Wadi Rum - The Valley of the Moon

Wadi Rum - The Valley of the Moon

Wadi Rum - also known as "The Valley of the Moon" - is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan 60 km to the east of Aqaba; it is the largest wadi in Jordan. Wadi Rum is Arabic for "Sand Valley": Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley, and Rum means sand, especially light sand that can be carried by wind. 
This series of valleys covered in softly colored sand, punctuated by huge, imposing, fantastically shaped mountains (jabals), is one of the most memorable destinations in Jordan, and has been so since the dawn of time. Deep in the valleys, far from any visible human habitation, it is possible to believe the view has not changed much since the beginnings of human habitation in the Valley of the Moon, approximately 800 BC.
T.E. Lawrence, the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, came here many times, both in his pursuit of success during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-1918, but also because he found solace in the isolation of Wadi Rum. Rum still rewards visitors today with peace and unceasing beauty. The magnificence of Rum lies primarily in its amazing geology.
In the ancient past, Wadi Rum was popular with travelers because of its abundance of food and water, making travel and trading easier, as well as its proximity to Petra, by far the largest urban center in the region.
Hiking and camping opportunities dot the region. The visitor's center near Rum Village is a good place to start a visit. Hot air ballooning is one of the most dramatic ways to see Wadi Rum, but guided jeep tours are also possible. The most traditional way to experience Wadi Rum, however, is by camel. The stillness, broken only by the wind, the groans of the camels and the sibilant commands of the guides, is phenomenal, with visits to the Burdah Rock Bridge, the five kilometer long Barrah Siq, the Red Sands or the Seven Pillars of Wisdom easy to arrange. T. E. Lawrence described Rum as "landscapes in childhood's dreams were so vast and silent", in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.