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Dana
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Dana, Jordan offers mountain walks, village heritage and wildlife in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, with dramatic Rift Valley scenery and quiet rural stays.

A Village Above the Rift

Dana is a small stone village in southern Jordan, perched on the eastern escarpment of the Great Rift Valley above the Dana Biosphere Reserve. Its setting is the defining feature: steep valleys descend from the village towards Wadi Araba, while the reserve stretches across a dramatic sequence of mountains, plateaux and arid lowlands. Rather than a conventional town with a busy centre, Dana offers a quiet rural settlement, a handful of guesthouses and direct access to some of Jordan’s most varied landscapes.
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Heritage and Landscape

The village’s traditional houses, built from local stone, reflect the practical architecture of a highland community shaped by farming, herding and seasonal movement. Paths around Dana lead towards terraced slopes, ravines and viewpoints where the terrain changes visibly with the light. The nearby Dana Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, protects habitats ranging from Mediterranean woodland to desert, supporting wildlife such as Nubian ibex and a notable variety of birds. The lower reserve and Feynan area lie beyond the village and are distinct destinations within the wider protected landscape.

Slow Travel in Southern Jordan

Dana suits visitors who value walking, nature and a strong sense of place more than urban entertainment. Days are centred on guided or self-directed hiking, birdwatching, village walks and evenings beneath exceptionally dark skies. Accommodation is generally small-scale, with locally run guesthouses and ecolodge-style options rather than a large hotel sector. Dana is often visited as part of a route between Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba, but its quiet trails and layered geology reward a slower stay.

When is the best time to visit Dana?

Best: March, November–December · 20–29°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1810
February198
March (best)245
April323
May390
June440
July450
August450
September430
October370
November (best)292
December (best)208

Getting to and around Dana

How to get there

Dana is reached by road in southern Jordan rather than by rail or air. Most international visitors arrive through Queen Alia International Airport near Amman, then continue south on the Desert Highway towards Al-Qadisiyah and the access road for Dana village. The turn-off is near the town of Al-Qadisiyah, in Tafilah Governorate, and the final approach is mountainous. Petra lies to the north-east and Wadi Musa is commonly combined with Dana in an overland itinerary, while Aqaba is farther south. Public transport connections are limited and may not reach the village itself, so a private vehicle, taxi or pre-arranged transfer is generally the most practical option.

Transportation

Dana village is compact and can be explored on foot, with accommodation, viewpoints and nearby paths reached by walking. There is no urban bus, metro or rail system, and local taxis are not a dependable form of spontaneous transport. Hiking in the biosphere reserve requires attention to route difficulty, heat, elevation changes and the availability of water; some longer trails are best undertaken with a local guide or organised transfer. Four-wheel-drive vehicles may be useful on unpaved reserve roads, particularly for access to lower areas such as Feynan, but road conditions and permissions should be checked locally rather than assumed.

Best attractions in Dana

Dana’s principal attraction is the Dana Biosphere Reserve, whose trails move through an exceptional sequence of mountain and desert habitats between the highlands and Wadi Araba. From the village, visitors can explore viewpoints over the escarpment, walk among rocky valleys and terraces, and look for birds and wildlife including Nubian ibex in suitable areas. The old stone settlement of Dana provides a quieter cultural experience, with traditional houses, narrow paths and evidence of a former farming community. Longer routes lead towards lower parts of the reserve, although trailheads, transport and guiding arrangements need local confirmation. The Feynan area, known for its desert scenery and archaeological landscape, is a separate destination within the wider reserve rather than part of the village itself. Nature walks, night-sky observation and opportunities to learn about conservation give Dana a very different character from Jordan’s archaeological cities and Red Sea resorts.

