Passengers will learn of the Arab Revolt
IAN STALKER
Salem Batmani of Jordanian tour company Karma House Travel & Tourism’s MICE department says those who go on its train excursions in the Wadi Rum desert region will return home both hale and hearty — and also more knowledgeable about a monumental era in Jordan’s history.
The 60-minute excursions are in an area pivotal to the Arab Revolt, the uprising against the Ottoman Empire, and which made T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, a household name.
And Batmani says the trips in an often rugged area Lawrence called, “vast, echoing and God-like” will give train passengers insights into the fighting, with the trains at one point coming under mock attack, recreating the types of attacks carried out more than a century ago.
“The train ride adventure, visitors embark on a journey in time back to 1916, where they board an authentic Hijaz Railway steam train, along with Ottoman soldiers going on a mission to provide supplies for a nearby garrison,” he reports. “But the mission takes a sharp turn when the train, along with its passengers, are ambushed. Once the battle concludes, you will get a chance to enjoy the wide range of amenities available at the fortress and the Madafa (Bedouin Lounge).”
The scenario involves 55 local actors — some dressed as Turkish soldiers who ride the train and try to ward off the attack — and helpers. Around 25 are on horseback. Those taking on combatant roles use older rifles for authenticity’s sake, with the mounted actors getting as close as two metres from train carriages.
Passengers are warned beforehand about the mock attack to prevent any panic, while the rifles used fire harmless blanks. Photos are available after the attack. Two types of train engines are available, one a steam engine dating back more than 100 years, and the other a diesel engine built in the 1980s in an older style. The experience is offered on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Batmani praises the train trips, saying they help create an understanding of monumental times in his homeland. “Tourists should try this experience as it replicates the revolutionary atmosphere in the early 20th century,” he states.
A video of the experience can be found here.
Amman-based Karma House is used by Goway Travel for its Jordan program.
