Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, is a majestic and otherworldly desert in southern Jordan, a vast UNESCO landscape of towering sandstone and granite mountains rising abruptly from wide valleys of red sand, dotted with canyons, natural arches and ancient rock inscriptions. Home to Bedouin tribes and made famous by Lawrence of Arabia and countless films set on Mars, it is explored by Bedouin-led jeep and camel and slept under a blaze of desert stars.

What you actually see

• The desert landscape - the towering mountains and red sand valleys.
• A jeep or camel tour - the Bedouin-led exploration of the desert.
• A night under the stars - the desert camp and the brilliant night sky.
• The rock arches and canyons - the natural arches and ancient inscriptions.

When to go

Spring and autumn for bearable temperatures, as summer days are dangerously hot and winter nights bitterly cold; sunset and sunrise light the red sands most beautifully. A night at a desert camp, from simple to luxurious bubble tents, is the highlight.

Honest expectations

The desert extremes mean summer is punishingly hot and winter nights very cold, so pack for both if visiting in the shoulder seasons. Tours and camps are run by Bedouin operators varying from basic to luxurious, so choose to match your comfort. It is remote, best paired with Petra nearby. The night sky and silence are unforgettable.

Nearby

Petra is to the north and Aqaba and the Red Sea to the south.