Queen Rania of Jordan visited the village of Birgesh in Irbid on the Jordan Trail on Monday. The Queen, who is very hands-on in selecting her engagements, hiked through Birgesh Forest and spoke to a group of Jordan Trail service providers.
Queen Rania met Mohammad and Maysoon Dweikat, who provide accommodations for those who hike through the village on the Jordan Trail and spoke to those who help hikers get through the northern terrain. She was impressed by the homestay the Dweikats provided and the progress the Jordan Trail has made in enriching the lives of those who hike its trail or provide assistance along the way.
The Queen pointed out how the ongoing pandemic and the resulting challenges have allowed for more local tourism as travel restrictions have prevented many from travelling outside their borders. Her Majesty emphasised how the pandemic has brought Jordanians closer together and awakened them to the beauty inside their own country.
Queen Rania commended the Jordan Trail and other similar initiatives in unifying Jordanians and providing them with opportunities to spend time with family in Jordan instead of abroad.
The Queen concluded her visit by taking to the trail herself and hiking in the Birgesh Forest. During her hike, she saw the art, way marking, and mobile photography activities offered along the trail.
After her visit, Her Majesty remarked on Instagram that she had been “surrounded by breathtaking nature and genuine hospitality” along the Jordan Trail in Birgesh.
The Jordan Trail stretches from the whole of Jordan and takes 40 days to complete. The Jordan Trail Association (JTA) was established in 2015 by adventurers who are now responsible for maintaining and developing the trail for locals and tourists. It has eight regions and 35 sections, and in 2020, it issued the Jordan Trail Pass – a lifetime trail pass that doubles as a hiking log and achievement recorder – which provides hikers and visitors with information on the trail.
The JTA also has the “Adopt a Trail” initiative that provides individuals and corporations with the opportunity to adopt sections or regions of the trail and help maintain and develop their areas.
