Star-studded sands

Whether you're a tourist, a film crewmember, or a Bedouin local, you'll find plenty of wandering room at Wadi Rum. Here, mountains like the backs of huge beasts bound 280 miles of windswept sand, a setting that captivated moviegoers in the classic film 'Lawrence of Arabia' and inspired many to visit Jordan. Wadi Rum continues to rack up film appearances, with recent sci-fi films like 'Star Wars,' 'The Martian,' and 'Dune' setting up shop on the spectacular spot. The visual arts are nothing new here, though: Petroglyphs etched by the ancient Nabataeans can be found on rock faces all over the wadi.