We woke up bright and early for our journey into Wadi Rum desert.  We quickly shoved the last of our delicious breakfast down our throats in Aqaba before our driver came to take us to the entrance.  The seaside highway quickly gave way to sandy mountains, and before long, the vast stretches of red desert were all we could see.  It was the stuff of dreams.

It was a cold and cloudy day and our Bedouin travel guide reminded us to keep our coats within reach throughout the tour.  In the end, I was grateful for the chilly weather as it made the countless hiking stops much more enjoyable; I could not imagine doing it in the heat.

The first few hours of the tour were spent hiking under the mystical fog, which somehow made the desert look even more amazing.  To be honest, I had not expected the tour to include so many great hikes (I imagined it more like a safari); it greatly exceeded my expectations.

Around noon, we pulled over to have some lunch and warm up.  Along the way, we grabbed some dry pieces of bush for the fire, which was difficult since it had just rained.  We enjoyed a delicious stew of tomato, pepper, onion, peas, and beans, followed by some freshly brewed tea.  It was easily one of my best meal experiences to date.

The sky started to clear a bit after lunch, and while I loved the way the clouds looked hanging over the desert, the sun on my face was a welcome sensation.

The final hike on top of the arch bridge was an incredible way to end our desert tour.

We headed towards our camp just in time to watch the sunset.

As if we hadn’t already had an incredible day, our hiking adventure in the desert was followed by a fun and relaxing evening at a Bedouin camp, where we met some wonderful fellow travelers, ate a delicious meal, played several rounds of various card games, and learned more about Jordan and Bedouin life.

It was a cold night in Wadi Rum, but we managed to sleep well under several thick blankets.  After a quick breakfast, we were ready for our final Wadi Rum adventure:  a camel ride across the desert.

We traveled with Wadi Rum Nomads and loved every second of it.  Camping in Wadi Rum was a crazy, magical adventure of a lifetime that we will never forget.