port
Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan
activityLevel
Moderate Activity
excursionType
All,82
wheelchairAccessible
No
startingAtPrice
$240
minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
duration
Approximately 8¼ Hours
mealsIncluded
Meals included
A drive through the Wadi Rum desert makes for an exciting experience. Departing the city by coach on the Desert Highway, after an hour or so you'll find yourself at the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (the Wadi Rum Ecotourism Project).
Switch to a simple 4x4 car driven by a local Bedouin, and head into the Wadi Rum desert. The first part is on paved road; later, you'll be on a sand track.
Otherwise known as Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum is the largest and most magnificent of Jordan's desert landscapes -- virtually untouched by humans. A maze of monolithic rock formations rises up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750 meters (5,740 feet), creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. However, Wadi Rum may be best known for its connection with British officer T. E. Lawrence -- Lawrence of Arabia -- who passed through several times during the Arab Revolt of 1917 - 18. In the 1980s one of the rock formations in Wadi Rum was renamed the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, after Lawrence's book penned in the aftermath of the war.
Your three-hour four-wheel-drive excursion through Wadi Rum offers awesome and ever-changing vistas of multicolored granite and limestone cliffs rising amid the vast expanse of sand. Parts of it resemble a lunar landscape.
Back at the camp, enter a Bedouin tent in the desert, where lunch is served.
A yoga instructor meets you for an unusual and memorable 90-minute class amid desert scenery.
You'll return to Aqaba and the ship by coach.
Please note: Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring a hat, sunglasses and a scarf, and wear biodegradable sunscreen. Wear closed-toe shoes. Transportation in the desert is by basic but comfortable 4x4 vehicle and is operated by a local charity foundation. Proceeds help support the livelihood of the local Bedouins. As an extension of Spa & Wellness with Dr Andrew Weil, this Mindful Living tour is designed to deliver an experience that contributes to mind and body wellness. You are invited to visit the on-board spa to speak to the Mindful Living coach to learn more about Dr Weil and Seabourn's holistic wellness program.