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Best landmarks in Dana

Dana’s most significant built landmark is the historic stone village itself, where surviving houses and terraces express the architecture and agricultural life of a southern Jordanian highland community. Its position on the escarpment is also a geographic landmark, opening wide views towards the deeply cut valleys and the Wadi Araba lowlands. The Dana Biosphere Reserve is a landmark of modern conservation in Jordan, not a single monument but a protected landscape established in 1989 and managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. In the wider reserve, the Feynan region carries archaeological importance linked to ancient settlement and copper production, though it lies away from Dana village. These places are significant because they connect rural heritage, geological change and contemporary conservation rather than representing a dense urban collection of monuments.

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Best restaurants in Dana

Dana has a small, accommodation-based dining scene rather than a restaurant district. Guesthouses commonly serve home-style Jordanian meals, often centred on rice, vegetables, lentils, bread, salads, yoghurt and dishes such as mansaf or maqluba according to the household and arrangements available. Bedouin and rural culinary traditions are reflected in the use of tea, herbs and simple ingredients suited to a mountain community, while meals may be prepared for guests through local hospitality initiatives. Visitors should not expect a broad choice of cafés, supermarkets or late-opening eateries, and it is sensible to arrange meals with accommodation in advance. The lower Feynan area has its own lodge-based food service, but it is not a dining option within Dana village. Picnic supplies are best bought before the final mountain approach.

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Best bars in Dana

Dana has no conventional bar or nightclub district, and evening life is shaped by the village’s small scale, conservative social setting and remote location. Nights are more likely to involve tea, conversation and a home-cooked meal at a guesthouse than music venues or late entertainment. Some accommodation may serve drinks privately where permitted, but visitors should not assume that alcohol is available. The reserve’s darkness creates a more characteristic evening experience: clear skies, distant valley lights and the sounds of the surrounding landscape replace urban nightlife. Stargazing, quiet walks near accommodation and informal cultural conversations with hosts are appropriate ways to experience Dana after sunset, while remote trail walking at night should be avoided without local knowledge.

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Best shops in Dana

Shopping in Dana is modest and closely linked to community tourism. Local initiatives and guesthouses may offer handmade items, woven goods, simple jewellery, dried herbs or food products associated with village livelihoods, although stock and availability vary. The emphasis is on small-scale craft and conservation-supported enterprise rather than a permanent market of shops. There are no major shopping streets, department stores or reliable retail facilities in the village, so visitors should buy medicines, snacks, hiking supplies and substantial provisions before travelling into the mountains. Purchases made directly from local producers can reflect the area’s rural economy, but visitors should distinguish genuine local work from mass-produced souvenirs. Traditional goods and food products may also be found in larger towns along the route, where choice is broader.

