Wadi Rum Adventures: The Valley of the Moon

Should you’re in search of an journey that looks like getting into one other world, it’s best to go for Wadi Rum adventures. Image this: countless golden sand, large cliffs, and a sky so stuffed with stars it feels such as you’re a part of one thing larger.

Whether or not you’re cruising throughout the dunes with the Bedouins or trying out historical rock artwork, Wadi Rum is the type of place that stays with you lengthy after you allow. It’s uncooked, stunning, and in contrast to the rest – are you able to expertise it for your self?

Private Expertise of Wadi Rum Adventures

Having pushed for round 40 minutes, the 4WD left the tarmac street and pulled onto the desert plain heading in direction of one of many towering rocky skyscrapers which had solely been seen from a distance. The 4WD swayed throughout the desert plains, weaving via the paths that mark the guts of Wadi Rum adventures, leaving tracks within the gentle sand.

With the street again to Aqaba out of sight and the horizon warped by the shimmering waves of warmth, the desert atmosphere encompassed the senses utterly. The jeep now drifted and swayed as the motive force veered off earlier tracks that community the world, earlier than discovering traction to proceed the journey. Because the jeep introduced us nearer to the Rahayeb Bedouin Camp, the beautiful environment reminded us why Wadi Rum adventures are so well-liked amongst desert travellers.

Arriving at Rahayeb Bedouin Camp: A Heat Welcome

Supply: Ramy Salameh

Rounding a number of extra steep cliffs the ‘Rahayeb’ Bedouin camp got here into view. The camp is surrounded by a rocky escarpment and sand dunes, making a horse-shoe form that enables safety from the desert’s harshest circumstances. The distinctive black and white striped camel hair Bedouin tent, curls its arms across the hearth that kinds the guts of the enclosure.

As custom and values of Bedouin life dictate, we had been welcomed warmly below the cover of the tent. The Bedouins had been seated upon ornamental cushions. Their solar weathered faces peering from beneath the distinctive purple and white headdress, while sipping tea from miniature glass cups.

 

Contained in the tent the coarse materials partitions had been adorned with native Bedouin handicrafts; camel saddles, musical devices, arched swords and cooking utensils, a snapshot of on a regular basis residing. Every thing has been developed to deal with the semi-arid atmosphere, the nomadic nature of Bedouin life has used an ancestral and intimate information of the desert and mountain atmosphere to outlive for millennia.

 

 

Exploring Wadi Rum’s Pure Wonders

Supply: Wikimedia Commons

It’s not lengthy earlier than we jumped, as soon as once more, onto the again of the 4WD Jeep to go and uncover the slim gorges, pure arches, towering cliffs, ramps, large rock landslides and caverns, which might be house to distinctive animal life and natural world. Wadi Rum area has been inhabited by the Bedouin for 1000’s of years. Generations have maintained an unbroken historical past breeding camels, goats and sheep whereas residing in tents or in caves.

Many have left their cultural DNA upon the sandstone and granite canvases within the type of historical inscriptions or rock work that may be discovered at many factors throughout Wadi Rum. Paying homage to the artist L.S Lowry’s stick figures, they’re each simplistic but completed.

 

They testify to early human thought and the alphabet of the Thamudic and Nabatean individuals. Their artwork depicts the caravans passing via Wadi Rum and their dependence upon their life-blood the ‘camel’ and the actions, resembling looking which fashioned their day by day life.

 

A brief distance from camp ‘Rahayeb’ this historical graffiti artwork may be seen above an excellent boulder that rests in opposition to a sheer and easy granite face. Instantly above the boulder may be discovered a beautiful collection of inscriptions relationship again some 2000 years, it’s simple to think about a determine crouched atop the boulder indelibly leaving their inventive commentary of life throughout that point, throughout a number of sq. meters of rock.

