10 Things to See in Jordan’s Wadi Rum Desert

“‘Vast, echoing and God-like.’ This was how Thomas Edward Lawrence, the famous Lawrence of Arabia, described Wadi Rum in his book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Jordan’s desert is so extensive and magnificent that it leaves visitors speechless, lost in reverence and curiosity. Mother Nature created this work of art over thousands of years, sculpted by the force of her elements, giving us this magical place made of sand and rock. Awe-inspiring mountains with canyons that open into deep stone crevices, wind-swept sand dunes, dramatic rock formations towering towards the sky. Then there are the changes brought about by man’s arrival, rock carvings, the Bedouin. A trip into Wadi Rum changes you; it’s an enriching experience. You return with a greater awareness of our history and the world in which we live.

The area is a protected nature reserve and has been one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites since 2011. Many film directors have chosen to locate their films here. It is truly a magnificent place. Discover this desert’s wonders, secrets, myths and legends. Here is your guide to 10 unforgettable adventures in Jordan!

### 1. Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Not only the title of Lawrence’s previously-mentioned autobiographical book (Lawrence lived here during the First World War Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire), it’s also one of the most spectacular rock formations in Wadi Rum. Seven reddish stone columns rise up from the ground, towering towards the sky for dozens of metres. The site can easily be seen from the road, but get close to it, walk around it, you can do a complete circuit and explore inside the Makharas Canyon. The experience is almost mystical!

The Seven Pillars, Wadi Rum By hikinginjordan, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57119011)

### 2. Burdha stone bridge

If you are reasonably physically fit and you don’t have anfear of heights, climb up to this bridge. It’s the highest in Wadi Rum atnaround 35 metres. Although the path requires some climbing experience, thenuneven sandstone and granite on the climb make it hard to slip. However, younshould always follow your tour guide’s advice. The view at the top isnoutstanding. Get a photo taken by someone below who didn’t do the climb; itnwill be one of the trip’s best.

### 3. Lawrence’s Spring

Just outside the village of Rum, where the British officernLawrence was based, is a source of water, so rare and precious in the desert.nThe spring rises between the trees, bathing the surrounding area with thengentle sound of water. This small oasis was vital for caravans travellingnbetween Arabia and Syria. Today, it’s connected to an aqueduct supplying thenlocal area. Why does it have this name? Because Lawrence not only used it butnalso described it in poetic terms in his book!

### 4. Al Khazali Canyon and the Petroglyphs

This narrow passage, wedged between rocks smoothed andnmoulded by the elements, would be worth visiting if only for its structure andndistinctive features, but it also happens to be one of the area’s mostnimportant prehistoric sites! The canyon’s walls are covered with rock carvingsn- petroglyphs – that depict men and animals, antelopes in particular, goingnback to the times of the Thamudemi tribe, a pre-Islamic Arab people. If younlove history, this is the right place for you!

_Jebel Kazali By Berthold Werner – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8632915)_

### 5. Hot air ballooning

They say that when you look around from on high, distancesnshorten and you have a new sense of familiarity. Try this in a hot air balloonnover the desert and you’ll really have something to tell your friends about!nThe flight lasts from 45 minutes up to 2 hours, you decide. The basket isnusually small, holding a maximum of 3 people. Floating above Wadi Rum’s softndawn shadows is special. It is one of the best ways to have a deep, personalnexperience of this place. Another excellent option for taking to the air is annultralight aircraft, less romantic but faster!

### 6. Um Fruth Bridge

So, you didn’t climb the Burdha Bridge and you wish you had?nMake up for it here, where neither climbing experience nor a guide are needed,nand it’s lower at only 15 metres high. In five minutes, you’ll be at the top ofnone of the most photographed stone bridges in Wadi Rum. Come to Um Fruth latenafternoon when the sun is going down and the colours turn a fiery red from thenreddish rock hues.

### 7. Little Bridge

Sit on this stone bridge and let your legs dangle. Breathenand enjoy the peaceful atmosphere you only find in this sort of place. Namednafter its small size, Little Bridge is a stop on almost all excursions intonthis desert. Its simplicity, the breathtaking view and the relative ease ofngetting there for short tours make it unmissable.

Wadi Rum view, Little Bridge By Anastasia Pozdnyakova – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69848039)

### 8. Red sand dunes

Situated on the slopes of Jebel Umm Ulaydiyya, a substantialnrock formation, the sand dunes make a pleasant change from Wadi Rum’s classicnviews. You can travel there comfortably in a Jeep, or it’s a brisk walk ofnaround three hours from the Visitor Centre. The sand is very fine, it getsneverywhere. Climb all the way to the top of the dunes and you’ll have anprivileged viewing point right over the desert. Enjoy the absolute calm herenand the magnificent feeling of this red dust under your feet. With a bit ofnimagination, you could believe that you are walking on Mars!

### 9. The desert train

A steam train that puffs and clanks in the middle of thendesert? No, it’s not a mirage. It actually exists at Wadi Rum! It’s an oldnTurkish train used during the First World War. Afterwards, in the 1960s, itnappeared in the film about Lawrence of Arabia, Today, this old relic only comesnto life during shows and demonstrations organised for tourists. A littlencommercial perhaps, but it’s all part of the game!

### 10. Nabatean temple

This is another important place for understanding thenhistory, evolution and traditions of a fascinating country such as Jordan. Wenare a few hundred metres from the village of Rum, on a hill. Here, the ruinsnbear witness to the presence of a Nabatean settlement more than 2000 years ago,ncomplete with inscriptions carved by nomads and hunters. Behind the temple, bathsnbelonging to a villa are thought to be the country’s oldest discovery.

Remains of a Nabataean temple, Wadi Rum, Jordan, By Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0 (commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75187208)

So now it’s easy, you’re almost ready to pack your bags! After all, the desert is a very special travel experience and one that should increasingly feature among holiday destinations. Comforts are few, it’s true. There is no hotel in Wadi Rum, only camping in tents and basic services. Journeys are long, if you decide to stay outside the reserve. The reward, though, will make up for these small inconveniences, especially if you go in spring or autumn when the weather is at its best and visitors suffer less from the variations in temperature.

Organising this type of trip is best left in the hands of agency experts and tour operators, since venturing off on your own would be risky. Travel is usually by Jeep. Less conventional means of travel, such as by camel or even trekking on foot, are now becoming more popular, giving travellers a wide choice and the possibility of a perfect tailor-made holiday. Take advantage of this!”