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Dana essentials

Currency and Payment
Jordan’s currency is the Jordanian dinar, written JOD or JD. Dana is a small rural destination with limited retail services, so visitors should carry enough Jordanian-dinar cash for transport, meals, activity arrangements and small purchases. Card and contactless payment may be available at some established accommodation businesses, but coverage is not universal and internet connections can be variable. ATMs are not a reliable feature of the village; withdraw cash in a larger town or before leaving the main route. International visitors should also keep small notes for local services and avoid relying solely on mobile payment.
Safety
Dana is a remote mountain settlement, so the main practical concerns are terrain, weather, sun exposure and limited services rather than city-style congestion. Wear suitable footwear, carry water and protect against strong sunlight; steep paths can become hazardous after rain or when visibility is poor. Tell accommodation staff about hiking plans and check current trail conditions before setting out, especially on routes descending into the reserve. Keep valuables secure, observe normal precautions in vehicles and avoid walking alone on unfamiliar trails after dark. The reserve contains protected habitats and working rural land, so follow marked routes and local guidance.
Emergency Situations
Jordan uses 911 as the general emergency number for police, fire and ambulance assistance. Explain that you are in Dana village or within the Dana Biosphere Reserve and provide a nearby guesthouse, trail description or road landmark, as mobile coverage and precise location information may be limited. Accommodation hosts can often help communicate with local services and arrange transport to medical care, but visitors should not assume that a clinic or hospital is available in the village. Carry travel insurance details, essential medication and a charged phone, and avoid remote hikes without informing someone of the planned route.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly in the village and reserve, with shoulders and knees generally covered, and ask before photographing residents or private homes. Greet people courteously and respect the quiet character of the community, particularly around family houses and places of worship. Do not remove plants, fossils, stones or archaeological material from the protected landscape, and do not feed or approach wildlife. Follow guidance from reserve staff and local guides, keep noise low and take rubbish away when facilities are absent. During Ramadan, be discreet about eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight, while remembering that practices may vary between individuals and establishments.
Local Tips
Use Dana village as a base for understanding the reserve’s upper landscapes, but confirm whether a proposed walk starts in Dana, the lower reserve or the separate Feynan area. Sunrise and late afternoon often provide the clearest relief across the escarpment, while evenings can be cold even after warm days. Local guesthouses are useful sources of information about guides, weather and trail conditions, and their hosts can often help arrange transfers between trailheads. Allow time for the village itself rather than treating it only as a starting point: its stone houses, terraces and viewpoints reveal how people adapted to this steep environment.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloMarhaba[mar-ha-ba]
GoodbyeMa'a as-salama[ma-a as-sa-la-ma]
YesNa'am[na-am]
NoLa[la]
Please/You're welcomeMin fadlik[min fa-dlik]
Thank youShukran[shu-kran]
Excuse me/SorryAasif[aa-sif]
How are you?Kif halak?[keef ha-lak]
Fine. And you?Mni7. Wint?[mni-h. win-t]
Do you speak English?bet7ki inglizi?[bet-hki in-gli-zi]
I don't understandAna mish fahim[a-na meesh fa-heem]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseBiddi ashuf il qaimat, min fadlik[bi-ddi a-shuf il qai-mat, min fa-dlik]
I don't eat meatAna ma biakul la7m[a-na ma bi-a-kul la-hm]
Cheers!Fe sa7teik[fe sa-h-teik]
I would like to pay, pleaseBiddi asaffar, min fadlik[bi-ddi a-saf-far, min fa-dlik]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Musa3ada![mu-sa-a-da]
Go away!Ruh halak![ruh ha-lak]
Call the Police!Itsal al-shurta![itsal al-shur-ta]
Call a doctor!Itsal tabib![itsal ta-bib]
I'm lostTawwalt[taw-walt]
I'm illAna mareed[a-na ma-reed]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Biddi ashtari...[bi-ddi ash-ta-ri]
I'm just lookingAna bas bi-shuf[a-na bas bi-shuf]
How much is it?Kam huwa thamanu?[kam hu-wa tha-ma-nu]
That's too expensiveHatha ghali jiddan[ha-tha gha-li jid-dan]
Can you lower the price?Momkin takhaf althaman?[mom-kin ta-khaf al-tha-man]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Kam el sa3a?[kam el sa-a]
It's one o'clockSa3a wahda[sa-a wah-da]
Half past (10)Nisf el 3ashra[nisf el a-shra]
MorningSaba7[sa-ba-h]
AfternoonDuhur[du-hur]
Evening3asha[a-sha]
YesterdayMsaa elbari7[msa el-ba-rih]
TodayEl yawm[el yawm]
TomorrowGhadan[gha-dan]
1Wahid[wa-hid]
2Itnain[it-nain]
3Thalatha[tha-la-tha]
4Arba3a[ar-ba-a]
5Khamsa[kham-sa]
6Sitta[sit-ta]
7Saba3a[sa-ba-a]
8Thamania[tha-ma-ni-a]
9Tis3a[tis-a]
10Ashra[a-shra]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wen el...[wen el]
What's the address?Shu el 3nwan?[shu el an-wan]
Can you show me (on the map)?Momkin torini?[mom-kin to-ri-ni]
When's the next (bus)?Ithani el bas?[i-tha-ni el bas]
A ticket (to ....)Talat[ta-lat]

