Zarqa Ma'in (Lower)
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| | Raps:max ↨16ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:Required 18.4km Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Spring, Fall (avg for this region)
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31.6089, 35.6032
31.6089, 35.6091
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Introduction[edit]
A nice walk through some shallow narrows with a warm stream. The water is hot at the upper end.
The canyon is typically accessed from the top / east through the 5-star hotel and spa at Hammamat Ma'In (Hammamat is Arabic for hot springs/pools). This will require paying an entry fee for use of the public areas. Alternatively, the canyon can be accessed from below / west parking on the Dead Sea Highway, but signs indicate entry is forbidden and often tourism police are parked there blocking access.
Approach[edit]
From the top / east:
1) Drive to the Ma'In Hotel and Spa (the hotel website is https://www.mainhotsprings.jo/), pay your daily entry fee at the security gates and proceed into the hotel compound. From here, walk downhill through the hotel complex to the narrows.
2) Park outside the hotel complex on the road. You can park where the road crosses the wadi at 31.607765000006673, 35.614948695931744. Follow the dirt road on the south side of the wadi down / west to the wadi bed. Walk downstream through the hotel complex. There are reports online of groups being challenged by hotel security to pay for access.
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From the bottom / west:
You can park in a large gravel pull-out on the north side of the wadi, east side of the Dead Sea Highway here: 31.618736, 35.567781. Walk a few metres down into the gravel bed of the wash through the gate and past the forbidden signs. Walk up-canyon.
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Descent[edit]
Be careful with some scrambling and climbing down the 6-meter rock. Don't jump in any pool, a lot of accidents happened in that canyon. Don't underestimate it.
Exit[edit]
Typically an out-and-back return walk, therefore, turn around and retrace your steps. However, it is possible to do a through-trip with a shuttle or pre-arranged pick-up / drop-off.
Red tape[edit]
A 15 JOD per person entrance fee is required to enter the Ma'In Hotel & Spa public areas.
If entering from the Dead Sea Highway (the bottom, west end), there are signs forbidding access and often Tourism Police blocking access.
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Beta sites[edit]
Canyon.Carto.net : Wadi Zarqa Ma'in Lower
Descente-Canyon.com : Zarqa Ma'In (inférieur)- Climbing7 : Wadi Zerqa Ma'in
Trip reports and media[edit]
Goole Photos : Zarqa Ma'In lower, 25.04.2016 by Canyonwolf- Trip Advisor : Ma'In Hot Springs