Jordan showcases adventure and heritage at ITB Berlin 2025
Jordan is back at ITB Berlin this year with a full and varied adventure tourism offer on display including canyoning and caving; hiking and trekking; cycling; aerosports; rock climbing and mountaineering; and diving, among others.
The Jordan Tourism Board has also added Eco & Adventure to the “experiences” section on its website to clearly highlight the different options it has available for travellers.
Jordan’s diverse landscapes provide a range of canyoning and caving experiences, with the north featuring limestone caves and waterfalls like Birgish and Wadi Al Rayan, and volcanic tunnels, like Badia Lava Tube Cave, in the east. The Dead Sea Basin is perfect for canyoneers, with Wadi Mujib offering varied trails. The central region’s Great Rift Valley has stunning canyons like Wadi Hassa and Wadi Ghweir, providing unique adventures for enthusiasts. Canyoning experiences, like most of the adventure activities available in the Kingdom, offer an opportunity to enjoy the rich natural landscape as well as visit historically significant sites such as a watchtower from the Ammonite Empire or settlements from the Iron Age. The climate and warmth of the water means that travellers don’t have to worry about 12mm wetsuits, making the experience more flexible and enjoyable for everyone.
One of the internationally recognised highlights of Jordan’s adventure tourism experiences is hiking along trails that are both naturally breathtaking and historical. This was taken a step further in January this year when the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Galicia, Spain. This agreement seeks to unify the Christian pilgrimage routes “Camino de Santiago” in Spain and “The Egeria Route” in Jordan, celebrating the shared cultural and religious heritage of both countries.
Egeria, a 4th-century Spanish Christian pilgrim nun, is recognised as one of the first documented female explorers in history. Her writings chronicle her pilgrimage to the Holy Land, including Jordan, providing insights into sacred sites like Mount Nebo, the Baptism Site of Jesus (Bethany in Jordan), and other historical locations along the Egeria Route. Starting in Madaba, the Egeria Route stretches 66 km all the way to Bethany and is divided into three stages. It is accessible all year round, but spring and autumn are recommended as the most comfortable seasons for hiking.
Another famous hiking trail that combines natural and historic beauty is of course the Jordan Trail, stretching from north to south from Um Qais to Aqaba. Covering 675km, this trail passes by 75 villages and is also hikable all year round. The Jordan Trail offers the experience of varied landscapes, local communities, different cultures and food, and even hidden treasures that were built in the past by the Romans and Ottomans. This trail is managed by the Jordan Trail Association.
The Jordan Trail Association organises an annual thru hike in October in cooperation with the local communities along the trail. This includes all the logistics such as setting up camp, preparing the food, ensuring that there is good service in the campsite, transferring the campsite from one place to another, etc. The thru hike is recommended for experienced hikers and adventure enthusiasts.
As stunning landscapes and sustainability go hand in hand, Jordan is also working towards a carbon-offsetting programme for travellers that will involve planting Carob trees. In an agreement between the Jordan Ministry of Agriculture and an NGO, the programme should be live by the end of the year and offer travellers a calculator on the website.
Visitors to ITB Berlin can learn more about Jordan’s adventure tourism, sustainability efforts and broader tourism offers on their stand at the show.
