Not just deserts

Nine-tenths of Jordan is desert, says Claire Gervat in Conde Nast Traveller, and often, that's all that visitors see. That's a pity, because the rest of the country includes some strikingly varied landscapes, some of them "positively lush". The most fragile are now protected reserves, established by the Jordanian Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. Explore them with local guides, and you'll glimpse a side of the country few tourists ever see; and by staying at the reserve lodges, you'll contribute to their continued survival. At the Dana Biosphere Reserve, you can hike through some of Jordan's rugged mountain scenery, and stay in the Feynan Eco-Lodge, a "gorgeous" adobe building with an "almost spiritual atmosphere".

Book a double room at Feynan Eco-Lodge for about £35 from Wild Jordan. Contact +96 232 270 497. ·