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'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.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Jordan's largest and most biodiverse nature reserve — canyon treks through a genuine wilderness.
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
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.