History of Dana

Ancient Landscapes and Edomite Country

Dana lies within the historic highlands south of the Dead Sea, a region associated in ancient sources with Edom and later crossed by routes linking the Levant, the Arabah and the Red Sea. The area’s importance came less from a single urban centre than from its minerals, grazing grounds, springs and movement corridors. Archaeological evidence across southern Jordan records long periods of settlement and exploitation, including activity connected with copper resources in the wider Wadi Araba and Faynan region. Dana’s surrounding valleys therefore belong to a landscape with a long human history, even though the present village is a much later rural settlement.

Nabataean and Roman Connections

During the Nabataean period, southern Jordan formed part of a kingdom whose prosperity rested on caravan trade, water management and control of routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean. Petra, to the north-east, became the principal Nabataean capital, while the wider region maintained links through passes and valleys. Roman annexation of the Nabataean kingdom in AD 106 incorporated these routes into the province of Arabia. The roads, settlements and agricultural traces of southern Jordan reveal how imperial administration built upon earlier networks, although Dana itself was never a major classical city.

Village Life in the High Highlands

Dana developed as a small agricultural and pastoral community in the highlands, where families used terraces, springs and seasonal grazing areas. Traditional houses were constructed from locally available stone, and the village’s economy depended on farming, livestock and exchange with neighbouring settlements. The steep relationship between the upland village and the lower valleys shaped daily life, with routes descending through the reserve towards warmer climates and different resources. Many buildings later fell into disrepair as residents moved away in search of employment and services, leaving the village’s surviving fabric an important record of rural life in southern Jordan.

The Dana Biosphere Reserve

A major modern transformation came with the establishment of the Dana Nature Reserve in 1989 by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. It was later recognised as the Dana Biosphere Reserve, protecting a large corridor that descends from the highlands towards Wadi Araba and contains several ecological zones. Conservation altered the relationship between local communities and land use, while tourism and environmental projects created new opportunities linked to guiding, accommodation and crafts. The reserve’s significance lies in its unusual ecological range, bringing together habitats and species that are more commonly found far apart.

Conservation and Community-Based Tourism

Since the 1990s, Dana has become associated with community-based conservation and low-impact tourism in Jordan. Restoration of parts of the village, locally operated guesthouses, guided walking and craft initiatives have helped connect visitors with the reserve while supporting residents and conservation work. The nearby Feynan area developed its own ecolodge and guiding economy, but it remains separate from Dana village and is reached through the lower reserve. Today, the character of Dana is shaped by the balance between protecting a biologically important landscape, preserving rural heritage and providing livelihoods in a remote mountain community.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Dana, Jordan

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Explore Dana, Jordan like never before with Evendo. This comprehensive and free travel guide app provides detailed information on attractions, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, and more. Download now to make the most of your trip!

  • Easy navigation through the app and the city.
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Welcome to Dana, Jordan, a hidden gem filled with breathtaking landscapes and cultural heritage. Evendo is here to transform your travel experience. Our 100% free app-based travel guide is designed to provide you with all the essential information you need, from famous landmarks like Dana Biosphere Reserve and Wadi Dana Trail to top-rated restaurants such as Dana Tower Hotel Restaurant and Dana Guesthouse.

With Evendo, you can easily navigate through Dana's rich history and beautiful scenery. The app features detailed descriptions, images, local tips, maps, and contact details for each location, making it incredibly easy to plan your itinerary. Want to book a hotel, tour, or experience? Evendo has got you covered with seamless booking options right within the app.

Experience Dana like a local with our curated tips and 'Near Me' feature, which highlights nearby attractions and amenities no matter where you are. Whether you're hiking through the Dana Biosphere Reserve, exploring the ancient ruins, or enjoying a meal at a local eatery, Evendo ensures that you won't miss a thing.

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