Hiking Dana to Petra

Marhaba! You definitely know you're out of the U.S. when the call to prayer rings out from mosque loudspeakers starting at 4 AM and continues throughout the day. It's a sound that immediately immerses you in the local culture.

From the moment I landed, I felt taken care of. Even during our hike, we had an armed police officer with us. His name was Seif, and he kept complimenting me on my eyes, buying me little candies and treats along the way. Flattery and hiking—well played, Seif, well played. You definitely earned a great TripAdvisor review!

Our lead guide, Jawad, was fantastic. His English was excellent, and he had an easygoing, fun personality. He was also super strong and kept up the pace without breaking a sweat. Jawad led the group, while Mutaz, or “Taz,” was our rear guide. Taz was a deeply spiritual man who led us in yoga every evening after our hikes. Along with us were two Bedouins and two donkeys, Felha and Friend, who carried our gear and added a lot of charm to the experience.

“Shway shway” means slowly or little by little. “Yalla” means let’s go. We heard those phrases a lot as we hiked up and down the mountains.

In Wadi Rum, we stayed in a Bedouin camp. (Wadi means “valley” in Arabic, and this valley is famous for being the backdrop of The Martian and Indiana Jones.) We slept in tents with blankets and had a communal lounge tent made with goat hair blankets and plush carpets. That’s where we stretched out on the floor and had our Bedouin tea and Turkish coffee from fancy metal teapots and dallahs (Bedouin coffee pots) that sat directly on the fire. We chatted, laughed, and learned. We also watched the Bedouins smoke their fragrant apple-flavored tobacco from an ornate shisha or hookah. And I got my blissful fill of hummus and baba ganoush.

“Inshalla,” meaning "If Allah wills," became our mantra. Inshalla, we make it to camp; Inshalla, it doesn’t rain when we arrive in Petra and we get swept away by a flash flood; Inshalla, I get my ass off this rock and keep hiking up this hill. But if not… it’s God's will, so I’m good. :)

On the environmental side, Jordan faces some big challenges. It’s the second most water-scarce country in the world, so water conservation is a huge issue. There’s also a lot of pollution, particularly with plastic waste. And sadly, many of the trees in the country were cut down to build the railroad.

On this trip I did not learn about organizations working in this area, but I did learn about making friends and how experiencing something foreign and different can bring forth a profound appreciation for a new culture, and landscape.

Group of hikers walking on a rocky mountain trail with a donkey carrying supplies.
Group of hikers posing in a rocky desert landscape.
Group of hikers ascending a rocky mountain trail with sun overhead.
A donkey with colorful blankets on its back grazes on a rocky hillside with mountains in the background. Several people are visible in the background, walking and standing.
Person standing on rocky desert landscape with mountains in the background.
Group of hikers overlooking a rocky canyon landscape
Herd of goats on a rocky hill against a clear blue sky.
Goats climbing a steep rocky cliff.
Two old brass kettles with blackened surfaces placed on a gravel ground.
Three men walking with a donkey in a desert landscape with green shrubs and rocky terrain.
Donkey with saddle in rocky desert terrain
Man sitting on the ground next to a small fire with water bottles in a desert landscape.
People standing on a rocky cliff with desert landscape in the background under a clear blue sky.
People walking with donkeys on a rocky trail with a mountainous backdrop.
Person with a donkey overlooking rocky desert landscape
A person wearing a sun hat rides a donkey on a dirt path in a desert landscape, accompanied by a person in a striped shirt walking next to them.
Rocky desert landscape with sandstone formations and scattered vegetation.
Hikers with walking sticks on a narrow rocky path in a canyon
A narrow stone staircase winding between two massive rock cliffs, with flags and a sign reading 'The Best View in the World' at the bottom.
Group of hikers exploring ancient rock-cut architecture with scarves displayed nearby.
Ancient rock-cut temple facade with columns, carved into a cliff.
Ancient rock-carved facade with steps leading to a small entrance, Petra, Jordan.
Petra's Treasury illuminated with purple lights at night, candles on the ground, visitors exploring the site.
People at night in front of the Petra Treasury, illuminated with candles and colorful lights.
Petra's Al-Khazneh lit with candles at night with people gathering.
The Treasury at Petra illuminated at night with candles and crowd of visitors.
Man hiking in a rocky desert landscape with cliffs and sparse trees
Rocky desert landscape with rugged hills and clear sky.
Three people interacting outdoors in a desert setting with mountains in the background.
Rock-carved building in Petra, Jordan with goats in the foreground on a rocky desert landscape.
A tabby cat sitting on a sandy ground with ancient stone ruins in Petra, Jordan in the background.
The Monastery at Petra, Jordan, with tourists in the foreground.
A group of people posing in front of the Monastery, Petra, Jordan, with ancient rock-cut architecture in the background.
A person smiling on a rocky trail with a mountainous landscape in the background.
Two people sitting on rocks with Petra's Treasury in background.
Person sitting on a cliff overlooking the ancient rock-cut Treasury building in Petra, Jordan.
The Treasury at Petra viewed through canyon with tourists walking
Horse-drawn carriage in narrow sandstone canyon with people walking beside it, possibly in Petra, Jordan.
The Treasury at Petra, Jordan, with visitors and camels in front.
A person standing in front of the ancient Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) in Petra, Jordan, with tourists and camels in the background.
Petra rock-cut architecture in Jordan
Person riding a camel through a narrow sandstone gorge in Petra, Jordan.
The Treasury at Petra, Jordan, with tourists and camels in the foreground.
Camels with saddles resting on desert sand near rocky cliffs.
Desert landscape with camels resting, mountains in the background.
People traveling in a white Toyota pickup truck through Wadi Rum desert, with large rock formations in the background.
People walking barefoot on red sand dunes.
People walking on red sand dunes in a desert landscape with rocky cliffs in the background.
Person sitting on rock at desert landscape, looking at mountains under cloudy sky.
Group of people posing in a desert landscape with mountains in the background.
People standing on a natural stone arch in a desert landscape
Group of people sliding down a rock slope in a desert landscape.
Desert landscape at sunset with rocky formations and distant hills.
Desert landscape with two off-road vehicles driving on sandy terrain, surrounded by rocky mountains under a cloudy sky.
Group of people smiling and holding beer bottles at a bar table indoors.
Group of smiling people enjoying a street food dessert on a night out.
Group of hikers posing with a donkey in a desert landscape with rocky hills.
Group of hikers posing on a rocky mountain trail with a scenic canyon in the background on a sunny day.
A goat standing in front of the ancient rock-cut Ed-Deir Monastery in Petra, Jordan, with other goats in the background.
Three people sitting around a traditional open fire pit with a large kettle on a metal stand, inside a tent with colorful carpets.
Smiling person sitting on a rock in a desert setting with backpack and water bottle.
Hikers walking through a narrow canyon with rocky walls.
Tourists riding camels on a stone pathway in Petra, Jordan.
Group of hikers posing on a rocky landscape with desert hills in the background.
Night sky with stars and constellation Orion over silhouetted mountains.