Feynan Eco-Lodge Area | Karak

Information

Landmark: Feynan Eco-Lodge Area
City: Karak
Country: Jordan
Continent: Asia

Feynan Eco-Lodge Area, Karak, Jordan, Asia

Feynan Ecolodge is situated at the western edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve in the Wadi Araba desert, within the Tafilah Governorate. It functions as the primary hub for sustainable tourism in the low-altitude zone of the reserve, approximately 300 meters above sea level.

Visual Characteristics

The area is characterized by a hyper-arid desert landscape featuring wide gravel plains (hamada), dark volcanic mountains, and red sandstone foothills. The lodge itself is a multi-story structure built from mud-brick and local stone, designed to blend with the earth tones of the surrounding terrain. To the east, the vertical escarpment of the Sharah Mountains rises sharply, while the western horizon opens toward the flat expanse of the Wadi Araba valley.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is located 230 kilometers south of Amman. Access from the north or south is via the Dead Sea Highway (Route 65); a 15-kilometer unpaved track leads east from the highway to the lodge. This track is best navigated by high-clearance 4WD vehicles; the lodge provides a shuttle service from a designated pick-up point near the highway for visitors in standard cars. There is no public bus service to the lodge.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The Feynan area has been a center for copper mining and smelting for over 4,000 years, with significant activity during the Chalcolithic, Iron Age, and Roman periods. The lodge was constructed in 2005 by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and was designed by architect Ammar Khammash. It was built on the site of a former mining camp to demonstrate off-grid, low-impact hospitality.

Key Highlights & Activities

Activities include guided tours of the ancient copper mines and Byzantine ruins located within 2 kilometers of the lodge. Hiking trails connect the area to the Dana highlands, though these involve significant elevation gains. Visitors can participate in stargazing sessions on the lodge roof, utilizing the minimal light pollution of the desert. Bedouin cultural experiences, such as coffee making and traditional bread baking, are conducted in nearby encampments.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The lodge operates entirely on solar power and does not use electric lighting in guest rooms, relying on handcrafted candles at night. Infrastructure includes a vegetarian restaurant, composting toilets, and a water filtration system. Shade is provided by the lodge’s internal courtyards and thick mud walls. While 4G/5G cell phone signal is intermittently available on higher ground, it is generally weak or nonexistent within the lodge structure itself.

Best Time to Visit

The optimal months for visiting are October to April, when daytime temperatures are temperate and nights are cool. Summer months (June to August) are extremely hot, with temperatures frequently exceeding 40°C. Photography is best during the "blue hour" immediately after sunset, as the lodge’s candlelit exterior creates high contrast against the desert floor.

Facts & Legends

The area contains some of the world's best-preserved ancient smelting furnaces, which produced copper for the Roman Empire. A local historical oddity is the presence of "slag heaps"-mounds of black, glass-like waste from ancient smelting-that still dominate parts of the landscape. A logistical tip: because the lodge is off-grid, there are no electrical outlets in the guest rooms; electronic devices must be charged at a central charging station in the lobby.