Star Wars filming location alert: Jordan’s "wine-red valley" Wadi Rum

By Olivia

The latest Star Wars movie is out—have fans gotten their tickets yet? One of the movie’s frequently featured locations—the holy planet Jedha—can actually be found on Earth, making it a must-visit for die-hard fans.

The surreal environment of Jedha actually exists in real life—it’s located in a valley in southwestern Jordan called Wadi Rum, which means "wine-red valley" in Arabic because of the stunning red hues it takes on at sunset.

Even without sci-fi CGI effects, the landscape of Wadi Rum resembles an alien world, full of cinematic charm.

The orange and red earth looks as if it’s on fire, barren yet mysterious. The backdrop of Wadi Rum is equally enigmatic; it was once the birthplace of ancient cultures such as the Nabatean Kingdom, and is home to numerous rock carvings and temples. However, due to the long span of history and lack of sufficient records, the true history remains elusive.

At the same time, this is also the filming location for the movie "The Martian." This place truly feels like Mars, and many say it’s perfect for a drone flyover.

If you want to experience the feeling of being on an alien world, you can start planning a trip to Jordan once the situation in the Middle East stabilizes.