Wadi Rum

Cross a Natural Bridge in Wadi Rum

If history and natural beauty inspire you, you may want to cross a natural bridge in Wadi Rum whereBritish officer T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, based his operations during the Arab Revolt of 1917–18. Wadi Rum, also known as The Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the granite and sandstone rock of south Jordan 60 kilometres east of the scuba diving paradise of Aquabaon the Red Sea. Also known as the Valley of the Moon, it is the largest wadi or valley in Jordan having been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times. Cultures including the Nabateans have left their mark in the form of rock paintings, graffiti and temples. Wadi Rum is home to the Zalabia Bedouin who, working with climbers and trekkers, have made a success of developing eco-adventure tourism, now their main source of income

Some of the interesting sites to visit in Wadi Rum include:

Khaz'ali Canyon - This is the site of petroglyphs etched into the cave walls depicting humans and antelopes dating back to the Thamudic times.

Jabal Umm Fruth Rock Bridge– The most magnificent of several rock bridges in Wadi Rum

Sand Dune – Be sure to climb to the top of the large red sand dune

House of Lawrence of Arabia– There is not much left to the house the Lawrence once lived in, it is merely ruins but still worth seeing to admire the beautiful view he woke up to every morning.

So come on out and ride a camel or take a ride in a jeep and explore one of the most serene deserts in the world!

DID YOU KNOW...Wadi Rum has been used as a background setting for the following films:
Lawrence of Arabia - David Lean filmed much of this 1962 film on location in Wadi Rum.
Red Planet - Wadi Rum was used as the surface of Mars in this 2000 film.
Passion in the Desert - The area was also used for scenes in this 1998 film.
The Face - BBC Film, Rock climbing in Rum
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Represented as being in Egypt
The Frankincense Trail - scenes from train, and aerial filming too
Prometheus - Scenes for the Alien Planet

Lawrence of Arabia
Thomas Edward Lawrence professionally known as T.E. Lawrence was a British soldier best known for his role in the Arab Revolt of 1916-18. He was sent by the British Government in Egypt as an officer to assist the Arabs in their struggle against the Ottoman Empire and to convince them to use British strategies and support to win their struggle.

During the Arab Revolt, Lawrence based his operations out of the Wadi Rum desert. Much of the David Lean film Lawrence of Arabia, that brought the young officer into pop culture, was filmed on location in Wadi Rum.

After the war, Lawrence wrote an account of his experiences called The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which he sold for less than cost stating that he did not want to make any money from the book. Unfortunately the war hero met an untimely death as a result of a motorcycle accident at the young age of 46, mere weeks after retiring from the military.

Teresa The Travler's Wadi Rum Travel Tips

Spend the Day - But don't spend the night. The desert is warm and sunny during the day and FREAKIN' COLD and DARK at night. There are no hotels in Wadi Rum but there are tents for rent. If tenting in a cold desert is not for you stay in the nearby town of Aquaba and take a day trip to Wadi Rum.

Ride a Camel - The desert is not that large and doesn't take all day in a jeep to visit. Three to four hours in a jeep is more than enough time to visit all of the main sites but if you want to make a day of it, I recommend going on a relaxing guided camel tour.

Wear a Head Wrap - The desert can be quite windy and hard on the ears, so I recommend wearing a head wrap. You can pick one up anywhere in Jordan. I recommend buying a red and white one, the traditional head gear of Jordan, it's makes a great souvenir to bring back home.

For tips on visiting Jordan CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE