Last Updated on November 18, 2023 by
When one thinks about Jordan, slim are the chances of associating this beautiful, rich nation with powerful waterfalls and wet routes across the lower lands of the Dead Sea. But Jordan is a country full of surprises and, when least expected, is ready to satisfy even the most adventurous souls. This guide to Wadi Mujib in Jordan will take you around hidden canyons, surprising path and hidden gems.
Read below to discover more about our adventure to Wadi Mujib.
Table of Contents
Wadi Mujib. The lowest nature reserve on Earth
If you never heard about Wadi Mujib I don’t blame you. I’ve learnt of this little gem of Jordan just a couple of months before my trip, while I was planning my itinerary. No one of my friends who have visited Jordan ever heard before, not many blogs about it, not many info on the trails. The only photos popping around Google were enough to get my heart at it first sight. When I saw the pictures of those red canyons filled with crystalline blue waters, I knew I had to get there. The Wadi Mujib trail is a perfect adventure for a Jordan 7 days itinerary as it will give you a lot of adrenaline moments and perfect photo opportunities.
Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve
What is fondly known as “Wadi Mujib” is actually part of larger area named as Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve. This is located on the east of the Dead Sea and geologically linked to the formation of the lowest place on Earth.
Indeed, when the Dead Sea started dropping below the sea level, thousands of years ago, it flooded the surrounding lower areas of the canyons located against its coast. This caused a slow but continuous formation of sediments that blocked the nearby rivers access to the lake. While most rivers eventually managed to resume their course, the Wadi Mujib river broke into the sandstone. 20,000 years of powerful water passing through a narrow cleft became finally a deep gorge which is now famous as the Siq (yes like the Petra one!).
The reserve was created in 1987 by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in order to safeguard the 212 square-kilometre of natural landscape and wildlife. The RSCN is operated on the ground by Wild Jordan who is responsible of the local communities, ecotourism and environmental impact of tourism on locations like Wadi Mujib and the Dana Biosphere Reserves.
In 2011, UNESCO declared Wadi Mujib a biosphere reserve making it the lowest nature reserve on Earth. The reserve extends in between Karak and Madaba encompassing over 300 species of plants, migratory birds, wildlife and endangered fauna.
How to access the Wadi Mujib Trails
Most of the Wadi Mujib Trails are accessible via the Mujib Adventure Centre. This is located on the Aqaba- Dead Sea Highway and very close to the Dead Sea resorts area. The Al-Hidan Trail is the only trail accessible from the Hidan Adventure Centre.
Getting to Wadi Mujib from the Dead Sea
If you are located in the proximity of the Dead Sea, the route is pretty straightforward. Just need to follow the route 65 Jordan Valley Highway aka Dead Sea Highway until you find the Wadi Mujib adventure centre.
Pay attention with the Google direction as the satnav doesn’t exactly know where to stop as the whole area is named as “Wadi Mujib/Wadi AlMujib”. You need to stop at the Mujib Adventure centre which is located right on the route 65.
It’s easy to spot and there will be directions nearby. To make your life easier, I pinned the exact position of the adventure centre below (also because the directions on Google are in Arabic).
How to reach Wadi Mujib from Amman
If you are driving in Jordan, getting to Wadi Mujib from Amman takes less 1 hour and 30 mins. Once you get out from Amman, the directions are the same as the ones from the Dead Sea above.
Parking at the Wadi Mujib Adventure Centre
The Wadi Mujib Adventure Centre has a large parking space free of charge. Nevertheless, during peak times, this might be very crowded, particularly if larges couches park there. I would recommend to go as early as possible because by midday you might not find any parking space left.
Guide to Wadi Mujib. What to pack for canyoning in Jordan
You don’t need a specific technical equipment for canyoning in Jordan. However, despite most of the trails includes swimming in large deep pools, going there with a bikini is not a great idea. Indeed, you may find sharps rocks and slippery trails which may leave your upper legs and tummy exposed to scratches and cuts. Ergo, a swimming suit under a layer of fitness technical clothes is enough to enjoy your adventure. I had a swimming suit, a light t-shirt and some running shorts that I removed when we reached the last waterfall. My husband wore a sleeveless t-shirt and the swimming suit.
Anti-slippery shoes are warmly recommended to avoid getting hurt and walk comfortably the whole trail. You may rent them at the Mujib Adventure Centre for 5 JD. However, the quality of that shoes is not the best, they are made of plastic and looked uncomfortable to walk. I decided to bring them with me from home and I found these water shoes from Dechatlon worth every penny!
You can leave all your belongings in the car (at your risk) but if you want to take some expensive gears with you like your camera and phone, its better to buy a dry bag. We bought this one from Amazon and it was perfect for keeping our stuff safe from water! The bag also float into the water so it’s not eavy to take on the trail.
The Wadi Mujib Biosphere reserve trails
The Wadi Mujib Biosphere reserve counts 5 different wet and dry trails that are open during different periods of the year.
To know more about the trails of the Wadi Mujib Biosphere reserve, read below!
Guide to Wadi Mujib Jordan. The Siq Trail
The Siq Trail is the one we adventured while visiting the area. It’s known as the “easiest” among all the Wadi Mujib trails and it’s currently registered as the only trail accessible without a guide.
How to access to the Siq Trail
The Siq Trail is currently accessible via the Mujib Adventure centre. You can park your car for free and once in the centre, you have to register your interest in accessing the trail. As in our case, there might be crowd and it may take a few hours before you are actually allowed to enter.
We arrived at 9 am and we’ve been granted access around 11 am. This because access is granted only in small groups to not overload the narrow gorge with people. The person in charge of your registration will call your name, make you sign a disclosure, pay and direct you to the life jackets. Then you are ready to go!
