I always think of a desert as sand and dunes and Wadi Rum Protected Area, in southern Jordan, certainly has them.
But framing this golden landscape are sandstone and granite mountains reaching heights of more than 5,000-feet.
Covering 280 square miles, the protected area is best toured first by jeep. Bouncing along, camels can be seen in the distance led by Bedouins who live here. As much as some are still nomadic; most have chosen to live in tiny villages.
The landscape is like no other I have ever witnessed. And, as every tourists must experience, I rode a camel my second day in the desert. For nearly two hours the camels plodded along allowing me to genuinely admire the desert and its beauty. This adventure was part of Exodus Travels “Hidden Treasures of Jordan” tour.