horse riding 2 hours tour in Wadi Rum

The spring is at the top of a short scramble – head for the fig tree, located just 2km (1.2 miles) south-west of the village of Rum. The spring was named in honour of Lawrence’s evocative description in the Seven Pillars of Wisdom: ‘’In front of us a path, pale with use, zigzagged up the cliff-plinth…From between [the] trees, in hidden crannies of the rock, issued strange cries; the echoes, turned into music, of the voices of the Arabs watering camels at the springs which flowed out three hundred feet above ground’’. Although the pool itself is largely unprepossessing, being a stagnant puddle, the views across the desert are truly spectacular.

Nobody is certain that this was Lawrence’s house, although there are stories that he both stayed and/or stored weapons here. The current structure is built upon the remains of a Nabataean building, however, and it’s another beautiful spot in the desert. There is little left of this building, erected on the Nabataean ruins of a water cistern. Nonetheless, legend has it that Lawrence stayed here during the Arab Revolt and that makes it a must on the regular 4WD circuits of the area. Near the building is a Nabataean inscription that mentions the area’s ancient name of Iram. The remote location and uninterrupted view of the red sand dunes are the main attractions.

Among the vast expanses of rust-colored sand in the Wadi Rum desert, the Red Sand Dune, or ‘Al Hasany’ in Arabic, is one of the most famous ones. Officially named Al Ramal it has become better known by its descriptive name. It stands out against a cliff side like it is part of the mountain. Colored red by the presence of iron oxide, this dune is fine and soft underfoot making it perfect to walk up barefoot!

Little Rock Bridge: Easy to climb, this bridge offers great views across a broad expanse of desert. It is easily accessible and not dangerous, it is perfect for families with children and people who feel less comfortable with heights under their feet.

Khazali Canyon in Wadi Rum is the site of petroglyphs etched into the cave walls depicting humans and antelopes dating back to the Thamudic times. This narrow canyon contains numerous Nabataean rock carvings of people and animals. Jebel Khazali, a peak situated in the center of Wadi Rum Protected Area opens up in a narrow fissure of about 100 m length. Its inner walls are covered with Thamudic, Nabatean, and Islamic inscriptions, as well petroglyphs depicting humans and animals. Remarkable are the soles of feet petroglyphs, which probably had religious significance. In 1932 the French epigraphist Savignac noted the engravings in the cleft and published some of them in 1934. The petroglyphs and inscriptions of Khazali Siq form an impressive collection being one of the major tourist attractions in Wadi Rum. At the end of the canyon, there are several man-made rock-cut basins for water collection.