Jordan

A holiday to Jardon isn’t complete until you complete the Golden Triangle – Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra.  With all offering their distinct features: The seaside city of Aqaba is Jordan’s coastal gateway with historic sites on our doorstep, Wadi Rum – the valley of the moon offers glittering skies, undulating dunes and peace of mind, and Petra’s rich ancient past is an archaeological adventure.  Using the seaside city of Aqaba as your base, Petra is just a short drive away. And situated near the desert highway, only a minor detour between both Amman and Aqaba, lies Wadi Rum.

Chances are when you think of Jordan, you're more likely to imagine deserts and ancient monuments than canyoning in a river valley in the world's lowest nature reserve.  But while star destination like Petra deservedly takes the spotlight, Jordan has more than a few surprising attractions which are still off the beaten tourist track. Now with budget flights to the country's capital Amman, it's easier and cheaper than ever to discover the country. 

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.

Stuck behind a computer and in traffic can feel a long way from adventure.  But Jordan, home to some of mankind's earliest settlements and the world's great civilisations, is straight out of an Indiana Jones film (The Last Crusade to be precise); could this be the most rewarding short-haul travel destination?

HIKE HE SINGING SAND DUNES OF THE GOBI DESERT, MONGOLIA
When Marco Polo travelled across the Gobi Desert, some 750 years ago he was scared for dear life because he thought the sound of the sands were the sounds of evil spirit.  Well Khongoryn Els sands dunes of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert have this rather odd habit of, singing, which is not normal for sand dunes. It’s a fairly rare phenomenon and just about 30 dunes worldwide are musically inclined — the rest are pretty quiet.   It's more of a constant low rumbling moan, with the occasional booming explosion - but it makes for a slightly odd encounter in the desert. Scientist said it’s something to do with the curve of the sand dunes forming a natural amphitheatre.