Hiking the Wadi Mujib Canyon Trail in Jordan in 2024.
Jordan is one of those mystical destinations which only gives a little away to the outside world. You need to visit the country to really witness its unique natural beauty.
Once you leave the capital, ‘Amman’, and head towards the many highlights dotted around the small nation, you’re in for a real treat, from vast deserts to ancient lost cities, Little Jordan has it all. Natural wonders are in abundance, and the Wadi Mujib Canyon Trail is definitely one of those which should be on your Jordan itinerary.
It is situated just 90 km to the south west of Amman, and also has a low elevation of 400 meters below sea level, due its close proximity to the Dead Sea, which ensures the Wadi Mujib canyon takes top spot for the lowest nature reserve worldwide.
The stunning gorge gives visitors the opportunity to spend their day self-trekking through the river which is overshadowed by the vast canyons, with a dam being the final destination, after you conquer some tricky waterfalls, oh and have taken plenty of Instagram selfies!
A combination of hiking, swimming and climbing with amazing Jordanian scenery provides the perfect day activity during your Jordan trip.
Let’s head to the canyon - YOU WILL GET WET!!
At the starting point of the Wadi Mujib canyon trail.
Wadi Mujib canyon trail - need to know information.
As with the many highlights in Jordan, you find that the Wadi Mujib canyon trail is full of character and history, offering a fascinating walk in the Middle Eastern heat. There is some key information that you should know to ensure your day at the canyons runs smoothly.
Address:
Wadi Mujib Adventure Center FH8F+R7 Al Judayyidah, Jordan
Opening times:
April 1st – October 31st.
8:00 am until 3:00 pm.
Time needed to complete:
Anywhere between 2/3 hours depending on how adventurous you are, and what time of year you are visiting (water levels/heat).
Difficulty:
The trail which starts at the visitor centre is graded easy to moderate, therefore, inclusive to any travellers over the age of 18 - they will check your age!
Distance:
Around 3 km round trip.
Price:
21 JOD (£23) - this only includes entrance fee and a vest.
Can you buy tickets in advance:
You can’t buy tickets on the adventure centre’s website, however, if you are booking with a tour company, they will likely sort it all out for you on the day. Cash and card is accepted at the premises.
Life Vests:
Life vests are included in the entry cost and are required to complete the trails with water. You will find many size options hung up as you leave the visitor centre towards the starting point of the trail.
Lockers:
You will find around 20/25 lockers on site which are free, but you need to bring a padlock.
There may be some available padlocks behind the desk for a small fee.
Keeping your belongings dry:
A waterproof dry bag and water shoes are available to hire for around 5 JOD each, which is sufficient to keep your phone etc dry.
I didn’t realise the amount of water involved with the trail, so I didn’t protect my phone, but fortunately it survived!
Do you need a guide:
This a self-guided trek, however you will find centre workers dotted around the tricky waterfall climbs etc for safety. They are happy to take photos for you also.
Tourists from all over the world tackling the canyon trail.
The bridge marks the start and end point of Wadi Mujib canyon trail.
How to Reach the Wadi Mujib canyon trail.
The Wadi Mujib canyon trails are all accessible from the Wadi Mujib adventure centre located next to the ‘Dead-Sea - Aqaba City highway’. It is located close to the Dead Sea Resorts.
If you are heading to Wadi Mujib from Amman, you need to take Road number 40 towards the Dead Sea until you reach Road 65 (Dead-Sea - Aqaba City highway), then head South.
Coming from Aqaba, Petra, or Wadi Rum is the same road 65, but you head north. You are looking at around 3-4 hours for the whole journey.
You will find public transportation is limited and slow in Jordan, so the best options are to rent a car or book a private tour.
Our tour company picked us up from Nomads Hotel, near Rainbow Street.
Wadi Mujib adventure centre opening hours.
Key information is displayed in English and Arabic throughout.
The different Wadi Mujib trail options.
Hiking in Jordan can be fascinating across many of its highlights due to the differing landscapes throughout the nation. At the Wadi Mujib canyon trail you will experience a ‘wet’ hiking route, so be prepared to wade through the river, if not swim at certain points, depending on what time of year you visit. This is very refreshing in peak summer months when the temperatures can reach between 35 - 40 degrees.
There are four different trail options available to visitors, and it must be noted that under 18’s won’t be allowed to take part in the wet trails. The Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve is home to all four trails. The protected area spans 212 square kilometers from the heights of the Karak Mountains to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on Earth!
All four trails start at the Wadi Mujib Adventure Centre - which one are you doing?
THE WADI MUJIB SIQ TRAIL.
The SIQ trail is the most popular trail for visitors which follows the river through the narrow gorges. There is a maximum capacity limit of 150 people for this trail, so planning in advance for your arrive date and time is advised.
Costs:
21 JOD - non-Jordanian visitors.
THE MALAQI TRAIL.
The Malaqi Trail is the trickiest option and also requires a guide to join you. It also starts at 8 am, to ensure it is completed in time as it is the longest route taking 6-7 hours. This route includes a challenging 20 metre waterfall descent, however, equipment and guidance will be provided.
Costs:
44 JOD - non-Jordanian visitors.
(Contact Wild Jordan to book prior to your visit).
