Feynan Eco Lodge, one of several eco tourist destinations in Jordan, has been rated by National Geographic as one of the top 50 eco lodges in the world and one of the top 10 eco lodges located in deserts, jungles, mountains, and savannas.
Part of the reason that National Geographic considers Feynan to be so successful is due to its genuine conservation initiatives, which is due to the fact that the eco lodge was developed by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). RSCN developed and opened Feynan in the summer of 2005.
Yahya Khalid, the RSCN Directory, said that “the selection puts Jordan on the world ecotourism map… People who read the magazine will know that besides the archaeological sites, Jordan possesses a variety of nature reserves which offer different activities and allows visitors to explore its unique culture.”
Feynan is located within the Dana Biosphere Reserve, a 116 square mile nature reserve with diverse habitats and animal species. The eco lodge helps raise funds for the reserve and also provides employment opportunities for local Bedouins.
The 26-room eco lodge is completely solar powered during the day. By night the lodge is lit by candles made on site by Bedouin women, serving both a romantic and an environmentally friendly function.
Designed by a local architect and constructed entirely from local materials, the lodge blends organically and unobtrusively into its natural surroundings. Its location within the reserve (which is completely free of paved roads and, instead, houses a mountain bike trail) facilities hikes and the observation of animals.
Check out the video below to experience the views in the Dana Reserve, Feynan, and other natural Jordanian areas:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RlTsJ0bdQk[/youtube]
Read more about eco tourism in the Middle East:
Eco Tourism in the Middle East: Lebanon
Eco Tourism in the Middle East: Egypt
Eco Tourism in the Middle East: Syria
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Thanks!
It looks really cool. The way its color blends in with the landscape reminds me of adobe houses.
This is a fabulous post. I love the addition of the video to really capture the beauty of it all. I tried to find out the other eco-friendly features of Feynan Eco Lodge on http://www.EnvironmentallyFriendlyHotels.com but they aren’t listed yet. I appreciate the indepth resources you’ve given as I am humbled by the amazing culture and space of it all and it’s green!