Jordan has to be our favourite Middle East Country: small enough to get around with ease, wonderfully friendly people and a haven of peace despite frequent turmoil in neighbouring countries. We have been every year since we first discovered Wadi Rum, it's climbing potential and it's wonderful people in 1984.
Jordan also has a wealth of human history going back millenni: ancient man, Nabataeans, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Circassian and other refugees from Soviet Russia and Turkey a hundred years ago, and of course many Palestinians and our old friends the Bedouin extolled by 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
In additional to unique archaeological sites, it also offers a surprisingly varied terrain for adventure tourism: the forested hills of the north, the great gashes of the canyons leading to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth, the wild hills and valleys around Petra, the stunning, colourful mountains and desert of Rum and the coastal resort of Aqaba with its excellent diving in the Red Sea - check out the Alcazar Hotel, Aqaba for diving and adventure travel.

Guidebooks by n.o.m.a.d.s.
Jordan - Walks, Treks, Caves, Climbs & Canyons. Cicerone Press. For info on further developments since the 2nd edition went to press in March 2008, click on Jordan Updates.
The American version is: Walking in Jordan. Interlink Books
Treks & Climbs in Wadi Rum. Cicerone Press
Walks & Scrambles in Wadi Rum. Jordan Distribution Agency (UK distributor, Cordee)
Walks, Treks, Climbs & Caves in Al Ayoun. Printed in Jordan and published by Vertebrate the book is out Nov 2011. Ayoun is a beautiful rural area with good small limestone crags and excellent treks. It is also a great place to experience a 'homestay', see link to Amazon or contact Cordee
All above books by Tony Howard and Di Taylor.
We also contributed the Trekking notes for the Rough Guide to Jordan as well as info for the Lonely Planet and Dorling Kindersley guides.

Trekking and climbing areas from North to South
The Northern Hills. Almost all the walks and treks are on the hills above the Jordan Valley which, even here is still below sea level! Beautiful one and two day treks between historical sites such as Greek Pella and the Islamic castle of Ajlun. There are also a few single pitch climbs on good quality Mediterranean style limestone and a couple of caves have been found.
2005. A new National Park has been opened in the Ajlun area by the RSCN. Others are to be opened in the Jordan Valley and Yarmuk areas, 2008-9.

Dead Sea Hills. Excellent canyoning and canyon treks above the Dead Sea, in and around the Mujib Reserve of the RSCN. Permission required in the Reserve area. Some parts permanently closed as Protected Areas (despite what others may tell you).

Dana & Petra Area. Great trekking area with routes from one day to one week. Again, some parts of Dana Reserve are closed. Permission required in the Reserve area. Guides available in both Dana and Petra. See Hotstuff Jordan for some guides.
2008-9 New RSCN Reserve 'Jebel Mas'uda' opening south of Petra

Wadi Rum. Click here for info on "one of the world's best desert climbing areas": jordan.rum.html

For photos of Jordan see: Jordan Gallery

For info relevant to travel in Jordan and Wadi Rum see: Jordan Jubilee , Jordan Tourism and check out Mathew Teller's blog (Mathew is the author of Rough Guide to Jordan. Also see our HOTSTUFF

Four articles by Tony on the subject of Bedouin Hunting Routes, Part1 and Part 2, and Culture Shock (the impact of tourism in Wadi Rum, 2002) also What Price Freedom (access problems in Jordan, 2008) are available to download in pdf format from the Mountain Forum website.

“ You are doing a great job which is very much appreciated by all of us. Thanks a million.”
H. E. Maha Khatib, Minister of Tourism, Jordan.

Above Di & Tony with H.M. Queen Noor who sponsored our research for our guidebook to Jordan - Walks, Treks, Caves, Climbs & Canyons to aid the economy of the smaller and more remote villages. She also kindly assisted with the sponsorship of three Bedouin from Wadi Rum who visited England for training as Mountain Guides, including Sabbah Eid (below), a Wadi Rum Bedouin Guide, on the climbing wall at Plas y Brenin, Britain's National Outdoor Centre in Wales

"Jordan is very lucky to have people like you."
Ghassan R. Nasser, ASEZA
Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority

"Your footprints established tourism destinations in Jordan from almost zero. Jordan is blessed to have such dedicated professional persons."
Ramez Habash, Abraham Path Initiative

"Your support in introducing adventure tourism in Jordan is greatly appreciated"
HM King Abdullah 11 ibn Al Hussein