Wadi Rum

Jordan is far cleaner than Egypt. This was obvious the moment we stepped off the boat in Aqaba. Even its haze free air was offering a crisp and clear sea view from our hotel room. The Gulf of Aqaba simply dazzled in the sunshine.

It was here that we got our first glimpse of Israel. The Israeli port of Eilat looks surprisingly close. Its proximity, less than 2km away, left an indelible impression. It's hard to imagine that this township on the opposing shore was once considered "enemy territory".

After a lazy morning wandering the streets of this quaint seaside town, we set off for Petra via the Wadi Rum desert. The road climbs rapidly from Aqaba to the desert plateau more than 1600 metres above sea level. As it twists and turns it offers some stunning views of Israel and the Red Sea.

Wadi Rum was magic. Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to the bed or valley of a river that's usually dry except in the rainy season. This particular wadi is home to an extraordinary desert landscape of red sand and strange-shaped rock formations. The overall effect is so alien that the area is often referred to as the Valley of the Moon. It's no surprise that Hollywood loves shooting movies here.

This is the desert of Lawrence of Arabia fame; blazing sands, purple mountains, and shadows playing tricks with your eyes. We spent several hours here driving around in rusty old 4-wheel-drive utes, and exploring narrow ravines, before finally stopping to watch the sun sink slowly below the desert horizon.

Join us for our next stop in Petra. A magical place where Indiana Jones would feel right at home.