History and hiking: a holiday in Jordan

Jordan may not be the first place you think of when you’re looking for a hiking break, but it is home to some outstanding walking trails, not to mention incredible historical sites. In many cases, these two are combined to give you one of the most varied and interesting holidays possible.

Of course, one of Jordan’s most famous attractions is Petra – the amazing rock-carved city in the heart of the mountains. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking here and, in fact, if you want to see it properly you’ll need to be prepared for a fair bit of walking.

Hiking in Petra

Your walks in Petra will all begin in the same place – at the top of the Siq gorge that leads into the hidden city. The trail is relatively gentle and takes you between towering red-rock cliffs before bringing you to the site’s most famous building – the Treasury.

However, the awe you feel when you see this monument is only the beginning, with impressive tombs, temples and many other buildings around every corner. One of the best views in Petra is from the High Place of Sacrifice which is, as its name suggests, at the top of one of the towering cliffs. From this vantage point you can see most of the city, giving you a wonderful overview of the various buildings.

The best – and most challenging – walk to undertake is the route to the Ad Deir Monastery, which is located at the top of a trail featuring some 900 steps. As you climb you can take breaks to look back down the valley and into Petra, but keep going because it’s worth the effort. Once you reach the end of the steps, you will be greeted with a view of a coffee shop, turn around and to your left, though, and you’ll be confronted by a building that’s almost as impressive as the Treasury. The monastery is beautiful and in a picturesque spot with outstanding views. Take a few moments to enjoy the scene.

Walking around Jerash

While Petra may be the jewel in Jordan’s crown, it is far from the only historical site of interest in the country. Jerash, which is located in the Gilead Hills to the north of Amman, is also well worth a visit.

The site is less extensive than Petra, with the circular route around the ruins covering roughly 3 km. Jerash is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world and was once part of the Decapolis, a federation of ten Roman cities. The collonaded streets, vast squares and numerous temples are astounding – you can really get a sense of how the city must have looked at the height of its power as the ruins are in such good condition.

Take the time to fully explore the temples, amphitheatres and marketplaces that you find as you stroll – there are some beautiful examples of stone carving tucked away here and there.

Trekking in Wadi Rum

While Wadi Rum doesn’t have any impressive ruins, it does have several interesting historical connections, not least of all with Lawrence of Arabia. The desert landscape here is stunning, with the sand giving way to towering mountains in rocks of red, purple and yellow hues.

The Bedouins have used routes through this barren landscape for centuries and you can follow in their footsteps as you explore and marvel at the unspoilt beauty of the mountains and the desert. To find out how to incorporate visits to all of these attractions into one tour,visit this website.