A towering sand dune banked up against the side of Jabal Umm Ulaydiyya, about eight kilometres south of the village. The dune is the deep, saturated red that photographs of Wadi Rum are famous for, and climbing it is one of those simple pleasures that turns out to be surprisingly fun.
The ascent is steep and soft — two steps up, one step back — and takes about 15 minutes of determined effort. Take off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes; it is remarkably fine and silky. At the top, you are rewarded with a wide view across the desert floor and the chance to run back down in about 30 seconds, which is even more enjoyable than it sounds.
Sandboarding is possible if your guide has a board, though most people settle for sliding down on their backside. The dune is a standard stop on most jeep tours and makes a good spot for a tea break in the late afternoon, when the sand turns an even deeper shade of crimson.