Dana Nature Reserve Jordan – Jordan is home to numerous valleys and mountains, and as a result the flora is spectacular.

You get a taste of what you might expect at the Dana Nature Reserve on the road south from Amman. The King’s Highway is a road like few others, carving a seemingly impossible path through the terrain and sweeping one way and another through the mountains.

But personally, when I got to the Dana Guest House itself, I was not prepared for quite what I saw. The hotel is simple and unassuming, with 10 rooms, furnished basically. When you step out on to the balcony, however, you see why they chose this spot.

Dana Nature Reserve Jordan with www.africanexplorations.com

The views down through the valley, which drops around 1000m, are like few you could hope to see anywhere else. They dazzle.

You shouldn’t treat those views like a postcard, however – they are not merely to be admired and drunk in, they are to be explored.

You can hike through the valley, with a number of different routes and distances to suit your level of fitness. Descending all the way through the valley and down into Feynan is a personal favourite, never more so than in spring when the valley is exploding into life. Because of the sharp drop, Dana in fact boasts four different eco-systems in very close proximity to one another. You see them all in just a few hours of walking, and end up at another stunning lodge for the night.

Dana Nature Reserve Jordan with www.africanexplorations.com

The Feynan Eco-Lodge is charming and environmentally sound, and a fitting end to the walk at the foot of the valley.

If you want more rustic still, camping is an option – even fly-camping with experienced local guides. Quite simply, there are numerous ways to explore the region, and numerous reasons to make it worth your while.