Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lunchtime but the best time to see it is in the late afternoon when full sunlight hits the rear
side of the arch.
Little Rock Bridge
(Rakhabat al-Wadak) is easier to climb and more accessible than
Burdah Rock Bridge, but is not as impressive. The views, however, across a broad ex-
panse of desert valley, are superb.
Siqs & Canyons
An easy siq to explore is the narrow fissure that cuts into
Jebel Khazali
. You can explore
on foot for about 150m, far enough to appreciate the shade and the cool and to see inscrip-
tions made by the ancients who used the siq for the same purpose. Look out for drawings
of ostriches, pairs of feet and a woman giving birth. You need ropes and a guide to penet-
rate further and 4WD transport to reach the siq.
A popular destination by 4WD is
Siq Umm Tawaqi
Offline map
,
a beautiful area
with mature trees sprouting apparently from the rock face. Locals have carved the humor-
ous likeness of TE Lawrence (complete with Arab headdress), and two other prominent
figures of the Arab Revolt, into a stone plinth in the middle of the siq.
Numerous other canyons riddle the area, including the 5km-long
Barrah Canyon
; they
all offer opportunities for hiking, camel trekking, climbing or simply napping in the shade
and absorbing the special atmosphere of Wadi Rum's hidden heartland.
Activities
Although you could have a pleasant day out in the Wadi Rum area by calling in at the vis-
itor centre and ambling along to the village of Rum, you will have a more interesting ex-
perience if you penetrate deeper into the desert. This requires leaving the tarmac behind
and going 'off-road'. You can do this most effectively by hiring a 4WD vehicle with
driver; by hiring a camel or a horse with a mounted escort; or by hiking, scrambling or
climbing with or without a guide. For a list of guides,
Click here
.
GOING IT ALONE
Although there is nothing to stop you driving your own 4WD in the desert or striking off on your own two feet, you
should not attempt this unless you are experienced in the terrain. Soft sand is difficult to drive in and exhausting to
walk through. If you get stuck or run out of steam, it may be a long time before anyone finds you - a serious danger
