Jordan

Drive Akaba - Wadi Rum - Petra

Journey through southern Jordan

Petr Liška
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Drive Akaba - Wadi Rum - Petra
Inserted: 29.11.2013
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This good-quality road is known to everyone who has been travelling in southern Jordan. It connects three important places – Aqaba (metropolis of the south and the only bathing place in the country), small detour to Wadi Rum (one of the most beautiful deserts in the world with mesas) and Petra (Jordan's greatest magnet for tourists). In total it is 130 km + 60 km if you go to Wadi Rum. Along the way you will have views of the desert arid mountains, great canyon and nomad’s tents on the upland plateau. Most tourists undertake this journey within the trip from Egypt and Israel, but it is much more cheaper, especially if you are traveling in Jordan independently, in local bus /line Wadi Rum – Petra runs every morning/. It is possible to bargain a taxi for a good price for the stretch Aqaba – Wadi Rum, if you miss a bus.

Desert mountains

After passing through Aqaba the highway rises in desert valley and is surrounded by quite interesting mountains. The road from the neighboring valley joins after a while. It is used practically only by trucks from industrial businesses in the south from Aqaba.

Desert mountains
Author: © gigaplaces.com

The arid mountains

The road continues to rise and after about 40 kilometers you will come to an intersection where you can turn to the direction of Wadi Rum. If you have little time, you can rush straight away to Petra.

The arid mountains
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Wadi Rum within reach

If you set off to Wadi Rum, the mountains around will be more and more interesting. Moreover, you will even pass the railroad tracks. Public transport ends at the visitor center where you can start your journey through the desert.

Wadi Rum within reach
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Jordanian town

At the junction of roads is a typical small Jordanian town. Desert plane has here about 780 meters asl and surrounding mountains around 1,100 meters asl.

Jordanian town
Author: © gigaplaces.com

The landscape around the road

The road leads across the endless plains and you may even not notice that it is constantly slowly rising. Around the road there are also a lot of dwellings made of corrugated iron.

The landscape around the road
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Ascent to the pass

There are nice rock formations along the road and on the horizon appears high, but flat ridge with antennas that separates South Jordan from the rest of the country. Drive up to the pass (1 550 m asl) is difficult for any big vehicle.

Ascent to the pass
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Upland plain with herdsmen

There is a junction of roads in the pass. Major highway number 15 continues to Maan and Amman, we turn to more tortuous, but also more interesting small road no35 to Wadi Musa / Petra. The road twists along wrinkled upland plain rather than along the ridge in more than 1,650 meters asl. There are nomads dwellings in the surrounding wilderness and it is a question how they make a living and where take water.

Upland plain with herdsmen
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Grand Canyon of Jordan

After a while gets this royal road to the edge of the canyon and you will see more than 1,300 meters below up to Israel. There are souvenir shops (overpriced), but at least the bus stops here :-)

Grand Canyon of Jordan
Author: Petr Liška © gigaplaces.com

Views to the rocks around the canyon

The road continues along the canyon with beautiful views of the surrounding rocks. There is incredible potential for tourism. It is a shame that there is constantly hazy.

Views to the rocks around the canyon
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Wadi Musa

You will gradually get closer to Wadi Musa – the starting point of the rock town Petra.

Wadi Musa
Author: © gigaplaces.com
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Dagmar Titzová
03.02.2019 16:18
fine