Dana to Petra Trek: 8-Day Wilderness Hiking Expedition
Recognized globally as one of the world's premier multi-day treks—often termed the "Inca Trail of the Middle East"—this 8-day wilderness expedition follows ancient Bedouin migration routes across the rugged mountain and desert terrain connecting the Dana Biosphere Reserve to Petra.
Trip Summary
Duration:
Theme:
8 Days / 7 Nights
Wilderness Trekking, Remote Camping & Back-Country Petra
Target Segment:
Pacing:
Trekking Clubs, Experienced Hikers, Adventure Series
Strenuous / Demanding (5–9 hours daily hiking over rocky terrain)
Departure Day:
Sites Visited:
Weekly Saturday Guaranteed Departure
Madaba, Dana Biosphere Reserve, Feynan, Wadi Barwas, Beidha (Little Petra), Petra
Overnight Stops:
Madaba Hotel (1N) Private Wilderness Camps (5N) Wadi Musa/Petra Hotel (1N)
Day - by - Day Itinerary in Detail
Day 1 (Sat): Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport then Madaba
Arrival in Jordan: Arrival at QAIA, meet-and-assist through customs, and transfer to hotel in Madaba for trek briefing.
Overnight: Madaba.
Day 2 (Sun): Dana Village to Feynan Wilderness Trek (6 Hours Walking)
Days Focus: Mountain Descent through Bio-Zones.
Activity: Transfer to Dana village. Begin trekking downhill through the Dana Biosphere Reserve, crossing sandstone gorges down to Feynan in the Araba Valley.
Overnight: Private Wilderness Camp (Feynan).
Day 3 (Mon): Feynan to Wadi Barwas Desert Plain Trek (6 Hours Walking)
Days Focus: Araba Plain & Desert Plateau Trekking.
Activity: Trek across the flat, rocky desert plains of the Dead Sea basin toward the foothills of the Sharah Mountains at Wadi Barwas.
Overnight: Private Wilderness Camp (Wadi Barwas).
Day 4 (Tue): Wadi Barwas to Mountain Pass Ascent (6 Hours Walking)
Days Focus: Mountain Ascent & Bedouin Goat Trails.
Activity: Challenging morning ascent following goat tracks up the mountain ridges, taking in views over the Araba Valley before descending to campsite.
Overnight: Private Wilderness Camp.
Day 5 (Wed): Remote Mountain Ridges to Ibex Sanctuary (8–9 Hours Walking)
Days Focus: Technical Mountain Navigation & Wildlife Observation.
Activity: The most demanding day of the trek, following lesser-defined Bedouin trails across rugged ridges with opportunities to spot Nubian Ibex.
Overnight: Private Wilderness Camp.
Day 6 (Thu): Wilderness to Beidha / Little Petra (5 Hours Walking)
Days Focus: Sandstone Moonscapes & Nabatean Suburbs.
Activity: Trek toward Beidha (Little Petra), transitioning into white sandstone moonscape landscapes.
Overnight: Private Wilderness Camp (Little Petra).
Day 7 (Fri): Back Door Trail into Petra to The Monastery (8 Hours Total)
Days Focus: Back-Door Monumental Entry & Guided Tour.
Activity: Hike the back-door trail into Petra, emerging at The Monastery (Ad Deir). Descend through central Petra past the Royal Tombs and exit through the Siq.
Overnight: Wadi Musa (Petra) Hotel.
Day 8 (Sat): Departure via QAIA
Departure via QAIA: Early breakfast at hotel in Petra then private transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for flight home.
