Tafilah

Code:AT
Type:governorate
Native name:Tafilah Governorate
Area:2,114 km²
Capital:Tafilah

Introduction

Tafilah Governorate holds the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan's largest nature reserve and its most biodiverse — a dramatic run of sandstone canyons entered from the historic stone village of Dana.

Overview

Dana village, a cluster of stone houses dating back roughly 500 years, perches on the reserve's rim and is where nearly every visit begins — a handful of guesthouses and the RSCN-run eco-lodge network provide the standard base for anyone hiking into the canyons below. The village itself, largely built from local stone with narrow lanes climbing the hillside, is a quiet, low-key stop even for visitors not planning a full trek — a short walk along the canyon rim from the village viewpoint gives a genuine sense of the terrain without committing to a multi-hour hike. Tafilah's position between Amman and Petra also makes Dana a natural, if often overlooked, stop for travellers driving the King's Highway south rather than the faster Desert Highway.

Discover Tafilah

Dana Village — The Reserve's Gateway

Dana village's stone houses, largely dating from the Ottoman period, climb a narrow ridge overlooking the canyon system that gives the reserve its name. A handful of guesthouses in the village and the RSCN's own eco-lodges further down into the reserve (including the Feynan Ecolodge, reached only by a hiking trail or a longer vehicle track, and run on solar power and candlelight) provide the accommodation options for anyone spending a night here. Even a short visit rewards a walk along the village's rim path for the canyon view alone, without needing to commit to a full descent.

Getting There from the King's Highway

Dana sits directly on the King's Highway, the older, slower north-south route that runs closer to Jordan's historic sites than the faster Desert Highway most through-traffic uses — which makes it a natural stop for travellers driving between Amman or the Dead Sea and Petra rather than flying past on the highway. A hired car or taxi is the practical way to reach the village, part of the wider highway-choice question; public transport connections are limited and infrequent.

Ways to Experience This Destination

Dana Biosphere Reserve

Jordan's largest and most biodiverse nature reserve — canyon treks through a genuine wilderness.

Dana Village

A roughly 500-year-old stone village on the canyon rim, with guesthouses, an RSCN eco-lodge network, and a viewpoint walk that needs no full trek.

Tafilah Governorate Travel Information

A hired car or taxi is the practical way to reach Dana village — public transport is limited and infrequent.
Dana sits on the King's Highway between Amman/the Dead Sea and Petra — a natural stop for travellers taking the slower, more scenic route south rather than the Desert Highway.
The Feynan Ecolodge, deep in the reserve, is reached only by hiking trail or a longer vehicle track and runs on solar power and candlelight — book through the RSCN in advance rather than arriving unannounced.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a hiker to visit Dana?

No — the village itself and its rim walk give a genuine sense of the canyon landscape without a full trek, and are worthwhile even for a short stop. The multi-day treks into the reserve are for visitors who specifically want them.

How do I get to Dana without a car?

It's difficult — public transport to Dana is limited and infrequent, so a hired car, taxi, or a tour arranged through the RSCN or a Petra-based operator is the practical option for most visitors.

This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.