How Jordan Became a Destination for Rock Climbing and Hiking
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Hashim Sheikh - . March 24, 2025
- . Update: March 24, 2025 3:04 pm
The change of Jordan into a center of hiking and rock climbing highlights not just the country’s unique landscapes but also the thinking of adventurers who expected something.
In 1984, following the film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ climbers Tony Howard and Di Taylor ventured into Wadi Rum’s sandstone cliffs, discovering a climber’s paradise. Their findings, published in later articles established Wadi Rum as a world class climbing destination.
The Bedouins of Wadi Rum possess a long history of climbing having traditionally climbed mountains barefoot in pursuit of resources. This has been incorporated into contemporary trekking trails, providing climbers with an experience of adventure and culture.
Outside of Wadi Rum, Jordan has varied climbing destinations. The northern areas close to Ajloun and Irbid feature good limestone sport crags with more than 200 routes, mostly bolted by Wolfgang Vogl and Jordanian climbers. The Dead Sea region also offers special climbing options with roadside crags such as the Mujib Roadside Crag offering potential for both trad and sport climbing.
The Jordan Trail, a 650 km route opened in 2015 stretches along the length of the country linking varied landscapes and ancient sites. The trail has drawn walkers from all over the world, demonstrating Jordan’s dedication to sustainable tourism.
Jordan has elevated itself to one of the world’s prime destinations for hiking and rock climbing. The country’s focused promotion of adventure tourism with the rich cultural tapestry of experiences is exceedingly impressive.
