Description of the attraction
Wadi Rum is a unique corner of the planet, a "lunar landscape" of rocks intricately cut by wind and sand on a desert plateau, a lunar landscape of pink sands and black mountains, the kingdom of Bedouins, peace, echo and singing wind, which became the backdrop for a real story about which told director D. Lin in the film "Lawrence of Arabia". Wadi Rum is the largest and one of the most breathtaking desert landscapes not only in Jordan but globally. Powerful cliffs rise like a wall above the arid red plain. Some peaks reach a height of 1750 meters, and only those who have serious mountaineering training can climb them. But no less exciting routes can be taken along the gloomy gorges and bright hills, built of local multi-colored sandstone and burning in the rays of the local hot sun like precious stones. Someone would prefer to spend the day in a leisurely walk on the back of a camel, and the night under the huge southern stars at the Bedouin tent. By the way, relatively few modern Bedouins in Jordan continue to live the life of their ancestors. Most of them are gradually moving to cities and are confidently included in the cycle of civilization. Nevertheless, colorful Bedouin tents with camels and rams grazing around are still found in Wadi Rum (and in Jordan in general) everywhere.
Despite the onset of civilization, a tourist to this day can count on traditional Bedouin hospitality, and at least a glass of fragrant Bedouin coffee.
It is best to come here in spring, when, after the rains, the desert turns fabulously green for a short period, turning into a kind of endless dense meadow, and for several months "comes to life" with flowers and birds. Red anemones, poppies and the famous black iris, a flower that has become the national emblem of Jordan, come across a traveler at this time literally at every step.
The main attraction of the Wadi Rum reserve is the desert itself. Wadi Rum is a classic landscape for a sandy desert, with hills and cliffs made of multi-colored sandstone (Arabic name: "jabl"), towering over an almost perfectly smooth surface of red-pink color. The continuation of the desert can be considered the ruins of the ancient Nabataean temple, a stunning example of the architectural style prevailing here many centuries ago. On the territory of the reserve, a whole network of specially protected areas has been organized for compact habitation of endangered species of desert fauna.
It is most convenient to visit Wadi Rum as part of one large tour with arrivals to Dana, Petra and Aqaba. Wadi Rum is a 3.5-4 hour bus ride from Amman south along the main road to Aqaba. Aqaba to Wadi Rum is less than an hour northbound. Minibuses run from Aqaba and Wadi Musa (near Petra) to Wadi Rum.
