Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nature Reserves
There are two reserves in the south of Jordan. On land,
Wadi Rum Protected Area
(
Click here
)
, run by the Aqaba authorities, offers desert adventure such as camping, camel
treks, hiking, ballooning and off-road driving, amid beautiful sand dune and sandstone
landscapes.
Off-shore, the
Red Sea Aqaba Marine Park
was established in 1997 to protect the
complex marine environment of the Red Sea south of Aqaba and is best accessed through
one of the diving clubs in the area. The park stretches from the Marine Science Station to
the Royal Diving Club, and extends about 350m offshore. Enforced by rangers, there's a
ban on fishing and boating is limited within the park. Jetties enable divers and snorkellers
to jump into the water rather than wade out over coral from the beach.
Dangers & Annoyances
Like the plains of the Eastern Desert, the sand dunes of the Southern Desert are an unfor-
giving environment that must be treated with respect. It's easy to dehydrate, even in
winter, and without a guide getting lost and disoriented is a serious hazard. Perhaps a less
anticipated danger is the bitter cold of night-time temperatures in winter, when hypother-
mia can set in on an open-vehicle trip without you noticing.
The Red Sea is home to a number of hazards. See
Click here
for a description of the
main dangers.
For divers, it's important to remember that most roads out of Aqaba lead uphill. This
means that 'the bends' are a serious concern if you fail to acclimatise in Aqaba before
heading on to Wadi Rum or Petra.
Getting There & Away
Aqaba is well served by public transport from Amman and even has an international air-
port. Aqaba is also a gateway into Jordan from Egypt (usually by boat) and Israel and the
Palestinian Territories (through the blissfully straight-forward Wadi Araba border crossing
-
Click here
)
. Wadi Rum is not as easy to get to without your own transport or without tak-
ing a tour from Aqaba or Petra. With a car it's possible to link this region with the Eastern
Desert via Hwy 5.