 

 

The Camel Caravan: Witnessing a Residing Legacy

Supply: Ramy Salameh

The area remains to be inhabited by Bedouin households and it’s nonetheless exhilarating to see a the camel trains, with their lolloping gait, shifting throughout the sand dunes as has  occurred for 1000’s of years. Driving camels throughout the sand dunes, a key a part of Wadi Rum adventures, is an unforgettable method to witness the desert’s timeless magnificence.

The porous sandstone mountains maintain one widespread trait and that’s the uniformity of their erosion and the fixed warfare of attrition with the weather. Lateral traces of sand blasted ruts, run throughout each rock face, while the trail of historical waters has created alcoves, caves and fissures that appear to be ghoulish faces as one tracks the stone to its summit. Our 4WD meandered via ‘Siq Al Kurj’, following water channels that prompted these nice divisions between the mass of granite and sandstone.

We stopped at one in all many Bedouin outposts, which supplied shade below the tents and tea that was heating on the fireplace; this camp has a particular reference to historical past. On the entrance, a boulder showcases a number of small and skilful carvings, the primary depicting the angular Anglo-Saxon options of Lawrence of Arabia, with trademark headdress.

This sits subsequent to a carving of Sharif Faisal Bin Hussein, the nice grandfather of His Majesty King Abdullah II. It was right here that each males and ‘Auda abu Tayeh’, the top of one of many greatest Bedouin households, mentioned the way forward for the area and deliberate the defeat of the Ottoman invasion throughout World Conflict I. Discovering the historic outposts tied to Lawrence of Arabia is simply one of many many enriching moments supplied by Wadi Rum adventures.

Closing the Wadi Rum Adventures with Sundown, Music, and Timeless Traditions

Supply: Wikimedia Commons

Exchanging our 4WD for a extra conventional type of transport, we mounted camels and with unmistakeable and measured strides, we set off throughout the open plain in direction of a view level. As one other day was drawing to a detailed, seeing the solar set over ‘Wadi Rum’ is a ritual that units in movement a frisson of exercise. Fashionable caravans of holiday makers and Bedouin guides criss-cross the desert in Jeeps, on camels and by foot all scrambling to search out an elevated plateau.

Neighbouring rocky outcrops, silhouette human figures perched like pilgrims ready for the solar’s mellowing rays to fan-out their corridors of sunshine, earlier than slowly melting into the panorama. This fragile terrain is able to sleep and provides centre stage to the night time sky one other dimension inside this unbelievable wilderness. The cool desert night time inspired the pilgrims to show their heads skywards and star gaze.

Again at ‘Rahayeb’ the fireplace crackled within the coronary heart of the camp, the “Oud” (a stringed instrument just like a Lute) was being performed skilfully by its grasp, who was singing a standard Bedouin melody to some mates who had been, as soon as once more sipping tea, in contemplative temper.  Bedouin music, carried out largely at weddings and on particular events, supposedly has its roots from the solemn rhythmic (recitation) declaration of poems from pre-Islamic instances.

 

From starry nights to historical carvings, Wadi Rum adventures create an immersive expertise that mixes historical past, tradition, and pure surprise. At these moments, one can really feel that not less than someplace on the planet, life has barely modified for the reason that earliest of instances. Bedouin forefathers would have been seated in precisely the identical method, subsequent to open fires below a galaxy of stars, on this distinctive area. Wadi Rum completes one other epic day.

 

 

Able to Discover Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum is greater than a spot – it’s an journey. From beautiful desert landscapes to historical carvings and heat Bedouin hospitality, it’s an expertise you’ll always remember. With Halal Journey Information, you’ll discover Wadi Rum the way in which it’s meant to be – guided by locals who share their tales and traditions. It’s Muslim-friendly, immersive, and unforgettable.

Let’s make it occur. Guide your Wadi Rum adventures with Halal Journey Information immediately!

This text was written by Ramy Salameh, an Worldwide journey PR specialist and an award-winning journey journalist.