THE CANYON TRAIL.
Similar to the Malaqi Trail, this option requires a guide as mandatory due to the 20 metre waterfall descent which is an obstacle to conquer like above. Although, this route is slightly shorter at approx 4 hours, as instead of hiking upstream towards the Hidan River, you hike downstream alongside the Dead Sea motorway.
Costs:
31 JOD - non-Jordanian visitors.
(Contact Wild Jordan to book prior to your visit).
THE IBEX TRAIL
This trail is a unique Wadi Mujib canyon trail as it is only open in winter time from 1st November until 31st March, whereas, the other three ‘wet’ trails are shut due to being inaccessible. This dry trail avoids any water wading and is marked with climbs throughout the 4/5 hour duration. You will follow dry wadis alongside the Dead Sea highway. This also requires a guide, and if you are lucky, you may just spot a rare Nubian Ibex.
Costs:
21 JOD - non-Jordanian visitors.
(Contact Wild Jordan to book prior to your visit).
Feeling small in the grand canyons of Wadi Mujib.
Heading through the canyon trails.
Best Time to Visit Wadi Muijb.
The best time to complete the Wadi Mujib canyon trail is during the cooler months, which are between October and April. Lower temperatures offer more manageable conditions, especially for Western tourists, who are not used to the heat.
During the summer months, from May to September, temperatures can soar, making it less favourable conditions for the abundance of available outdoor activities.
We visited in June - good idea?
June was an interesting but a risky choice for our first trip to the Middle East. The benefits were the cheaper flights and less crowded attractions, however, the baking heat was not easy to handle - especially when hiking in Wadi Mujib and Wadi Rum.
It depends on your preference, as you can see in the photos, it wasn’t very busy for us which felt like we could explore more thoroughly and do it at our own pace. The wet trails definitely cooled us down and offered a very refreshing break from the sunshine.
I would visit in a cooler month if I was ever to return to Jordan, as the afternoon heat makes for hard work at Petra, Wadi Rum and the Wadi Mujib canyon. The Dead Sea Resorts are close by though, which makes for a good place to relax and cool down after your adventure.
The sheer size of the canyons cannot be fully appreciated in a photo.
My experience hiking the Wadi Mujib SIQ trail.
Our trip to the Wadi Mujib canyon trail was short notice and spontaneous and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Ahmed (our private tour driver) suggested the trail as an additional activity as we headed towards the historic Mount Nebo, Madaba City, and Little Petra on day 1 of the tour. The photos that Ahmed showed us were awesome, so we didn’t hesitate to agree, despite the extra cost. The photos definitely do not do this place justice.
As we proceeded towards Wadi Mujib we were notified about the likelihood that our belongings will get wet, so Ahmed stopped at a couple of seafront shops to try and buy us a dry bag for cheaper than the rental cost at the adventure centre, but to no avail.
Ahmed sorted our tickets and conveyed the relevant information to us - it wasn’t long until we were putting our life vests on and descending down the ladders at the starting point of the SIQ trail.
Immediately into the hike you will enter the water (although shallow), which progressively gets deeper the closer you get to the waterfalls towards the end of the trail. You will face a more challenging walk in the first half of the trail as you wade upstream, and unaware of the best routes to take across the various rocks with rope assistance.
My favourite aspect of the hike was climbing the ladders while the waterfalls gush down and cover you entirely - this is very refreshing in June!
I don’t want to give it all away anyway but be prepared for an unconventional slide on your way back down stream!
Tackling one of the waterfalls towards the end of the Wadi Mujib canyon trail.
Tips to make the most of the Wadi Mujib canyon trail experience.
Plan ahead.
If you arrive too late in peak tourism months, you may face a wait to start the trails as a result of lack of life vests. There is a limit to the amount of visitors at one time. Some tourists have had to wait over 2 hours to start.
Bring water and snacks!
When I visited in June 2023 , the cafe on site was closed and there wasn’t anywhere to purchase water, so make sure you bring some with you as it is a challenging hike in the heat.
Pre-purchase a dry bag and water shoes!
This is something we did not do as we did not do any prior research, so we weren’t fully prepared to get so wet. Purchasing the necessary equipment in advance is a sure way of enhancing your experience.
Book a private tour.
Using a private tour company is a great way to efficiently see multiple Jordan sights over a few days. Our guide Ahmed from JPTT Tours was awesome and sorted everything out for us, and waited for us to complete the SIQ trail in our own time.
Take plenty of photos.
As with all of the Jordanian highlights, the natural beauty of Wadi Mujib is surreal, and definitely something you will look back on for years to come, so ensure you take loads of photos for memories.
Selfie time in the canyon.
Is Wadi Mujib worth the money?
This is a resounding yes!
I did not research about the Wadi Mujib canyon trails before we visited Jordan, and only completed the hike as our private tour guide suggested it, but I am so glad he did. It is certainly a unique experience and just does not seem real when you wade through the water looking up in awe.
It is one for the adventurers for sure, as you will get wet and face some challenges through climbing waterfalls and navigating slippy rocks, but that is all the fun!
It is on the pricier side for an excursion lasting a couple of hours, but most of Jordan is expensive so this is to be expected.
I couldn’t recommend it enough!
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.