best bed: Discovery Bedu, Wadi Rum, Jordan

Magical, instagramable and sustainable… Fall under the spell of Discovery Bedu.  Wadi Rum’s unique mixture of red and white rock is incredibly photogenic. Lawrence, of Arabia fame wrote extensively of how the region captivated him. The film The Martian used Wadi Rum as Mars. It is hard to imagine this breathtaking desert has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Bedouins have lived here for generations.  This has not been an easy place for humans, animals or plants to survive.  But it is an incredible place to visit. The Discovery Group were the first to introduce ecotourism to Jordan in 2013. Their goal is to combine tradition, sustainability and luxury.  They believe in co-prosperity…that everyone should benefit. Discovery Bedu is a small low impact facility that hires local people and creates a wonderful understated luxury.  The tents are not air conditioned, there is no WIFI. Solar panels abound and water is carefully recycled and reused. Usually it is hot during the day and cold at night. We were advised to bring sweaters but didn’t need them. We experienced a heat wave during our visit; it was very very hot. We still managed to sleep at night. The service is incredible; friendly, fun and informed. The dining tent is traditional;  hand woven by Bedouins from goat’s hair. It’s thick walls and black color offers protection from both heat and cold. Delightful as it was, we chose to eat most meals outside. The staff found us a new beautiful place each day. Breakfast is served on top of a rocky hill overlooking the tents. The food was wonderful, diverse and plentiful. I fell in love with Zaatar. They made sure a dish of this traditional mix of spices was available for me at every meal. I used it like salt. All this special attention to detail comes at a price. Discovery Bedu is quite expensive compared to many other camps. You pay for exclusivity, fine food and top notch service. The company also donates some of their profits back into communities and local initiatives. For me it was worth it. We had originally booked two nights but loved it so much we changed our plans and stayed and extra 24 hours.

Number of Rooms: 6 tents

 Sweet Suite: All 6 tents have sunset views over the desert. The tents are the same size with a sitting area and wardrobe. 4 have a king sized bed, 2 have twin beds. They all have en suites with a hot/cold running shower, a copper sink and a toilet. Shampoo, conditioner, soap is provided. They are remarkably comfortable.

Favorite Thing: the amazing fresh squeezed juices. All the food was fantastic: delicious, interesting and plentiful. But the fresh juices they made for us several times a day were to die for! The perfect refreshment for the desert.

Near By: the camp is in the heart of Wadi Rum where the Zalabia Bedouins have made ecotourism their main source of income. We saw pre historic petroglyphs, climbed rock structures; rode camels and trucks over miles of desert. We also found it was an incredible place to just sit and stare out over the wide horizon. It was meditative and peaceful.

Amenities: all meals  and wine  included, bottled water (they tried to use carafes of fresh water but guests, most of whom are North American or European, demanded bottles), camel rides, desert hikes, sand boarding, 4×4 drives, balloon rides at an extra charge

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