Discovering Ajloun's Hidden Trails and Treasures : Hiking Tour 22/06/2019


Ajloun Forest Reserve is located in the Ajloun highlands north of Amman and covers 13 square kilometers. It is dominated by open woodlands of Evergreen Oak, Pine, Carob, Wild Pistachio and Wild Strawberry trees. These trees have been important to local people for their wood, scenic beauty, and quite often for medicine and food.

3-4 Hours Hiking Trails

1.    Soap House Trail
This trail starts at the Reserve’s Visitors Center and leads you to the Soap House in the neighboring village of Orjan. Hike the distance of 6-7 kilometers for 3 hours depending on your walking pace. Along the way, you will walk through thick, healthy woodlands filled with oak, pistachio and oriental strawberry trees in the Reserve along the way down to the valley. This trail climbs to 1,100 meters above sea level at Eagle’s view point and goes down to the Soap House where you can see local women makes Orjan pure olive oil soap still using the traditional process. This trail requires a guide.

 

2.    Rockrose Trail
This trail is an 8 kilometers taking 3-4 hours of walking depends on your walking pace and only opens every April to October that requires a guide. At the first half of the trail it will be uphill then downhill on the second half, there will be steep scrambles on this trail. On this trail, you can see a lot of flowers around every spring, and passes through thick woodlands, orchards, farms and villages around the Reserve as well as the beautiful view of the West Bank, Syria and Jordanian countryside. Along the trail, observe the wine and olive press from the Byzantine and Roman eras, and take arrest on the large Maloul tree before reaching the end point. 


3.    Roe Deer Trail    
This is an easy hike that does not require a guide. You will walk the distance of 2 kilometers for 1 hour, depending to your personal walking pace. This trail opens year round that starts at the reserve campsite and offers great views over the reserve. If you will hike in the morning, you may be lucky enough to see a roe deer before returning to the visitor’s center. 

 

4.    The Prophet’s Trail
This trail requires a guide to walk an 8.5 distance for 4 hours, depending on your personal walking pace.  The hike starts at Ajloun Forest Reserve Visitor’s Center to Mar Elias, the ruins of Jordan’s oldest churches. It is named for the Prophet Elias, or Elijah, to whom Mar Elias is dedicated. The trail leads through fig and pear orchards, amongst forests of oak and oriental strawberry trees. The stone walls that crisscross the valley guard the farmers' crops inside from both the winter rains and wild boar. Climb to the hilltop ruins, which provide sweeping views of the surrounding area. 

 

6 to Full Day Hiking Trails

1.    Orjan Village Tour
This hike requires a guide to walk the distance of 12 kilometers for 6 hours, depending on your walking pace. This trail is continuous hike from the Soap House, this tour takes you through wooded valleys to the lush green orchards of Orjan village, giving you the chance to discover the rural lifestyle of the region. A poplar-lined spring provides a wonderful contrast to the arid mountains of the previous stages of the trail. As you hike, note the dramatic rock walls, old water mills once used by local people to grind their seeds and the hollow walnut tree. 

 

2. Ajloun Castle Trail
This trail is graded as difficult and requires a guide walking 18 kms for the whole day depending to your personal walking pace. Opens year-round except Ramadan. The hike starts at Mar Elias, you have the option of continuing on this challenging trail, which takes you by small farm house and their adjacent orchards on your way to Ajloun Castle, built between AD 1184-1188 by Salahadin's nephew. In the first section of the trail you can enjoy views of the West Bank and Syria, before you descend into a wooded valley. The final difficult uphill is rewarded by the incredible castle and the marvelous views that accompany it. 
 


 

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