The Southern Desert and Aqaba
Wadi Rum is the largest and most magnificent of Jordan's desert landscapes. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 metres and more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains many of which conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over millennia. Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.
This unspoiled area offers challenging climbs, colourful hills and canyons for trekking on foot, on horse back or by camel and, in the springtime, a colourful explosion of 2,000 species of wildflower.
It is also famous as the location where T E Lawrence spent much of his time and where he wrote his famous Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Located on the red sea, Aqaba maintains a daytime temperature of around 20 degrees centigrade and is a popular holiday spot for the locals.