Watching the sun slowly set in Wadi Rum, the craggy desertscape takes on a whole new wonder. The red rocks glow golden for a moment, bathed in the final rays of the day, and the wind gently swirls the burnt orange sand at our feet. As the colour seeps out of the day and the temperature drops, an endless array of stars appear in the vast dark sky.
Later that night, we gazed at these constellations through the transparent ceiling on our tents at the Bubble Luxotel, where even indoors you feel completely immersed in the nature of the desert, before spending a couple of hours stargazing with astronomers at the Rum Sky. These experts from Bedouin communities point out the North Star, Orion and Cassiopeia, as well as setting up telescopes to view other constellations, the moon and planets.
Wadi Rum – a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011 – is just one of the sites on a tourist’s ‘must-see’ list for Jordan. One of the great charms of this Middle Eastern country for travellers is its size – Jordan is a relatively small country that’s easy to travel around, meaning that you can see several destinations in just one trip. And there are so many cultural gems, ancient historical sites and natural wonders within its borders.
One of the new wonders of the world, the ancient city of Petra tends to be top of most tourists’ lists – and for very good reason. The ‘rose city’ is not only a Unesco World Heritage site but is also considered to be one of the modern seven wonders of the world. Walking along the 1.2km Al Siq canyon through towering cliff walls and seeing the famous Treasury come into sight is a truly magical experience. As the early morning sun lifted the shadows over the elaborately carved rock tombs, we watched the facade turn from a rosy hue to a deep golden before exploring the many caves, tombs and temples that filled the former capital of the Nabataean Kingdom.
There is so much to do at Petra that you really need a couple of days at least to explore. Aside from admiring the Treasury, climbing the 850 steps to the monastery, or perhaps hiking along one of the many trails that surrounds Petra, it’s a good idea to spend some time learning about the history of this architectural wonder. The relatively recently opened Petra Museum takes you back through antiquity to tell the story of the city, with artefacts and information about the Nabataean civilisation and beyond.
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