Much has been written and said in recent years with regards to Eco-Tourism. In fact, the term has taken on a very broad meaning that encompasses a number of different criterions.

At Jordan Via Petra, we have managed to create packages that tick all the boxes! With Jordan Via Petra, we strive to offer our Eco-tourists trips that promise to involve travel to natural destination, minimize impact on the environment, build environmental awareness, provide direct financial benefits for conservation, respect local culture, and support empowerment for local people. To this end, we are pleased to offer tours that visit a number of eco-sites such as the Azraq Wetland Reserve and the Dana/Feynan Eco Lodge amongst others.

Activities include bird-watching, hiking, accommodation in eco-lodges, transportation in hybrid vehicles, excursions to different natural gorges, ancient aqueducts and water reservoirs, camping under the stares in Wadi Rum, visits to the natural hot springs of Ma’in, and dining with a local family. Discover the different flora, fauna, and cultural heritage sites that make the Kingdom one of the prime destinations for Eco-Tourism. Upon request, the team at Jordan Via Petra can also help travelers determine the carbon footprint of their travels, and assist them in determining how to off-set these.

Sites visited include :

– Dana

Dana Nature Reserve covers 308 square kilometers and is a world of natural treasures. It is composed of a chain of valleys and mountains which extend from the top of the Jordan Rift Valley down to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. The visitor to this area will be awed by the beauty of the Rummana mountain, the mystery of the ancient archaeological ruins of Feinan, the timeless serenity of Dana Village and the grandeur of the red and white sandstone cliffs of Wadi Dana.

The Reserve contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes that range from wooded highlands to rocky slopes and from gravel plains to dunes of sand. Moreover, Dana supports diverse wildlife which includes a variety of rare species of plants and animals; Dana is home to about 600 species of plants, 37 species of mammals and 190 species of birds.

– Mujib

The Mujib Nature Reserve is the lowest-altitude nature reserve in the world, with its spectacular array of scenery near the East coast of the Dead Sea. The reserve is located within the deep Wadi Mujib gorge which enters the Dead Sea at 410m below sea level. The reserve extends to the Karak and Madaba mountains to the North and South, reaching 900m above sea level in some places. This 1,300m variation in elevation, combined with the valley’s year-round water flow from seven tributaries, means that the Wadi Mujib enjoys a magnificent biodiversity that is still being explored and documented today.

Over 420 species of plants, 102 species of permanent and migratory birds and10 species of carnivore including the Red Fox, Blandford Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wild Cat, Caracal, Badger, Mongoose, Wolf and Arabian Leopard have been recorded to date. Some of the remote mountain and valley areas are difficult to reach, offering a safe haven to various species of cats, goats and other mountain animals

 – Azraq

Azraq is a unique wetland oasis located in the heart of the semi-arid Jordanian eastern desert, one of several beautiful nature reserves managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). Its attractions include several natural and ancient built pools, a seasonally flooded marshland, and a large mudflat know as Qa’a Al-Azraq. A wide variety of birds stop at the reserve each year for a rest during their arduous migration routes between Asia and Africa. Some stay for the winter or breed within the protected areas of the wetland.

– Wadi Feynan

Although it’s part of a long term strategy by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature to protect local plant life it was built as a base for people wanting to explore the area on foot or by mountain bike. The Bedouin who live in the Wadi are amongst the most impoverished in Jordan. They rely almost totally on their goats for survival. Unfortunately overgrazing is endangering plant life and to encourage the Bedouin to reduce this, the RSCN have come up with several schemes to provide alternative, sustainable sources of income. Feynan Lodge is one of them. Built entirely of local materials the unique arabesque design by a local architect incorporates traditional adobe building techniques and has produced a building that is functional, romantic and blends with its surroundings. It’s powered by day using solar energy and lit at night by candles produced by Bedouin women working in the candle workshop that forms part of the lodge. It’s also staffed and run entirely by local Bedouin.