Welcome to Feynan Ecolodge

“Best hike i've had in decades.” HaniDublin, TripAdvisor, March 2010

Guided and self-guided excursions are available at Feynan. Guests have two options for guiding services at Feynan: private guided hikes or on an open guided hike available to all. For the open guided hikes, there are two options each day: a half and full-day excursion. Routes will be decided upon the day before. Open guided hike pricing can be found on our price list. If your party requires a private guide, please be sure to book in advance as limited private guides are available. For private guided hikes, you can check a box on our reservations page and we will respond with pricing and availability.

sunrise and sunset hikes

bait abu khalil sunrise hike
Start off a great day in the wilderness with this challenging sunrise hike. Depart from the lodge at dawn with one of our local Bedouin guides to climb into the mountains just as Bedouin shepherds do with their flocks each morning. Recommended for intermediary to advanced hikers (no children permitted for safety), this hike involves negotiating Bedouin shepherd trails atop the ridgelines of steep hills and cliffs that surround Abu Khalil’s (a local elder) winter and summer beits (homes in Arabic). At the summit of the hike you will be able to gaze for kilometres over Bedouin villages, ancient ruins, and the desert of Wadi Araba. The colours over Feynan are fantastic as day breaks and the sun begins to shine over mountains, canyons and the desert surrounding Feynan.

sunset hike
Every evening, guests are invited to join the lodge’s guides on a complimentary hike to the top of a gentle outcrop to watch a sunset like no other. Against the dramatic backdrop of rugged, multi-coloured mountains, the sun descends, spreading vivid ambers, violets and reds across the canvas of the evening sky. Take this rare opportunity to witness the end of the day in the Bedouin camps below; with children wandering home from play, women tending the evening fires, and men rounding up their herds in a peaceful dance as the sun falls. Feel the gentle breeze ushering in nightfall as stars dot the sky and guides brew fresh mint tea over the warm fire.

half day hikes

copper mines
Learn how vast deposits of copper were discovered, mined and processed at Feynan
by ancient civilisations thousands of years ago and what an important supply centre Feynan was for the Roman Empire. Come explore deep, long-forgotten mine shafts and visit nearby sites to see how the copper was transported and refined, leaving vast
slag formations from the smelting process that are still visible today. A guide is required on this 3-4 hour hike.

archaeological treasures
Uncover the remarkable history of Feynan through the many archaeological treasures that dot the landscape surrounding the lodge. Well-preserved Roman ruins include an aqueduct and mill. Remnants of an early Byzantine monastery and church still stand atop a nearby hill and the remains of Neolithic settlements attest to the shift from a nomadic way of life to that of permanent dwellings and agriculture. This hike takes 2-4 hours to complete, and can be guided or self-guided.

wadi ghwayr sampler
This 4 hour trail begins from the lodge and passes by Khirbet Feynan, where many Byzantine and Roman ruins are preserved passing onwards into the Wadi Ghwayr basin. Following the gravel riverbed, the trail proceeds onwards past a Neolithic settlement estimated to be over 12,000 years old. The trail then follows the riverbed past pink acacias and other plant life made possible by the seasonal flows of Wadi Ghwayr when rain is received in winter months in the mountains to the East of Feynan Ecolodge. The route returns the same way back to the lodge. Be prepared for your feet and ankles to most likely get wet.

wadi dana sampler
Another 4 hour excursion, this half day hike explores the lower end of Wadi Dana. Starting from the lodge and the open desert-like zone of Dana Biosphere Reserve, the trail gradually becomes greener as the hike moves more and more into the valley of Wadi Dana, with tall peaks that line either side of the valley. Highlights of the hike include passing through groups of Bedouin families in traditional tent homes, seeing natural springs, and perhaps catching a glimpse of some of the birds that call Dana Biosphere Reserve home. This hike returns to the lodge along the same route.

full day hikes

wadi dana full day hike
Embark on a day-long, 14 km guided or seld-guided journey that will satisfy all your senses. Start from the Dana Guesthouse at 1200m above sea level and adventure down through the beautiful Dana Biosphere Reserve to Feynan at 325 m. Cross paths and exchange warm greetings with local Bedouin tending their goats or stop to rest and enjoy sweet tea. Experience the different bio-geological zones of Dana and keep an eye out for the many rare forms of flora and fauna to be found here such as the Nubian ibex. For those looking for a steeper challenge, this hike can be made in reverse, uphill from Feynan to the Dana Guesthouse.

wadi ghwayr
Take a canyoning adventure and explore one of the most bountiful wadis in Jordan. Here a stream winds through the gorge, lined with flowering pink oleanders, palm trees and acacias. At the bottom of the narrow canyon carved into the mountains by water over millennia, the siq floor passes under massive boulders and breathtaking rock formations. Plan to get your feet and ankles wet depending on the time of year. Various excursions can be organized: guests can either set off on foot from the lodge and end up at the village of Mansoura, where they take the 2 hours return journey by car to the lodge, or can be driven to the village of Mansoura in the morning from where they can journey back through the canyon to Feynan on foot. The Wadi Ghwayr hike takes 6-8 hours and requires a guide. This hike is closed in the winter.

um alamad
This challenging trail is accessible by around a forty minute off-road drive from the lodge. Once the 4x4 has taken you to the trailhead, you will begin an uphill climb to Um Alamad. After around 3 hours of moderately difficult hiking, you will arrive at the copper mine caves near Um Alamad and the columns left by the Romans over 2,000 years ago. After a midway rest, you will begin the return back to the lodge on a circular route between the mountains ending at Wadi Ghwayr. This trail offers beautiful landscapes that overlook local villages and the great expanses of Wadi Araba. This hike takes around 8 hours to complete and requires a guide.

wadi dana to wadi ghwayr
This hike is ideal for those wishing to take in the full spectrum of landscapes and terrains Feynan has to offer. Beginning from the lodge, set out towards Wadi Dana, with mountainous peaks to either side of the wadi. Here, you might chance upon some of the beautiful birds that call Dana home or some of the beautiful plants and flowers lining the gorge. Further on you will have a chance to explore the lower end of Wadi Ghwayr, another bountiful wadi that receives seasonal flows from rainfall in the mountains to the east of Feynan. Here you can explore some of the Neolithic, Roman and Byzantine ruins that demonstrate the historical importance of the area on your return leg back to the lodge. Closed mid-September to mid-October for Ibex breeding season.