When Omar Sharif emerged from the shimmering desert mirages in arguably the greatest screen entrance in cinematic history, David Lean not only gave us a new matinee idol in his movie masterpiece, Lawrence of Arabia; the legendary film director also gave movie-going audiences a chance to see one of the most magnificent and magical landscapes in the world: Wadi Rum.
It has been the backdrop to countless films including The Martian, with the scenes where Matt Damon was supposedly on Mars actually filmed here, as well as Theeb, the independent Jordanian NAFTA award-winning film, which was also nominated for an Oscar.
Explore the dunes, desert oases, rock bridges and admire the panoramic views in true Lawrence style, taking a camel or horse safari; join a 4x4 trip with a local Bedouin as your guide; Lawrence’s well, a Nabataean temple and the mountains known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom where you can inspect prehistoric graffiti, make this UNESCO World Heritage Site both a natural and historical gem.
End your day enjoying the legendary hospitality of the desert tribes people in a Bedouin camp, where the stars seem brighter and closer in the clear night sky above your tents and you can dine on a traditional barbecue cooked from an oven buried in the desert sand.
Then head to nearby Petra – another epic filmscape which was the backdrop to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – to discover one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, which was lost for centuries and only rediscovered 200 years ago.
Enter this city carved out of sand-stone cliffs through the Siq – a long, narrow canyon. It makes a real movie-style moment as you emerge into the light to see the red-rose city at its end.
Visit the ancient theatre, built in the first century to seat 8,500, marvel at the Royal Tombs including Urn Tomb with its soaring facade which towers above the centre of Petra and explore vast temples, a colonnaded street and Little Petra which you can discover through a mini Siq.
Arrive at this UNESCO World Heritage site first thing, and you can see the sandstone at its radiant best, lit up by the rising sun – and then have plenty of time to really discover its treasures.
Of course, Jordan is more than just a historical land of adventure. With golden beaches and stunning scenery, this safe, friendly country – only a five-hour flight from the UK – is also a peaceful place to relax. If you are visiting Wadi Rum, it is only an hour away from the beautiful resort of Aqaba on the red sea, with its glorious year-round sun, where you can snorkel, scuba dive and unwind under a palm tree.
In fact, you can easily make Aqaba your base and use it as a hub for visits to Wadi Rum, Petra and the other marvels that Jordon has to offer.
Enjoy a hot air balloon ride across the desert dunes, take a trip to the crusader castles at Karak or Shobak or head up to that other natural wonder, the Dead Sea, to bathe in the salty waters renowned for their healing powers. There are plenty of five-star resorts and spas offering treatments from Dead Sea mud wraps to salt scrubs.
Then there is Jordan’s Grand Canyon, Wadi Mujib, a vast valley which is home to a protected biosphere reserve. The mountains, which plunge from the highland plateau to the shore of the Dead Sea, are cut by a sequence of deep gorges and a trek through the canyon – or for the more adventurous, abseiling or waterfall-jumping – is another highlight of a trip to Jordan.
There are many river trails through Mujib, which you can explore with Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). You can even spend the night at the Mujib campsite.
Dana is another protected biosphere reserve where you can stay in a wilderness lodge high up in the mountains or on the desert floor, and take countryside walks to spot the wildlife, including the Sinai rose finch – Jordan’s national bird – vultures and other raptors.
Although famed for its desert landscapes made famous on film, Jordan also has mountains and forests, including the Ajloun Forest nature reserve and the Azraq wetlands. But whatever you add to your itinerary, make Wadi Rum top of your list. Where else in the world can you explore such a unique moon-like landscape of hidden canyons and desert oases on a camel, or ride on horseback beneath giant rock bridges as though you were on the set of a film?