Dana

About

Perched on the edge of a large canyon, the little town of Dana is a well-preserved slice of 19th century life. While the historic buildings and narrow alleys are charming, the real draw here is the Dana Biosphere Reserve, which covers 308 square kilometres, and is the largest in the country. Ranging in altitude from 1700m near Dana, to 50m below sea level in Wadi Araba, the biosphere is home to 600 species of plant, 180 species of bird, and over 45 mammal species - including 25 endangered. The reserve is lined with hiking trails, offering everything from a short jaunt to a full-day trek and a variety of difficulty levels (though many require a guide to be arranged in advance). If you don’t feel like working up a sweat, you can also relax at the viewpoint near the village and just admire the amazing scenery.