Southern Desert Highway

Southern Jordan: most interesting destinations and activities

Southern Jordan It is an area that should not be missing in your circuit, since here are some of the most fascinating places in the country, where you can do truly unforgettable activities. On this page we give you access to information with all this: the most important destinations, the most striking experiences, etc.

What is considered southern Jordan

Southern Jordan generically understood as the region south of Wadi Musa (Petra).

So far you have to travel the last kilometers of the
Carretera del Rey
and, then, continue until the end along the Desert Road. On the western side is Wadi Araba, which borders Israel, and on the western side a huge desert in its broadest sense (including demographic) that juts into the Arabian Peninsula.

It is an inhospitable land, home to Bedouin tribes, the only ones capable of adapting to life in such a hostile environment. But for the traveler, touring this space has a prize: the Wadi Rum Nature Reserve is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Middle East and, at the southern end, awaits the Red Sea, with its beaches and crystal clear waters to the delight of any tourist.

What to see in southern Jordan

There are two great destinations to visit in southern Jordan: Aqaba and Wadi Rum. They are two places that can not be missed in a circuit throughout the country and that we explain in depth in their corresponding guides.

Aqaba

Nestled on the Red Sea coast, it is Jordan’s only landlocked city. That gives it a fundamental strategic importance, but also a special charm for the tourist. It has few but interesting monuments, but it is thanks to its resorts and modern services that it has become a favorite destination for premium travelers.

Wadi Rum

It is the most famous portion of desert in Jordan, popularized by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). The attractions of this nature reserve are numerous, among which it is worth mentioning its mountains and viewpoints, its petroglyphs, its rocky canyons and its rock bridges, to which are added its starry skies at night, thus forming a place of unusual beauty.

What to do in southern Jordan

As regards activities, the Southern Jordan it is probably the most interesting region of the country: here you can take numerous experiences, some of which are only available in this region because of the characteristics of the terrain, such as the desert dunes and the Red Sea coast.

Therefore, it can be said that it is impossible to get bored in southern Jordan, at least if you like challenges and experiences out of the ordinary. This is a list of proposals to make in the southern Jordan, according to its place of realization:

Activities in the desert

Climbing, on the rocky walls of the Wadi Rum nature reserve, attracting climbers from all over the world and of all levels
Balloon rides. It is an activity that has reached great diffusion in Wadi Rum, thanks in large part to the fact that the weather conditions are usually conducive to it here.
Camel routes: touring the desert dunes like a Bedouin is an unforgettable experience, which will make you get in touch with this magical environment and with the ancestral tradition of this nomadic people
4×4 routes: for those looking for a greater adrenaline rush, there is the option of traveling desert tracks aboard these motor vehicles
Bedouin camping: spending the night under the starry desert sky, inside traditional tents, is also a unique experience, which can be seasoned with Bedouin gastronomy and customs
Meditation and spiritual exercises: the silence and immensity of the desert are conducive to making a journey into oneself

Activities at sea

Diving in the Red Sea: the crystal clear waters off the coast of Aqaba are perfect to start in this activity or to perfect the technique. But what is certain is that the experience will be most fascinating, because it is not too difficult to spot marine species.
A swim on the beach: the only beaches suitable for bathing are in Aqaba, except for some bathing points of the Dead Sea, with totally different conditions
Boat trips, either along the Jordanian coast or longer, through Egyptian waters