-south trail links Um Qais with Aqaba through forest, villages, wadis, Petra and the southern desert.
The Jordan Trail Association publishes the route and GPX data but explicitly warns that the trail is not continuously marked.
Open Jordan Trail guide →
Jesus Trail
A 65 km walking route from Nazareth toward Capernaum, connecting religious, historical and rural landscapes around Galilee.
Highlights include Cana, the Horns of Hattin, Mount Arbel, Magdala, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes.
Open Jesus Trail guide →
Israel National Trail
A national-scale traverse linking northern landscapes with the Mediterranean interior, Judean Desert, Negev and Eilat region.
The trail’s route continues to evolve. SPNI publishes official map updates and reroutes. Current security restrictions must be checked before choosing sections.
Open Israel National Trail guide →
Jordan’s strongest hiking corridor runs Dana → Petra → Wadi Rum → Aqaba.
The attraction is continuity. A trip can move from high escarpments and nature reserve terrain into Nabataean sandstone, remote desert and finally the Red Sea without the hiking feeling like a collection of unrelated day trips.
Six route guides + one lodging planner
These seven URLs form the regional cluster. Each child should link back to this parent and laterally to the most relevant neighboring routes.
Israel’s hiking identity changes dramatically from north to south.
Galilee brings ridges, farmland, pilgrimage routes and the Sea of Galilee. Farther south, hiking shifts toward dry limestone, desert escarpments, Dead Sea oases and the long Negev sections of the Israel National Trail.
Six more hikes worth keeping on the parent page
These broaden the regional hub without creating unnecessary child-page cannibalization.
Al Dayr / Monastery Trail
From Qasr al-Bint, climb roughly 800 steps toward Ad Deir. Petra currently lists the one-way route at about 2 km and 1½–1¾ hours.
Dana–Feynan
A strong stand-alone nature-reserve hike and the opening landscape of the larger Dana-to-Petra journey.
Wadi Rum to Aqaba
The Jordan Trail continues about 75.9 km from Wadi Rum toward the Red Sea over roughly five hiking days.
Mount Arbel
A compact cliff-and-view hike above the Sea of Galilee and one of the strongest terrain sections around the Jesus Trail.
Ein Gedi
Normally one of the region’s classic desert-oasis hiking areas. Flood damage currently means substantial route restrictions, so check the Israel Nature and Parks Authority before visiting.
Masada
Desert ascent routes combine hiking with the archaeological site. Heat and opening-hour rules make timing central to the plan.
Best hiking season
Desert heat and flash-flood risk produce almost opposite problems. The best calendar depends on the exact trail.
| Period | Jordan desert / Petra | Galilee | Judean / Negev desert | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar–Apr | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | One of the broadest hiking windows. |
| May | Warmer | Good / warm | Heat increasingly important | Earlier starts become more valuable. |
| Jun–Sep | Hot | Hot | Often very hot | Many exposed desert hikes become poor choices in midday heat. |
| Oct–Nov | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Strong long-distance hiking window. |
| Dec–Feb | Cool; rain possible | Cool / wetter | Often excellent temperatures | Flash-flood forecasts become critical in wadis. |
Difficulty is more about environment than elevation
These are not high-altitude Himalayan treks. The challenge comes from heat, water, route-finding, rough ground, remoteness and cumulative walking.
Exposure
Shade can be limited and radiant heat from desert rock changes the effort dramatically.
Supply gaps
Long trails require deliberate water planning rather than assuming springs or shops will appear.
Remote terrain
The Jordan Trail Association explicitly notes that its trail is not continuously marked.
Flash floods
Narrow wadis can become dangerous rapidly after rain within a wider drainage.
Choose the base from the hike—not the city name
The lodging page owns hotel/base selection. This parent only establishes which bases belong to which hiking systems.
Amman
Best for flights, city logistics and organized Jordan Trail departures—not as a daily base for Petra or Wadi Rum.
Dana / Feynan
The natural staging system for Dana Biosphere Reserve and the start of Dana-to-Petra itineraries.
Wadi Musa
The practical lodging base for Petra’s main entrance and multi-day exploration of the archaeological park.
Wadi Rum camp
Staying inside or near the desert changes Wadi Rum from a quick excursion into a genuine hiking experience.
Nazareth / Tiberias
Nazareth fits the start of the Jesus Trail; Tiberias works better for Sea of Galilee and Arbel-area exploration.
Dead Sea / Ein Gedi area
Logical for Masada and Ein Gedi when current access and security conditions permit.
Build around one hiking system first
These are planning frameworks only. Current government advice, border operations and local access must be confirmed before travel.
Amman → Dana → Dana-to-Petra section or selected stages → Petra → Wadi Rum. Best for travelers whose priority is continuous desert trekking.
Add a full Petra day and two nights in Wadi Rum, or continue sections of the Jordan Trail toward Aqaba.
Nazareth → Jesus Trail stages → Mount Arbel → Sea of Galilee. Build only after confirming current local access and travel advice.
Section hiking on the Israel National Trail plus Masada / Ein Gedi where open. Heat and current park restrictions should determine the actual daily plan.
Treat this as two separate hiking systems joined by international travel, not as one continuous trail itinerary. Verify border-crossing operations and entry requirements close to departure.
Five checks matter more than another packing list
Current conditions are unusually important in this region.
