Sarah Riches | 27 February 2020
Remote rooms and desert domes: 5 of the best hotels in Jordan
Planning a stay in Jordan? Always wanted to spend the night in Wadi Rum? From forest chalets to desert domes, stay in one of these Jordanian rooms with a view, and experience the country’s wild side...
1. Feynan Eco-Lodge, Dana
Dining under the stars at Feynan Eco-lodge (Bashar Alaeddin)
A view facing Jordan’s largest nature reserve is what you’ll find at this ‘green’ retreat on the solar-scorched edges of the dust-blown Dana Biosphere Reserve. But this eco-lodge isn’t just powered entirely by the sun: saving 4,000kg of trees a year, it also uses treated water for irrigation and clay jugs in place of plastic bottles.
Go mountain biking, trek to copper mines and become the guest of local Bedouin tribes – spend a day with a shepherd, learn coffee rituals or how to bake bread.
Booking info: Lodges cost 150JD (£164) for one night, based on two people sharing. Price includes all meals, reserve entrance and activities.
2. Ma'in Hot Springs Resort & Spa, near Madaba
Hot springs are located in the mountains near the Dead Sea (Shutterstock)
A long hike in that iconic Jordanian desert leaves you satisfied, dazzled and... dusty. This Dead Sea retreat will not only refresh weary trekkers but let them indulge further in the country’s natural delights.
Look over mountains from your room, or spy sparrows and eagles flitting about from the blistering hot spring waterfall, which heats the waters of a pool. Take a dip or make your way over to the spa’s steam cave to detox and then at dusk, dine beneath a canopy in the lantern-lit Olive Restaurant, which serves zarb, a Bedouin dish of vegetables and lamb or chicken slow-cooked on a grill in a pit beneath sand.
Booking info: Prices start from 174JD (roughly £190, until March 2020) for one night, based on two people sharing. Price includes breakfast.
Book now via Ma'in Hot Springs Resort & Spa's official website
3. Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp, Wadi Rum
Bubble tents in the UNESCO-listed Wadi Rum desert (Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp)
If you’ve ever wanted to sleep under a million stars, this camp, in the heart of Wadi Rum, is the one for you.
After a day packed with adventure, stargaze through the roof of your luxury dome, or return to a Bedouin-style tent, woven from goat hair. If you’re lucky, you may spot a jackal or hyrax from your deck, before taking on camel and hot-air balloon rides through the Martian wilderness.
Booking info: Tents start from 150JD (£164) and bubbles start from 225JD (£245), for one night, based on two people sharing. Prices include breakfast and dinner.
4. Ajloun Forest Cabins, Amman
Orjan Village Trail in the Aljoun Forest Reserve (Aljoun Forest Cabins)
Jordan’s not just about the desert – give forest bathing in the Ajloun Highlands (north of Amman) a try as well. While rustic, these chalets face sylvan glades dotted with carob and strawberry trees.
Start early on the Roe Deer trail – a half-hour stroll – and you might spot its namesake; or you can hike the six-hour Orjan trail if you dare. On the way, you’ll interact with farmers and spy pistachio and pomegranate trees, before visiting the cultural centre to learn how to write your name in Arabic calligraphy.
Booking info: Prices start from 82JD (£90) for one night, based on two people sharing. Prices include reserve entrance, conservation fee and breakfast.
5. Mujib Chalet, Ath Thughrah
Chalets with hammocks and sunset at Dead Sea coast (Shutterstock)
Set on the shores of the Madash peninsula, these bungalows all have private terraces with hammocks – a fine way to see the sun set over the Dead Sea. The main reason to stay, though, is that it’s a short stroll to Mujib Biosphere Reserve.
The sandstone canyon is home to rare cats and ibex (goats), and wet and dry trails. Recommended for the adventurous, the Siq trail can be hiked solo in two to three hours, but you must be reasonably fit and able to swim. The chalets are sustainable, too, placing the protection of nature and local communities at its heart.
Booking info: Prices start from 76JD (£83) for one night, based on two people sharing. Prices include conservation fee, use of the beach and breakfast.
