J O R D A N
executive summary by darmansjah
THE DANA BIOSPHERE RESEVE-a gold and crimson desert carved by ancient wadis-is the backdrop forFeynanEcolodge, owned by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature Glowing candles handmade by local women illuminate rooms and interior courtyards decorated with traditional handicrafts. The midday heat of summer encourages early morning and late afternoon activities such as mountain biking and trekking; during the winter months, fireplaces fed with charcoal mad of crushed olive pits, a renewable and readily available resource, keep things warm and cozy. Bedouin hosts lead activities like making flatbread over an open fire an exploring 4,000-year-old copper minis that existed in the time of the Roman Empire. 26 rooms; from $110, including breakfast and Dana Reserve entrance fee.