Travel advisory
Check your government’s destination and regional advisory immediately before departure.
Trail / park status
Verify the Jordan Trail Association, Petra authority, RSCN, SPNI and Israel Nature and Parks Authority as appropriate.
Weather upstream
Wadi safety depends on rainfall across the drainage—not only conditions at the trailhead.
Water plan
Remote Jordan Trail and desert sections need known refill/cache points rather than optimistic assumptions.
Guide decision
Remote desert navigation, water logistics or rapidly changing access can make local guidance valuable even for experienced hikers.
Leave a real trip plan
A route name is not enough. Leave stage, expected finish, contact method and escalation time with someone off trail.
Use these again immediately before travel
Current access information matters more than any static guide.
Jordan Trail Association
Route sections, GPX files, organized hikes, Dana-to-Petra information and trail warnings.
Open Jordan Trail →Petra Development & Tourism Authority
Official trail distances, access, visitor logistics and current Petra information.
Open Visit Petra →Visit Jordan
Official destination information for Dana, Feynan, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Jordan Trail.
Open Visit Jordan →SPNI
Current segment maps, route changes and Israel National Trail information.
Open SPNI →Jesus Trail
Main 65 km route, stages and pilgrimage context from Nazareth to Capernaum.
Open Jesus Trail →Israel Nature & Parks Authority
Current opening hours, reservations and closures for places including Arbel and Ein Gedi.
Open INPA →Jordan & Israel hiking questions
Direct answers for choosing the route before opening the detailed child guides.
What is the best hike in Jordan?
Dana to Petra is our strongest choice for a dedicated multi-day hiking trip. The route combines Dana, Feynan, rugged desert terrain, Little Petra and Petra itself.
What is the best short hike in Petra?
The Back Trail from Little Petra to Ad Deir is especially strong because the hike itself is scenic and the destination is the Monastery. The current official route is 7 km one way and graded moderate.
Is Wadi Rum good for hiking?
Yes, but it is an open desert landscape rather than one famous marked trail. A local guide can connect sandstone canyons, arches, peaks and camps while managing route-finding and water logistics.
How long is the Jordan Trail?
The Jordan Trail Association currently describes the route as more than 675 km from Um Qais to Aqaba with roughly 35 hiking days.
How long is the Jesus Trail?
The main Jesus Trail is 65 km from Nazareth to Capernaum. Four walking days is a common format.
How long is the Israel National Trail?
SPNI currently describes the trail as more than 1,000 km with 56 mapped sections.
Can you hike these trails independently?
It depends on the route and current access. The Jordan Trail Association strongly recommends a local guide on remote sections because the trail is not continuously marked, water can be limited and connectivity may disappear. The Jesus Trail and Israel National Trail have a stronger independent-hiking tradition where sections are open and conditions are suitable.
When is the best time to hike in this region?
Spring and autumn generally provide the broadest temperature window. Winter can be excellent in the desert but brings rain and flash-flood risk. Summer can become dangerously hot on exposed desert routes.
Is Ein Gedi fully open?
Not currently. Significant flood damage has changed access. Israel Nature and Parks Authority presently lists only a shortened Wadi David visit, Wadi Arugot with restrictions and several other areas closed. Recheck immediately before visiting.
This build uses reusable Wikimedia Commons imagery for Wadi Rum, Dana/Feynan, Petra, Mount Arbel, Ein Gedi and Masada. Original creators and license details remain available on each Commons file page. For long-term production, uploading appropriately licensed copies to the Global Summit Guide media library is preferable to relying permanently on external hotlinks.
Continue planning from the regional hub
Use the parent to choose the hiking system, then move into the route, lodging and trip-planning guides that own the detailed decisions.
Was this helpful?
Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
What We Don't Know Yet
Mountain information changes quickly. This box explains the limits of what this page can responsibly promise.
- Route conditions, snowpack, closures, and weather can change quickly after this page is updated.
- Permit rules, fees, quotas, and reservation windows may change between review cycles.
- Operator availability, pricing, guide ratios, and cancellation terms can change by season.
- Your fitness, altitude response, risk tolerance, and experience level may change what is safe or realistic.
- Use this page for planning guidance, then verify current information with official sources and qualified local experts before committing.
Verify current conditions with official land managers, guide services, local forecasts, and current route reports before booking or climbing.
Mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, glacier travel, and high-altitude activity are inherently dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. The information on Global Summit Guide is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional instruction, qualified guiding, proper equipment, or your own judgment and experience.
Route conditions, weather, snowpack, permits, regulations, and hazards change constantly and may differ from what is described here. Details may be incomplete, out of date, or contain errors. Always verify current information with local authorities, certified guides, and official sources before making any decision in the mountains.
Nothing on this site is medical, legal, or financial advice. Our fitness, acclimatization, altitude, and nutrition content is general in nature; consult a qualified physician before beginning any strenuous exercise program or exposing yourself to high altitude.
You are solely responsible for your own safety and decisions. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Global Summit Guide and its team accept no liability for any loss, injury, damage, or expense arising from use of, or reliance on, this information. By using this site you acknowledge these risks and accept these terms.
Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; this never affects our recommendations.
Global Summit Guide recommendation path
Next Best Mountain to Research
Use these recommendations to continue the right planning path instead of stopping on one page.
Use current permit, weather, route, and operator information before booking or climbing.