JORDAN

Among the places on earth that can truly be described as “otherworldly” is Jordan’s Wadi Rum valley; with its desert landscape’s burnt-orange glow and eerie sandstone and granite formations, Wadi Rum has served as the Red Planet of The Martian and the setting for the Dune movies. Other natural wonders here include the famously buoyant Dead Sea, which begs to be experienced firsthand, and the geographically varied Dana Biosphere Reserve, which after hundreds of years is still home to the Ata'ta people. Meanwhile, Aqaba offers the fun of beach resorts and Red Sea scuba diving, and Jordan’s many examples of ancient ruins include key sites in the capital of Amman, such as its Roman amphitheatre. A deeply rooted culture of the warmest hospitality means that to be a traveller in Jordan today is to feel welcomed as a guest – and invigorated by your frequently awe-inspiring surroundings.