"Our trip to Wadi Zarka Ma'in was a sort of surprise..."
Would you like to write a testimonial to be published on our blog for other travellers to read?

"
Our trip to Wadi Zarka Ma'in was a sort of surprise present to my kids especially Rania who had just finished a gruelling boring year of Tawjihi a week before. I didn't give them any details exept that were going to leave early and what to take with them. I can tell you it was a great success. Both talked about this adventure for days later and this means something (You know how hard it is to surprise and please teenagers these days!)

Here is why:

- Your trips are well organized, you are punctual and accurate.
- You have a great team, they work very hard and are so professional, everybody has an excellent attitude.
- The food was perfectly calculated and balanced even for hungry teenagers.
- Your emphasis on safety made the trip even more enjoyable.
- The area is so beautiful you simply have to fall in love with it.


My recommendation: Physically, this trip is an excellent exercise but for counting it part of ecotourism it could be more informative on our nature. The more you know about something the more you learn to respect and cherish it. By pointing out important plants and animals (like the birds, fish and frogs we saw) or even sorts of rocks by name you can inspire especially young people to learn more and care more about our environment.

I noticed the english lady asking about the rose flowering bushes in the wadi and someone told her that they were Rododendrons, which is of course wrong. These bushes are Nerium Oleander which decorate our wadis by blooming all summer. They are very poisonous though, so care should be taken that no one picks up leaves or flowers without washing their hands thouroughly afterwards.

There are excellent books on Jordanian flora and fauna in the royal society for the conservation of nature and the Jordan University.s Old people and locals are even better sources of information if you have access to them.

I congratulate you on you excellent work and wonderful team and wish you all the best Rakan.

I will send you some pics of the trip and special pics for Layali as soon as I can.

Best regards
Reem Bdour"

Wadi Zarqa Ma'in canyoning adventure, 11 July 2008.


A testimonial: Wadi Zarqa Ma'in
Would you like to write a testimonial to be published on our blog for other travellers to read?

Maali Qasem:

"I have done many hiking trips but very few were as well managed and handled by the guide as this one making it a very enjoyable and stress free trip. Thank you so much for putting in so much effort to ensure our safety and enjoyment ;) "

Wadi Zarqa Ma'in canyoning adventure, 25 July 2008.
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Thanks for the wonderful hike
by Michael Vonk

If you have ever wanted to see the natural beauty of Jordan, this is the company to speak with. Terhaal Eco Adventures has some of the friendliest and the most knowledgeable guides I have ever met and can take you to some incredible places. The hike I chose was Wadi Zarqa Ma'in, a beautiful Oasis in the middle of the wilderness where you can come across a wide range of wild flora and fauna as well as numerous Bedouins watering their goats and donkeys. Beyond being friendly and knowledgeable (and being full of stories about Jordan), the guides clearly had safety in the forefront of their minds in whatever we did including in the selection and care of the rappelling (abseiling) equipment. I know for certain that if I am able to return to Jordan I will ensure I take the time to go on another excursion with them and highly recommend them to anyone who is planning a trip to Jordan - or if you aren't sure where to go, going to Jordan on an eco-adventure with Terhaal would be an excellent plan.

Michael Vonk

Wadi Zarqa Ma'in: Top to bottom

by Hamza Jilani
Already an adventure nut and climber, I felt myself magnetically drawn to the vertical sport of abseiling after meeting Rakan and Tala. This trip to Zarqa Ma'in's upper canyon was a first for me, and was laden with quite a few unexpected surprises. The first thing I noticed was that the girls on the trip outnumbered the guys by a ratio of 2:1. Blame PlayStation!

After an hour's ride down twisting roads in the hills, we were briefed about the day ahead of us by the instructors (Rakan and Tala) and began making our way into the wadi. You wouldn't believe how many times the landscape can change in just a couple of kilometers! A typically dry canyon with an array of colorful mountains at first site, we soon found ourselves making our way through thick bush lining a pristine river, greeting mountain nomads, and then swimming across pools of cool water. All of these stunning sights were merely a prelude to the main attraction of the trip - the training followed by the first of two gorgeous waterfalls to be abseiled.


I was impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm the instructors conveyed. They were extremely precise and knowledgeable about their sport and the terrain. However, to the observer, they take their vocation to an art level! Way to go, guys!

What really trips you out about abseiling is that most times you can't see what you're getting into from the top of the waterfall or cliff you're standing on before you descend. It's soooo worth it. Just make sure to wear gloves because the ropes can blister your hands.

This is definitely a sport I'm going to get into, especially in Jordan where pervasively carved wadis to abseil are all over the country!


The Zarqa Ma'in Canyon - March 07

Thanks to all the participants for the great company and team spirit. We have truly enjoyed having you onboard!

Terhaal Team

Zarqat Ma'in: A Gorgeous Little Canyon

by rakan mehyar
During another training session in the Jordanian canyons, we decided to explore Wadi Zarqa Ma'in (upper gorge) - one of the nicest little canyons of Madaba's region.

We gathered in a little olive farm in Madaba at 6:30 in the morning waiting for the mini van to pick us up to the trailhead 10km south-west of Ma'in Village next to Madaba.
The canyon received us with a beautiful black basalt gorge followed by a short narrow white limestone gorge. We strolled along a little water stream for 90 minutes before we reached few boulders, a little water cascade and the first waterfall... a splendid 35m cliff asking to be rappelled!

Directly, Tala - being the canyon manager that day- gave her orders to open an abseiling station by the left side of the cliff. We put our harnesses and helmets on, took out two 50m ropes and some equipment and started working.

After everybody has gotten down, we have made the last rappel to find ourselves being received by an impressive site; below the fall lied a splendid pool girded by travertine drapes of an amazing shape... Breathtaking by all means!

After a 30 minute lunch break, we continued our hike towards the second waterfall... same procedure again and off we were down on the other side at another water pool...
The trail ended at the hot springs resort of Ma'in where we had a hot steamy bath under the big waterfall and headed back to Madaba for a delicious oriental dinner.

By the way, we have scheduled to do this canyon again on Saturday, 24th of March. We invite you to join us for an easy-to-moderate canyoning adventure! Click here for more information

Click here to view our photo collection.



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