Jordan’s landscapes have helped filmmakers bring historical adventures, distant planets and fictional kingdoms to the screen. Petra’s carved sandstone façades and Wadi Rum’s dramatic mountains offer settings that are instantly memorable—even when audiences do not realise where they are.
For film lovers, visiting these places adds another dimension to a Jordan itinerary. You can recognise a familiar backdrop while discovering the history, communities and natural landscapes beyond the camera.
Here are five famous films connected with Petra and Wadi Rum, along with ideas for exploring Jordan through Excursions Jordan.
1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Discover Wadi Rum’s Classic Cinematic Landscape
Directed by David Lean and starring Peter O’Toole, Lawrence of Arabia follows T. E. Lawrence’s involvement in the Arab Revolt during the First World War.
Wadi Rum’s sweeping valleys and towering rock formations feature in the film, helping establish its place in cinema history. The desert gives the story a sense of scale that remains striking decades after its release.
A visit offers much more than a connection with the film. Exploring with a knowledgeable local guide can introduce you to the landscape and its communities, while helping distinguish documented history from stories associated with particular landmarks.
Experience it yourself: Choose a guided desert excursion with time to appreciate the open valleys and sandstone mountains. If filming locations are a priority, ask the provider which stops they can identify.
2. The Martian (2015)
See the Landscape That Stood In for Mars
In Ridley Scott’s The Martian, Matt Damon plays astronaut Mark Watney, stranded on Mars and trying to survive until rescue becomes possible.
Wadi Rum provided the setting for Martian landscape scenes. Its red earth, rugged formations and broad desert views helped create the impression of another planet.
Seeing the terrain in person makes the connection easy to understand, but the experience also reveals details that film cannot fully capture: changing light, desert silence and the scale of the surrounding mountains.
Experience it yourself: Explore by guided vehicle excursion or walk, depending on your interests and abilities. An overnight stay can give you more time to enjoy the setting, although accommodation design and facilities vary between camps.
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3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Find Petra’s Famous Treasury Façade
Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones in this adventure directed by Steven Spielberg, with Sean Connery playing his father.
Petra’s Treasury, Al-Khazneh, appears as the entrance to the fictional temple associated with the Holy Grail. Its elaborate façade provides one of the film’s most recognisable settings.
The real monument has its own archaeological history, separate from its cinematic role. Beyond the Treasury, Petra contains tombs, temples, ancient streets and traces of sophisticated water-management systems.
Experience it yourself: Walk through the Siq towards the Treasury, then allow time to explore beyond the famous view. A guide can help explain Petra’s Nabataean heritage alongside its connection to the film.
4. Aladdin (2019)
Explore the Desert Behind Disney’s Live-Action Adventure
Disney’s live-action Aladdin, directed by Guy Ritchie, stars Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Will Smith.
The production filmed in Wadi Rum, using its desert landscape as part of the film’s imagined world. Its natural scenery complements the sets and visual effects used to create the story’s fantasy setting.
A visit is an opportunity to appreciate the real landscape behind those images. Do not expect to find a complete Agrabah palace or a permanent Cave of Wonders attraction waiting in the desert.
Experience it yourself: Choose an excursion suited to your group, with manageable walking stops and time to enjoy the scenery. Families should confirm vehicle arrangements, journey lengths and age suitability before booking.
5. Dune (2021)
Discover Jordan’s Connection with Arrakis
Directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Timothée Chalamet, Dune adapts Frank Herbert’s novel about power, resources and survival on the desert planet Arrakis.
The production used locations in Wadi Rum and Wadi Araba, alongside filming elsewhere. Jordan’s rock formations and desert landscapes contributed to the scale and atmosphere of the fictional planet.
Its cinematic appearance combines real scenery with production design, framing and visual effects. Visiting the desert offers a chance to appreciate the physical landscape that helped shape that world.
Experience it yourself: Ask your provider whether an itinerary includes documented filming areas. General desert sightseeing and a dedicated film-location visit may follow different routes.
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Can You Visit the Exact Filming Locations?
Some places are straightforward to recognise, particularly Petra’s Treasury. Others require more specific local knowledge.
Desert scenes may combine several locations, and a familiar-looking rock formation is not proof that a particular scene was filmed there. Sets may also have been temporary or created elsewhere.
If visiting a specific location matters to you:
Tell the provider which film or scene interests you.
Ask whether the location can be reliably identified.
Confirm access and the time needed to reach it.
Check whether it is included in your booked route.
Respect restrictions and remain on permitted routes.
A good excursion should offer a rewarding experience even when a precise camera position cannot be established.
Combine Petra and Wadi Rum in One Journey
Petra and Wadi Rum offer different experiences that work well together: an ancient city explored largely on foot and a desert landscape best approached with suitable local guidance.
Allow enough time for both rather than rushing between them. Staying in Wadi Musa can support an early Petra visit, while an overnight desert stay gives Wadi Rum more room in your itinerary.
You can also include Aqaba for coastal activities or Amman for museums, food and city exploration.
Discover Jordan Beyond the Screen
Films offer an introduction to Jordan’s landscapes, but visiting reveals much more: Petra’s history, Wadi Rum’s living heritage and the people who help travellers understand these places.
Excursions Jordan brings together activities from local providers across the country. Compare itineraries, review their inclusions and ask about any filming locations you particularly want to see.
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