Wadi Rum: just a one-hour drive from the port, venture into this timeless, beautiful spot. Wadi Rum is home to several Bedouin tribes and is famous for being the legendary land of T.E. Lawrence and his Arab compatriots.
You will need to drive from the
pier to the Wadi Rum’s Visitor’s Center, where you will switch over to a
four-wheel drive vehicle for your two-hour desert drive. Nearby, the “Seven
Pillars of Wisdom” form a dramatic backdrop. The magnificent scenery is a little
changed from the days when Lawrence rode across the sands.
Geologists believe Wadi Rum
developed because of a strong upheaval beneath the earth’s surface, which
caused a large crack to form. Huge sandstone and granite Jbal (mountains) shoot
up from the lunar-like landscape. Some of the ridges are over 300 meters (1000
feet) high, often topped with domes worn smooth by the desert winds. Your guide
will point out numerous rock slabs with Talmudic inscriptions dating back
thousands of years. Archways created by the ceaseless winds that have worn down
the sandstone seem manmade. Deep, narrow canyons and undulating sand dunes
complete the picture.
For many centuries, fresh water
springs attracted trading caravans moving between the Arabian Peninsula, Syria
and Palestine. Today, several Bedouin tribes call the valley home. Stop by for
refreshments at Captain’s Desert Camp, where traditional Arabic tea and delicacies
are offered in the shade of a Bedouin tent.
Your time in the pink-hued valley draws to a close as you head back to a vehicle awaiting you for the return drive to Aqaba.