Where We Be
Wadi Rum, Jordan -- Jeep Tour & Camp
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Wadi Rum is a get-away-from-it-all destination
where you can revel in the isolated quietness
and splendor of its sand dunes and mountains.
Wadi Rum means High Valley, and when you
look around, you can see why. Jordan's highest
mountains are right here: Um Dami at 1,840 m
(6,040 ft) and Jabal Rum in the central Rum.
Amazingly, these desert peaks are sometimes
capped with snow. Also known as Valley of the
Moon, Wadi Rum really does feel otherworldly
at times, which is why it has served as the
setting for so many sci-fi movies, including
Dune, Star Wars, Rogue One, The Martian,
Prometheus, and Red Planet.
If you do come, be sure to spend a night in a
Bedouin tent -- or sleep under the stars if you
prefer. After dinner, we and our fellow guests
sat outside on a mat, chatting and drinking tea
late into the night as the full moon shone down
upon us, softly lighting the mountains. It was
truly a special experience. Bedouin hospitality
is worth experiencing firsthand.
We walk through a narrow fissure in the cliffs...
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...Up and over reddish sand dunes...
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...And down the other side for a splendid valley view
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The sun slants in sideways at this time of day, saturating the rocks and sand
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With half an hour left till sunset, the desert turns golden
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From here you can see Burdah Arch in the distance. It's possible to hike to this natural rock bridge if you have the time.
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Some of the local guides find their own way to pose at Um Frouth Arch
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If you aren't afraid of heights, it's an easy scramble to the top
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We continue our jeep tour after a late lunch as the sun
burnishes the mountains gold. Our first stop is Um Frouth Arch.
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Our last stop of the day is Chicken Rock, a unique two-legged rock
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The sun sets over an unspoiled corner of the world
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We're on one rock outcropping watching the sunset, while another
group of tourists is on another. Chicken Rock sits in between.
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We watch as the wind creates new ripples in the sand
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Our guide walks barefoot to the top of a small sand dune, so we follow suit. At this hour the sand is warm and inviting.
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We sit and enjoy the sunset views in one direction and the full moon rising in the other
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Then it's back to the jeep for another short drive and another great view
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Our guide relaxes while we do some local exploring
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We drive to another part of the desert during a lovely time of day
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At this remote spot we go for a half-hour hike through the desert
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Our camp is situated amidst the rocks, secluded from other camps
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After warm showers (desperately needed after a hot and sandy day), we enter the large communal tent
and enjoy a delicious Bedouin barbecue called a zarb, cooked outdoors in a pit beneath the sand
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Hot sweet tea accompanies the meal
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Light filters out from the communal tent. It's a warm night,
so after dinner we sit outside and chat till midnight
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We heartily recommend Bedouin Directions if you happen to visit Wadi Rum
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Robin peeks out of the tent first thing in the morning
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Our private Bedouin tent has two simple cots for sleeping. At first we sleep
with the covers thrown off, but it gets cooler as the night progresses.
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