Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum has some of the most dramatic desert scenery in Jordan. It is a vast, timeless and starkly beautiful place where massive, uniquely shaped mountains rise from the rose-red desert. A visit to the valley, which is best explored on camelback or by 4WD jeep, casts one back to a time when vast caravans of merchants plied the desert carrying spices and exotic goods from the Indies to the Mediterranean.

The area is still the preserve of the Bedouins, and their low black goat-hair tents can be seen dotting the landscape. TE Lawrence made his home in the valley during the First World War. David Lean’s epic film about the exploits of Lawrence features many dramatic sequences that were shot in Wadi Rum.

The valley is best experienced in the early morning or late afternoon when the lighting is at its best. The adventurous may be interested in spending a night under canvas in a specially prepared private camp and gazing at the stunning night sky or enjoying the dramatic experience of a hot-air balloon journey at dawn. Rum is a truly unforgettable and authentically Arabian experience.