On the coming Monday, we leave for the annual Abraham Path walk – this year from Dana (a nature reserve southwest of Amman) to Petra in Jordan.

I’m expecting our walk to be very special – and just a little bit scary. It will certainly be different to last year’s walk on the Al Alyoun Trail in the gentle greenery of northern Jordan.

The 5-day Dana to Petra trek is a part of Abraham Path and the Jordan trail and was rated as one of the world’s best hikes by National Geographic. The hike crosses spectacular scenery in southern Jordan, allowing us to experience the hospitality of the Bedouin and the heritage of the wild desert, and ends with walking into Petra, one of the seven new world wonders.

It has been explored and mapped recently by Experience Jordan in collaboration with the Abraham Path Initiative (API) and I am joining the other directors of the API to be among the first to walk it.  We have been told it is a spectacular addition to other sections of the path in Jordan and connects some of the most beautiful places of natural and cultural heritage.

I promised the UK Friends a 2015 Walk. This may be it – but I want to check it for myself first. Our itinerary will be quite demanding and we have been warned that only fit, experienced multi-day hikers should be taking part. Let’s hope I match up to it.  If it goes well, expect to hear from me encouraging you to join me for a re-visit.

The Itinerary: 

Day 1: Transfer to Dana.  Overnight in Dana Guest House.

Day 2: Hike from Dana to Feynan. Overnight in Feynan Eco-Lodge

Day 3: Drive from Feynan to Ras Al-Feid and hike to Gbour Whedat. Overnight camping in the wilderness.

Day 4: Hike from Gbour Whedat to Little Petra. Overnight camping in wilderness in an area called the West Mo’esrah.

Day 5: Hike from Little Petra to Petra. Dinner in a local family house – overnight in Movenpick!

Day 6: Hike in Petra, and transfer to Amman.

For those who would like to know more, you can find maps, elevation tables and more inspiration at http://abrahampath.org/path/dana/