The fee to enter The Siq Trail si 21 JD
The Siq Trail route info
The trail open from 1st April to 31st October. However, this largely depends on the weather conditions. Indeed, rainfall determines the strength of the river flow and your possibility to access the trail. When the flow is too strong, the path is dangerous. Ergo, the trail is closed.
The trail is marked as “Self-guided” and its grade “Easy to Moderate”. Nevertheless, despite the first part of the trail is very easy (low stream walk). The second part may be difficult for people who are not fit or never done canyoning before. Of course, you can stop and go back at any time.
The Distance to cover is 1.5 km and this will take 2-3 hours (back and forward).
The opening times are from 8 am to 3 pm.
The price to enter is 21 JD that is around (26£ or 29 $).
Our experience in the Siq Trail.
I admit that, after watching a couple of YouTube videos, I was in doubt whether my level of fitness was good enough for completing the trail. Indeed, this adventure was my first one after the pregnancy+pandemic. What you can’t see from the pictures, are the many waterfalls you have to climb bare hands or with the help of ropes (and without any helmet). This will require a good upper body strength. I was really in doubt still in the morning, when the temptation of lingering a couple of hours more at the Movenpick Dead Sea was super strong.
In the end, I am really happy we didn’t stay at the hotel. I am also happy that my husband encouraged me to believe in my strength and push myself out of my comfort zone. Something I apparently forgot how to do during the long pandemic seclusion! Indeed, the last couple of waterfalls were particularly tricky to climb and required a physical strength I forgot I had. When we reached the last big pool with the waterfall I was so happy I couldn’t stop smiling.
The Canyon Trail
The Canyon Trail is the second “wet trail” of the Wadi Mujib reserve. You should not confuse this with the Siq as this trail requires a guide for its challenging route.
The Canyon Trail info
Similar to the Siq trail, the Canyon trail is open from April to October according to the weather conditions. Also this trail departs from the Mujib Adventure Centre. However, instead of following the gorge of the Siq, it follows the Wadi Mujib river downstream along the Dead Sea highway. One of the highlight of the trail, is the spectacular 20 mt waterfall you’ll descend with the help of a guide.
I haven’t personally done this trail, but it’s recorded as moderate-difficult. So, I wouldn’t attempt the adventure unless one feels very fit for it.
To complete the trail you’ll need at least 4 hours. This will depart every morning at 8.30 from the Adventure Centre.
The cost to enter the Canyon Trail is 31 JD
The Malaqi Trail
The Malaqi Trail is considered the most difficult of all the trails departing from the Mujib Aventure Centre.
Malaqi Trail Info
The Malaqi trail incorporate parts of the Canyon Trail and Siq Trail in a longer and complex route. Indeed, the completion of the route is expected to take from 5 to 7 hours, depending on the skills of the participants. As the other trails, also this one is open from April to October, weather wise.
The starting point is the Mujib Adventure Centre at 8 am. It’s mandatory to have a guide with you. The Malaqi trail will join the Siq trail after descending the big 20 mt waterfall.
The cost to enter the Malaqi trail is 44 JD
The Ibex Trail
This trail is considered the only “winter trail” of Wadi Mujib. Indeed, it is open from only from November to March when the other trails are likely inaccessible.
The Ibex trail info
Also this route departs from the Wadi Mujib, it’s graded as “moderate”. The Ibex trail is a dry trail, so there is no water walks on the reoute. To complete the route will take 5 to 6 hours. The trail is marked by steep climbs that follow a number of dry wadis along the Dead Sea Highway. The peculiarity of this trail is that you may spot the beautiful Nubian Ibex along the way.
The cost to access the trail is 17 JD.
Al-Hidan Trail
The Al-Hidan Trail is the only trail of the Mujib Natural Reserve that doesn’t start at the Mujib Adventure Centre. Indeed, this departs from the Hidan Adventure Centre that is located in the upper part of the reserve.
Al-Hidan trail info
The Al-Hidan trail is marked as a moderate route of about 5 km. This is a wet trail, meaning that you’ll need to swim or walk into the water. Unlike the other trails of Wadi Mujib, Al-Hidan Trail is open all year around (subject to weather condition). The trail is developed around a series of pool and waterfalls that end on a Ancient Wheat Mill. From here, a complimentary bus will take visitors back to the starting point.
Where to stay at the Wadi Mujib Reserve
If you want to spend the night nearby the Wadi Mujib Reserve, the best place is surely the Mujib Chalets. These are 15 private chalet located opposite to the adventure centre on the shores of the Madash peninsula. They opened in 2008 and each of them has a double bedroom, private terrace on the dead sea and toilets. There is also a communal area with a restaurant providing traditional Jordanian cuisine. The chalet cost around 92£ per night for 2 people, including breakfast. Unfortunately, there’s a catch. It’s almost impossible to find one available! Indeed, they are almost always fully booked unless you book almost a year before.
As you can expect, we’ve been unlucky about this and all the chalet were fully booked for our dates when I booked our trip. So we decided to give our-self a treat and stay at the beautiful Mövenpick Dead Sea. We had the best time here (so much that I was almost in doubt about going to canyoning!). Of course, being a 5-stars resort prices are a little bit higher than the modest Mujib Chalets ranging around £250-500 per night for 2 people (excluding breakfast). However, service was impeccable, they have a private Dead Sea beach and the resort is just at 20 mins from the Mujib Adventure Centre.
We can’t honestly complaint about it.
Guide to Wadi Mujib Jordan. Wild Jordan contacts
If you want to have more info about the activities and trails in the Wadi Mujib Reserve you can contact Wild Jordan at tourism@rsnc.org.jo
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