Ajloun Forest Biosphere Reserve

A protected oak woodland in the hills of northern Jordan, with forest trails, cabins and reintroduced roe deer

Plan your visit Explore it in 360°

Established1987 by the RSCN

UNESCOBiosphere reserve

Location9 km NW of Ajloun

OpenDaily 8:00–16:00

Travel Guides Part of Jordan’s Nature & Wildlife Reserves

Introduction

Evergreen oaks, red-barked strawberry trees and the quiet of the forest.

In the green hills of northern Jordan, about 9 km north-west of Ajloun town, the Ajloun Forest Reserve protects one of the country’s last stands of Mediterranean woodland. Evergreen oaks, wild pistachios and the red-barked strawberry tree cover its slopes, at about 700–1,100 m above sea level.

The RSCN established the reserve in 1987, roe deer were released here in 2006, and in 2025 UNESCO recognised the area as a biosphere reserve. Walk the short Roe Deer trail, stay in a forest cabin, or join a guided trail to the villages or to Ajloun Castle.

Best timeMar–May · Oct–Nov

Time neededHalf day

Ticket8 JOD

From Amman85 km · 1 hr 30 min

Combine withAjloun Castle · 20 min

Google rating4.3 · Reviews

Highlights · A forest reserve

Six things not to miss at Ajloun Forest

Woodland trails, cabins and an adventure park

The reserve is easy to explore from its entrance. These are the places that make the visit.

Strawberry trees with red bark, Ajloun Forest Reserve, Jordan

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01 · Forest

The strawberry trees

Roe Deer trail

Trees with smooth red bark, growing among the evergreen oaks.

Look closely

The bark peeling in thin layers.

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Explore the reserve

What to see

Five parts of the reserve: the Roe Deer trail, the reception, the cabins, the adventure park and the Royal Academy. Pick one to see what to look for.

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01 · Into the forest

Walk the Roe Deer trail

The short Roe Deer trail loops through the oak woodland from the reserve entrance and can be walked without a guide. Information boards along the way introduce the trees and plants of the forest.

Look for the strawberry trees, with their smooth red bark, and in spring for irises and orchids under the trees.

Short loopNo guide neededShaded

Look for

Strawberry trees with red bark
Evergreen oaks and wild pistachios
Rock-cut hollows beside the path

Dig deeperThe return of the roe deer

Roe deer disappeared from Jordan in about the early 19th century. In 1989 four were brought from the Turkish–Bulgarian border and bred at Zubia; in 2000 fourteen were moved to Ajloun, and on 19 January 2006 twenty-six were released into the forest.

The reception building, Ajloun Forest Reserve, Jordan

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02 · Start here

Start at the reception

The reception building at the entrance is where you pay the entrance, pick up information and book guided trails, cabins and meals. A board shows the trails of the reserve.

The longer trails, to the villages and to Ajloun Castle, are guided and should be booked at least 24 hours ahead.

TicketsTrail bookingsRestaurant

Look for

The board of the trails
The terraces looking over the forest

Dig deeperCrafts in the villages

In the villages around the reserve, women make olive-oil soap at the Soap House, and the Biscuit House and Calligraphy House offer workshops. Guided trails such as the Rasoun trail visit them.

Explore in 360°

Cabins among the trees, Ajloun Forest Reserve, Jordan

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03 · Stay overnight

Stay in a forest cabin

Wooden cabins are scattered through the trees near the entrance, from simple rooms to duplexes with balconies over the hills. They are open all year.

Overnight guests can walk the Roe Deer trail in the evening or early in the morning, the quietest times in the forest.

Open all yearBalconiesForest views

Look for

Cabins among the oaks
The balconies over the hills
The paths between the cabins

Explore in 360°

A zipline tower, Ajloun Forest Reserve, Jordan

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04 · For the adventurous

Try the adventure park

The reserve’s adventure village has ziplines, rope courses, a climbing wall and a giant swing among the trees.

There are weight and height limits, so check before you book.

ZiplinesRope coursesClimbing wall

Look for

The zipline towers
The rope course among the trees

The Royal Academy for Nature Conservation, Ajloun Forest Reserve, Jordan

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05 · Learning about nature

See the Royal Academy

On a hilltop beside the reserve stands the Royal Academy for Nature Conservation, the RSCN’s training centre. Its foundation stone was laid in 2009.

Its terraces look out over the wooded hills of Ajloun.

RSCNFounded 2009Views

Look for

The stone buildings on the hilltop
The view over the hills

Nature & conservation

Saving a forest

The RSCN set up the reserve in 1987 to protect the woodland from cutting and overgrazing, and later brought back the roe deer.

AD 1987The RSCN establishes the reserve
AD 1989Four roe deer arrive and are bred at Zubia
AD 2004The first tented bungalows open
AD 2006Twenty-six roe deer are released into the forest
AD 2009Foundation stone of the Royal Academy
AD 2025UNESCO designates the Ajloun Biosphere Reserve

ProfileAjloun Forest Biosphere Reserve: the full storyThe history, the woodland and the return of the roe deer.Read the profile →

Plan your visit

Everything you need to know before you go

The reserve is about 9 km north-west of Ajloun town, near the village of Umm al-Yanabi, and about 85 km by road from Amman. The reception, cabins and restaurant are at the entrance.

Good to know: the trails are rough in places, and the longer ones are guided; book them at least 24 hours ahead.

Opening hoursOpen daily8:00–16:00

Entry ticket8 JODResidents 6 JOD · guided trails include entrance

Time to visitHalf dayHalf a day, or stay the night

From Amman85 kmAbout 1 hour 30 min by road

LocationUmm al-Yanabi32.3802° N, 35.7638° EGet directions

Opening hours and prices checked October 2026. Spotted a change? Let us know