I am visiting Jordan independently, and want to know if there is anywhere that I can sleep under the stars, at least in a tent with some good facilities nearby, either at Wadi Rum or Petra? Pamela Hardcastle, Crewe

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Jordan is a great place to try a night under canvas, and there are several camps that take their cue from the local Bedouin traditions – providing simple tents, evening fireside barbeques, and daytime tours into the desert.

Don’t expect a lot of luxury though, as these are fairly modest set ups, and keep in mind that the desert nights in Wadi Rum are chilly, with temperatures falling from daytime high’s in the high 20’s, to as little as 4 degrees C overnight, so be sure to pack a warm jumper.

Petra isn’t quite so parky, and rarely falls below 8/9 degrees C. It’s luck of the draw, but sometimes you can have a camp almost all to yourself, at others there will be a tour group or two in the camp.

Bikes and bedouins in Jordan

Vincent Crump cycles 280 miles across Jordan and reveals six more epic two-wheeled adventures

Related Internet Links

• More travel articles about the Middle East

Related Links

• Gallop across the Jordanian desert

Bait Ali is a very good camp in the Wadi Rum area, as is Sunset Camp, and the Mzeid Camp.

Near to Petra, there is the Ammarin Camp (00 962 79 975 55 51), which has basic tents near to Little Petra, with a bathroom block, and hot and cold running water, and western toilets. These camps cost about £50pp per night half board.

The most luxurious is the new King Aretas IV, near Petra, which opened in April 2008. There are 50 tents, each with enough electrical power to illuminate the small bedside table lamp. Bizarrely, there is even a ‘turn down’ bedding service in the evening.

For more information, see www.rscn.org.jo, and www.visitjordan.com

Times recommends

• The three best routes to the Med
• How to cash in on your holiday money
• 10 tips for the perfectly packed suitcase