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Shooting-stars in Wadi Rum

22nd July 2014 Print
Wadi Rum

The month of August is the best month of the year in the northern hemisphere to witness meteor showers, and the red desert of Jordan is the perfect place to view them thanks to the zero light pollution and crystal-clear skies.

Meteor showers are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids, when they enter the earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds, on parallel trajectories.

The majority of meteors are smaller than a grain of sand, so most of them disintegrate and never hit the Earth's surface but intense or unusual meteor showers - known as meteor storms – may produce greater than 1,000 meteors an hour.

The red desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan has been called the ‘Valley of the Moon’ and it offers the enticing prospect of desert adventure, Bedouin living, and camping under the brilliant canopy of a billion stars (and meteor showers).

The peak of the meteor showers is likely to be between 9 and 14 August and Middle East specialist Corinthian Travel’s eight day ‘Petra and Arabia Sands’ itinerary is perfect for seeing the meteor showers this August.

The holiday commences with a private guided tour of Amman, before heading for Petra via the King’s Highway, where two nights will be spent allowing plenty of time to discover the ‘rose city’ so named because of the hue of the rock from which it is carved.

Next up is the exciting drive by 4X4 deep into the desert, to spend a night at the Milky Way Camp, which offers an atmospheric Bedouin-style experience with some modern comforts in the heart of Jordan's stunning red desert.

The camp has twelve, basic, black and white Bedouin-themed tents which feature a wooden floor and proper beds with pillows and comfortable duvets.

The camp’s communal areas are comprised of two long Bedouin tents, where tea and hearty home cooked meals are served around a flickering campfire.

The holiday ends with two nights at The Dead Sea – the lowest point of earth – to relax, swim or to enjoy some spa treatments at the Movenpick Hotel.

The holiday costs from £1265 pp (two sharing) which includes all land transportation, seven nights’ B&B (plus three lunches and one dinner), sightseeing (with entrance fees) as per the itinerary and private guides/drivers throughout in vehicles with A/C.

Flights not included (bookable on request).

For more information, visit corinthiantravel.co.uk.

Corinthian Travel offers recommended tours and tailor-made itineraries to holidays in Egypt, Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Tunisia and Lebanon, with dedicated expert guides, the finest hotels, and private sightseeing.

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Wadi Rum