Wadi Al Hasa Canyon Hiking Tour: Jordan River Walk

Walk a river canyon where few tourists go, past pools and a waterfall tucked between high cliffs.

A guided hiking tour through Wadi Al Hasa Canyon in Jordan, where you walk the riverbed between towering sandstone cliffs to a waterfall at the base, with a live guide in English, Arabic or Russian. The trail follows a real river, rare in the Middle East, with water deep enough for swimming depending on seasonal rainfall. The hike takes around five hours and includes bottled water. It starts from a water pumping station near Ghur As Safi at the southern end of the Dead Sea.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hiking Wadi Al Hasa Canyon

• Start at water pumping station
• Walk along river course
• Pass towering sandstone cliffs
• Reach base of large waterfall
• Swim in pools if available
• Enjoy cool water and shade

The experience

The walk starts at a water pumping station and follows the river course as it cuts through the canyon. You move at a pace that lets you take in the shade and cool water, especially valuable in the heat of summer. The sandstone cliffs rise on both sides, and the trail leads to a large waterfall at the base of the gorge. Depending on how much rain has fallen, the canyon may hold pools deep enough to swim in: a genuine rarity in this region.

Wadi Al Hasa has deep roots: it appears in the Old Testament under its ancient name, Zered. The river itself is what makes this canyon unusual for the Middle East. Most of the water is drawn off at Ghur As Safi to irrigate the valley between Jordan and Israel, but enough flows through the gorge to sustain fish and create the rapids and pools you walk past. A live guide in English, Arabic or Russian leads the hike and can speak to the history and ecology as you go.

The five-hour outing is steady walking with time built in to move slowly and absorb the place. Bring or wear shoes with grip. The riverbed and rocks demand it. Bottled water is provided, and public transportation options are available near the starting point if you need them to reach Ghur As Safi.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• live guide in English, Arabic or Russian.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (30 to 40 years) · Youth (18 to 29 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Arabic and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Wadi Al Hasa Hiking Tours

Is this one for you?Book this hike if you have a free afternoon and want to walk a real river canyon instead of the dry wadis most tours show. The five-hour pace lets you move slowly through the shade and cool water, which matters most in summer heat.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (18 to 29 years). Under 18: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the actual river in Wadi Al Hasa like when you get there?

Wadi Al Hasa is a real river with fish, water in quantity, and rapids: unusual for the Middle East. Depending on seasonal rainfall, the gorge holds pools deep enough for swimming, and the walk ends at a large waterfall at the base of the canyon.

How long does the hike take and what is the pace like?

The tour runs around five hours and is designed to be taken slowly so you can enjoy the cool water and shade. It is steady walking but not rushed, with time to absorb the canyon and the river.

Can you swim in the canyon?

Depending on seasonal rainfall levels, the gorge may contain pools deep enough for swimming. The water is part of what makes this walk distinctive in the region.

Where does the hike start and how do you get there?

The trail starts from a water pumping station near Ghur As Safi at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them to reach the starting point.