Sleeping under the stars watching the sky at ‘Wadi Rum Desert’ in Jordan

Among others there are two flash points and incredible experience values in Jordan. They are the country’s two biggest tourist draws: Petra, one of the 7 wonders of the world, and the nearby desert of Wadi Rum.

Apparently untouched by humanity, Wadi Rum desert is a place of tranquil isolation and simplicity. It must be a unique and thrilling experience sleeping in the desert, Bedouin-style, surrounded by thousands of twinkling stars untainted by artificial light pollution.

This area of Jordan is quite isolated and largely inhospitable to settled life. The only permanent inhabitants are several thousand Bedouin nomads and villagers. There is no real infrastructure, leaving the area quite unspoilt. Apart from the Bedouin goat hair tents, the only structures are a few concrete shops and houses and the fort headquarters of the Desert Patrol Corps. British spy Lawrence spent a significant amount of time here during the course of the British-inspired Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War (1914- 1918). Wadi Rum is a short detour from the Desert Highway between Amman and Aqaba. A side road leads to the entrance where you will find the Wadi Rum Visitors Centre, a police office and a lot of potential guides offering camel and 4x4 treks. There are several options for exploring Wadi Rum, and visitors should head for the Visitors’ Centre where they can gather information about the tour operators that would best suit their needs. The genuine attraction of Wadi Rum is the desert itself, best seen by fourwheel drive, pick-up truck or on a camel. Some visitors only spend a few hours in the Wadi, but it's definitely worth taking a guided trip of several days duration, staying overnight in Bedouin camps in the desert.

Sleeping experience under stars watching out the sky Also known as The Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum, the largest

valley in Jordan, is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, 60km to the east of Aqaba. It has been inhabited by many human cultures since prehistoric times, such as the Nabateans, who left their mark in the form of rock paintings, graffiti, and temples. Khaz’ali Canyon is one popular spot to visit, with petroglyphs etched into the cave walls depicting humans and antelopes dating back to the Thamudic times. The Wadi’s 74,000 hectares of primeval landscape were designated a Unesco World Heritage site in July 2011. There are several options for exploring Wadi Rum, and visitors should head for the Visitors’ Centre

where they can gather information about the tour operators that would best suit their needs. Campsites are the order of the day around Wadi Rum. Camping can range from a goat-hair blanket under the stars at an isolated Bedouin camp to a luxury air-conditioned pod. You can even pitch your own tent in designated areas (enquire about locations at the visitor center). The camping locations are selected according to the time of year, the weather, and the hiking tour type chosen. Despite the online marketing literature, the camps all offer a very similar experience with a similar level of comfort and activities. The Bedouin camps all conform to

certain standards and are checked regularly. There are two types of camps – permanent (which usually have toilet-shower blocks and operate year-round) and temporary (used only occasionally by Bedouin groups or tourists). The Wadi Rum camps are best booked through the visitor center or through local guide operators, either in advance (especially if you want to stay at a particular camp) or on arrival. You can enjoy an overnight stay in inflated bubbles which are very comfortable and cozy, and the view is simply breathtaking. There is an outside patio – relax area, an entrance with a double door (to avoid

the lost of pressure of the bubble), a main bubble with a comfy huge bed and a small bubble with the bathroom (toilet and shower). It is the ideal combination of comfort and immersion in the nature. Enjoy watching stars! There shouldn’t be any parallel to this unmatched fun at any modern premises or rich amenities. When visiting Wadi Rum, remember to bring something warm to wear at night as temperatures can vary from a daytime average of 32°C down to 4°C at night. The meals at the camp are very delicious and satisfying. Made by the camp's private chef, traditional Jordanian food, mostly including meat and vegetables, is cooked in a charcoal-filled pit dug deep into the desert sand. Then it is

served in one of the luxury tents or under the sky full of thousands of brilliant stars. It's not an experience one can forget easily.

Petra: walking back in time tunnel Petra, a Jordanian wonder, is also listed among the “seven wonders of the world”. It has immense archaeological, historical, and architectural value that makes it a jaw-dropping tourist attraction. The water conduit system and the rockcut architecture are the two most notable features of this ancient city. Petra is also nicknamed as the “Rose City” due to the stone color from which it is carved. Petra is not only one seven wonders of the world but is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also listed as one of the "28 Places to See Before You Die” by the Smithsonian magazine. The entrance to Petra awes visitors today, as it has for centuries. Your path might curve through the Siq, a cleft in the rock lined with ancient water channels and dotted with prayer niches, Roman paving stones underfoot. The clop of horses’ hooves echo until suddenly, the intricately carved facade of the Treasury sliced through the shadows, rearing more than 40m up. In the sandy plaza, vendors hawked their wares in a cacophony of English, German, Spanish and Russian. A throbbing generator announces modern civilization: lights, refrigerators, restaurants... Donkeys bray, camels snort and contemplation give way to commerce. From the Petra Church, with its floor of Byzantine mosaics, the city’s layers of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Nabatean influences are clearly visible. The marble columns of the recently unearthed Blue Church seem incongruous in a cityscape of russet and ochre. Everywhere there are locals with something to sell: Petra of old is a business center, and Bdoul Bedouins have kept the tradition alive.