We made a trip to Mars! Yes Wadi Rum will definitely make you experience what landscapes on Mars are like. Wadi rum desert spans more than 720 square kilometers in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite with rusty sand all around it is a sight to behold.
How to reach: Best way to reach here is by driving from Amman (3.5hr) or Aqaba (1 hr) or Petra (1.5hrs). Amman and Aqaba are the two international airports in Jordan.
Time to visit: March-May is the best time since it is not too hot or cold and you can spend a night in the Bedouin tents under the stars.
Exploring Wadi Rum: reach the visitor center early in the morning, it opens at 8 am. They offer multiple ways in which you can explore Wadi rum: by jeep, by camel, by horse or on foot. We took the Jeep tour as it is the quickest way to see most of the 19 sites. Depending on the time on hand & spots you want to visit you can select the tour (prices vary by package). Your driver will have a 4X4 vehicle as only that can traverse through the desert sand, and these are operated by local Bedouins.
What you’ll see: Narrow canyons that cut deep into the mountains and conceal ancient drawings by early inhabitants preserved over centuries. Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum in their large Goat hair tents that you can spot from far off. There are multiple sunset sites, dunes, rock bridges to visit & click pictures at.
I would recommend staying in an overnight camp, bookings can be made online but do check the reviews before you book as sometimes they can be a difficult experience. Since we visited in Jan it was extremely cold in the night hence we drove straight to Petra for our next day visit.