Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve

The glorious Mujib Nature Reserve covers many kilometres of mountains and canyons beside the Dead Sea, including the lower part of Wadi Mujib, Jordan's Grand Canyon, which drops from Jordan's mountain spine to the Dead Sea, making it the world's lowest nature reserve.

As well as outstanding dramatic scenery a vast canyon with all that entails in the way of cliffs, deep riverbeds with remarkable patches of greenery, and a dramatic siq (slot canyon) where the gorge discharges in the Dead Sea the reserve contains a magnificient range of plant and animal life, including the Nubian Ibex.

There is a wide range of excellent walks in the reserve, all described in the Cicerone book. All appear to require guides (which as of 2010 necessitated you being there at 8 am), except for the short but splendid Siq walk and the Upper Mujib Gorge Trial which is outside the reserve. Many of these walks are accessed from the Dead Sea Highway, others from the hills above the reserve.

Quite a lot of these walks are difficult, requiring climbing skills as indicated below.

• The Mujib siq is a thrilling (but very wet) 'walk. The full Monty is a serious canyon and takes you downstream, abseiling over the 20m waterfall, but most people slosh their way upstream from the canyon entrance by the Dead Sea Highway to the falls, a round trip of around 2 km or an hour. This involves some easy wet scrambling and you should expect to be soaked but ecstatic. The falls themselves are spectacular, but it is the fantastically narrow, sheer water-scoured sandstone walls which are the heroes of the occasion. If going upstream, this is unlikely to be practical before May.

• The two day Mujib Gorge Trek, a moderate trek then a moderate canyon, the grand one of them all, which can be broken down into separate long day walks. Shorter walks can be made out and back along the Upper Mujib Gorge Trial (which has two entrance points), or you can camp in the gorge and walk back the next day.

• The Malaqui Trail, a half-day wet canyon, said to be the reserve's most popular walk. A long, hot slog up into the mountains, then a descent of the Mujib Siq (see above), including over the 20m waterfall. Demanding, potentially dangerous but thrilling.

• The Ibex Trial, a 3 plus hour yomp up into the hills and back down. A fine walk in search of the rare Nubian Ibex, which is being bred here. Excellent ridge views.

• The tributary Hidan Gorge has various splendid sounding but difficult treks.