Wadi Rum

If you travel to Jordan's southern area, you'll be treated to one of the world's most beautiful landscapes: Wadi Rum. This sandstone and granite rock valley, also known as the Valley of the Moon, is an unearthly experience, with towering cliffs, enormous dunes, whirling archways, and tunnels. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 after serving as the backdrop for most of the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia.

Eat your heart out, adventurers: The Wadi Rum has been converted into an ecotourism playground by the Zalabia Bedouin, a local ethnic community. Ride camels or feisty Arabian horses around the area, put on a harness and go rock climbing up the sandstone mountains, trek through gorges, and take ATV trips to stir up sand.

Inquire with your tour guide about visiting the Khazali Canyon, where you may witness petroglyphs of people and antelopes dating back to the 8th century BC.

Spend the night in Wadi Rum at one of the finest "glamping" (glamorous camping) sites. The park offers great astronomy chances due to its near-zero light pollution.

• Location: Jordan
• Timing: N/A
• Famous for: sandstone and granite rock valley
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time To Visit: The ideal months to visit are March to May and September to November, if you enjoy moderate weather and plenty of sunshine.