Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is one of Jordan’s main tourist destinations because you will find here one of the most stunning desert landscapes in the world. A journey to Wadi Rum is a timeless journey into another world, but here in this world you will find it situated about 320 km southwest of Amman. This place is best known because of its connection to the famous British Officer, T.E. Lawrence, and after whom the famous movie ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ was made.
Seeing is believing, it is said, and you will have to see Wadi Rum to believe and experience the beauty of this place. Beautifully shaped huge mountains rise straight out of the pink sands of the desert. Tall towering rock cliffs, eroded by wind and time, have been fashioned into every imaginable shape and size – into faces of men, animals, birds, and monsters.
The floors of the valley are 1000 meters above sea level and the sandstone cliffs rise another 500 meters into the sky. Jabal Rum is the highest peak in this area and the second highest peak in Jordan. The natural beauty of the Wadi Rum brings you closer to nature than ever before. The Wadi Rum has been the home of the Bedouin tribes and the place has been inhabited since endless generations. These friendly desert people who were once nomads have settled down in nomad camps throughout the area. Take the opportunity of sipping mint tea or drinking cardamom coffee with the Bedouins, sitting in their tents or under the beautiful starry desert skies – it is truly an experience that you cannot forget.
Anyone who would like to explore Wadi Rum will encounter serious challenges. Wadi Rum can be explored in a number of ways. Serious trekkers would have to take their trekking seriously with climbs that can challenge the climber in them – some climbs are 1750 meters high. Spring time attracts Naturalists who will be drawn to this place as the hills and the valleys explode in a riot of colors. Over 2000 species of wild flowers such as Red Anemones and Poppies, to name a few are found here. The Black Iris which is Jordan’s national flower can also be seen here. Wadi Rum is the perfect location for hiking, climbing, and trekking. But for summer, all the other months are perfect for these activities. Climbing the Rock Bridge is an experience of a life time. Take a hot air balloon ride at the crack of dawn or enjoy 4×4 vehicle tours. Enjoy a camel tour from Wadi Rum to Aqaba, which may take you several days or to Petra which may take you a week. Anyway, you will enjoy the trip and cherish the experience.
The flood of tourists to this once forsaken area has increased the tourism business and this has helped improve the economy of the Bedouins, who have become quite affluent. When you enter the village of Wadi Rum you will see a typical village scene of hundreds of Bedouin inhabitants with their goat-hair tents and concrete houses, a school, and a few shops. The head quarter of the Desert Patrol is located here.
You can reach Wadi Rum by bus or by taxi and once you reach the Wadi Rum Tourist Center, you can avail the services of guides, special guides or the Wadi Rum Mountain Guides. When you visit the Wadi Rum, you get the wonderful opportunity of meeting and mingling with the local Bedouins. You become familiar with their life styles, traditions, and customs. However, there are a couple of things that you should bear in mind when visiting the Bedouins. Always remember to ask permission before taking their photographs. Dress modestly when visiting an area inhabited by the Bedouins – skimpy shorts and tops are considered disrespectful.
