Discovering Jordan Through Cinema

Have you ever watched a movie and thought, “Where is that place?”

You might be surprised to learn that some of those incredible landscapes are right here in Jordan.

Over the years, Jordan has welcomed major international film productions. Its ancient cities, dramatic deserts, mountains, and coastline have appeared on the big screen in movies such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Dune, Star Wars, Aladdin, and John Wick: Chapter 4.

But seeing these places in a movie is one thing. Standing there yourself is something completely different.

Jordan: A Natural Film Set

Jordan has something filmmakers are always looking for: incredible landscapes that can tell a story.

Petra can take you back thousands of years. Wadi Rum can look like Mars or another planet. Amman can represent completely different places depending on how it is filmed. And Aqaba adds the beauty of the Red Sea to the story.

That is what makes Jordan so interesting for movie lovers.

You are not visiting a studio or a recreated set. You are visiting the real places where the cameras were rolling.

And when you visit with someone who knows the destination, you can go beyond simply taking a photo. You can hear the stories behind the filming, learn why a particular location was chosen, and see the landscape in a completely different way.

Amman: Where the Story Begins

Your cinematic journey can begin in Amman, Jordan's lively capital.

The city has featured in productions including The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty, Rosewater, and Messiah.

Amman may not immediately look like a Hollywood film set, and that is exactly what makes its connection to cinema interesting.

As you explore the city, you can discover some of the locations used by international productions while also experiencing everyday Jordanian life.

Enjoy the city's famous food, walk through its streets, visit its historical sites, and discover how filmmakers have used Amman's architecture and atmosphere to create the setting they needed.

It is a great reminder that sometimes a movie location is hiding in plain sight.

Petra: Indiana Jones Comes to Life

If there is one place in Jordan that almost every movie fan will recognize, it is Petra.

The ancient Nabataean city became world-famous on screen through Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

The Treasury, one of Petra's most iconic landmarks, was used as the entrance to the fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon.

Petra also appeared in The Mummy Returns.

Walking through the Siq and arriving at the Treasury is already an unforgettable experience. But knowing that this same place has been seen by millions of people around the world makes the visit even more special.

And there is much more to Petra than its Hollywood connection.

You can spend the day exploring the ancient city, learning about the Nabataeans, discovering its hidden corners, and understanding why Petra became one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites.

Here, Hollywood and thousands of years of history meet in one extraordinary place.

Wadi Rum: Welcome to Another Planet

Then there is Wadi Rum.

If you have watched The Martian, Dune, or Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, you have already seen Wadi Rum, even if you did not realize it.

Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum is one of those places that almost looks too spectacular to be real.

Its huge sandstone mountains, open desert, natural rock formations, and changing light have made it a favorite location for filmmakers from around the world.

The list of productions filmed here is impressive:

• Lawrence of Arabia

• Dune

• Dune: Part Two

• The Martian

• Prometheus

• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

• Aladdin (2019)

• John Wick: Chapter 4

What is fascinating is how different Wadi Rum can look from one movie to another.

In Lawrence of Arabia, it became the Arabia of another era.

In The Martian, it represented the surface of Mars.

In Dune and Star Wars, it became part of completely different worlds.

The landscape stays the same, but the way filmmakers use it can completely change how we see it.

And once you are there, you can enjoy Wadi Rum for what it really is: a spectacular desert landscape, home to Bedouin communities and rich cultural traditions.

Take a 4x4 ride through the desert, enjoy Bedouin hospitality, have traditional tea, watch the sunset, and spend the night under one of the clearest skies you will ever see.

Aqaba: Hollywood by the Red Sea

After the desert, the scenery changes completely.

Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal city, has also had its moment on the big screen.

The city and surrounding areas featured in

and The Martian.

Aqaba is a perfect place to add a little relaxation to your cinematic journey.

After exploring filming locations, you can enjoy the Red Sea, take a private boat trip, go snorkeling or diving, or simply relax by the water.

It is a completely different side of Jordan, and it gives the journey a great balance between adventure, culture, cinema, and relaxation.

More Than Just Movie Locations

A good film tour should be about more than finding the exact spot where a scene was filmed.

It should give you a chance to understand the destination.

That means combining the movie locations with Jordan's archaeological sites, local communities, food, culture, nature, and hospitality.

You might spend the morning exploring Petra, talk about the filming of Indiana Jones, enjoy a traditional Jordanian lunch, and then continue discovering the ancient city.

In Wadi Rum, you can talk about Dune and The Martian while sitting with Bedouins and enjoying traditional tea.

In Aqaba, you can discover the city's connection to Lawrence of Arabia before heading out onto the Red Sea.

This is what makes the experience special. The movies are the starting point, but Jordan itself is the real story.

Discover the Stories Behind the Scenes

There is always more to a movie location than what we see on screen.

Why did the filmmakers choose this particular location?

How did they make a real landscape look like another planet?

What did the production teams have to do to work in the desert?

How were the locations adapted for the story?

What did the actors and crew experience while filming in Jordan?

These behind-the-scenes stories can make the places much more interesting.

Instead of simply saying, “This is where they filmed Dune,” you can understand how the location became part of the movie and why Jordan was the right choice.

See Jordan Through a Different Lens

You don't have to be a serious movie fan to enjoy this journey.

Maybe you love Star Wars. Maybe Indiana Jones is one of your favorite movies. Maybe you watched Dune and wondered where those incredible landscapes were filmed.

Or maybe you simply want to explore Jordan in a different way.

This journey brings together some of the country's most famous places with a story that many travelers already know from the big screen.

You can discover Petra with a new perspective, see Wadi Rum in a completely different light, experience Amman through its cinematic connections, and finish your journey beside the Red Sea in Aqaba.

The next time you watch a movie filmed in Jordan, you may find yourself recognizing the mountains, the desert, the ancient stones, or the streets you once walked through.

And that makes watching the movie a little more exciting.

Ready to Go Behind the Scenes?

Jordan has been part of some truly memorable movie productions, but the real experience goes beyond what you see on screen.

The landscapes are real. The history is real. The culture is real. And the stories are waiting to be discovered.

Interested in exploring these iconic filming locations and experiencing the stories behind them?

Ashtar Tours is your Jordan expert, offering carefully crafted journeys that bring together Jordan's cinema heritage, culture, history, nature, adventure, and hospitality.

Come to Jordan, step onto the locations you have seen on screen, and discover the real stories behind some of Hollywood's most unforgettable movies.