Wadi Rum

No spaceship is required to visit the Mars-like landscapes of Wadi Rum; modes of transport here instead range from foot and camel to 4WD and even hot-air balloon. Rugged mountains and graceful natural arches in a sea of rust-colored sand make this protected area one of the most photogenic and beautiful places in Jordan – and the world.

Many travelers come seeking a slower pace and long silences, though Wadi Rum has become so popular that you may have to go farther afield, away from the main sites and camps, to find true desert tranquility. You can also spend a day with a Bedouin hiking, cooking and learning how to build a tent.

One of the best places in the world for rock climbing, Wadi Rum also attracts active and adventurous travelers. Book a guided climb and “wild camping” (overnighting in collapsible tents, away from the crowds and larger established camps) with Shabab Sahra and learn from Bedouin who’ve grown up scaling these sandstone giants.

Planning Tip: The Red Sea resort city of Aqaba is an hour’s drive away and the perfect place for an indulgent spa treatment and a luxury stay after working up a sweat in Wadi Rum.