The hook
A desert of red sand and towering sandstone and granite mountains, so otherworldly it stands in for Mars in the movies, where Lawrence of Arabia rode and Bedouin still run camps under skies thick with stars.
01Why it's worth it
Wadi Rum is the great desert of southern Jordan, and it is spectacular: broad valleys of rust-red sand between sheer, wind-sculpted mountains of sandstone and granite that rise like islands, glowing deep orange at sunrise and sunset. T. E. Lawrence passed through during the Arab Revolt and wrote of it, and its scale and strangeness have since made it a favourite stand-in for alien planets on film. The way to experience it is with the local Bedouin, who run 4x4 tours out to rock arches, canyons, ancient inscriptions, and dunes, and overnight camps where you eat lamb cooked underground, drink sweet tea, and sleep out under a staggering canopy of stars far from any light. It is easy, safe, and deeply atmospheric, and pairs naturally with Petra just up the road. A night here is one of the highlights of any Jordan trip.
02How to experience it
Book a Bedouin-run 4x4 tour and, above all, stay overnight in a desert camp for the sunset, the silence, and the stars. Climb a dune or a rock arch, and take the tea and hospitality offered. Combine it with Petra nearby, and pack warm layers for the cold desert nights.