24 Hours in Wadi Rum!

Our 24 hours in Wadi Rum were nothing short of magical. The day started at 8am as we packed our bags, had a quick breakfast, and jumped on the bus bound for our next destination.

The two hour drive through the desert landscape already felt like an adventure, and along the way we stopped at an old train, which looked as if it had been frozen in time. From there we carried on until we reached the Wadi Rum Tourist Office, where we had lunch. Fun fact this is actually the spot that caters meals for film crews when movies are shot in Wadi Rum! Think The Martian, Star Wars and even Dune. It was surreal to be standing in a place that plays a role in Hollywood’s big screen version of the desert!

After lunch, we hopped into 4WD trucks and began our desert safari. The vastness of Wadi Rum is breathtaking! The red sand stretching endlessly, the cliffs rising like giants, and the silence broken only by the sound of the engines as we bumped along dusty tracks.

We stopped often, each place holding a little surprise. Canyons revealed ancient inscriptions carved by hands hundreds, even thousands, of years ago. A massive sand dune invited us to run down its steep slope, laughing and stumbling like kids. At shaded tea tents, we were welcomed by the locals with steaming glasses of sweet tea and I was also shown how to tie a Shemagh.

One of the funniest moments came when Jayde suddenly found himself in the middle of a very serious negotiation with Mohammad, one of the Bedouins. The subject? Me. Apparently I was up for sale. Mohammad started throwing out bigger and better offers. By the end, the deal on the table was one hundred camels, a jeep, and a whole camp. I have to admit, it was tempting!, I mean, who wouldn’t want to be valued at triple digits worth of camels? But thankfully Jayde held firm and walked away, proving his loyalty. I, however, plan to remind him for the rest of our lives that he could’ve been the proud owner of one hundred camels and a new set of wheels.

Along the way, we also got hands-on with the desert itself, making natural soap and even trying makeup pigments created from the rocks. The desert is full of unexpected treasures!

After four hours of exploring, we arrived at our camp for the night, a cluster of traditional tents nestled in the sand. Each couple had their own cozy space, and as the sun set behind the cliffs the entire sky lit up with fiery shades of orange and red. We perched ourselves on a nearby cliff and watched the incredible sunset!

Dinner was a highlight, Zarb! A traditional dinner similar to a Māori hāngi, with chicken and vegetables slow-cooked underground in the sand. The smoky flavors were delicious and it was a lovely last Jordanian meal shared with the rest of the group and our beautiful Adnan.

The evening carried on with traditional dancing and music, before finally gathering around a fire outside. We lay back on mattresses, warm from the flames, and gazed up at a sky so full of stars as we listened to stories from Mohammad. Apparently he already had a wife he was just searching for his second!

With the silence of the desert around us it was the perfect end to our adventures in Jordan.Read more