Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Wadi Rum by Wandering Wheatleys

The 5 Best Places to Visit in Jordan

Jordan (aka The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) is an Arab kingdom located in Western Asia. It is fairly centrally located between Asia, Africa, and Europe. This small, arid country of about 9.5 million people, 92% of which practice Sunni Islam, is home to many important religious landmarks like the Dead Sea and Jesus’s baptism site.

Jordan is known for being hospitable to refugees from surrounding areas. It is now home to an estimated 2.1 million Palestinians and 1.4 million Syrian refugees, all living together relatively peacefully.

You’ll find Jordanians today (and Palestinians and Syrians) to be curious, warm, and friendly. Most can understand basic English (although communicating with taxi drivers can be a challenge).

Welcome to Jordan!” is the phrase that pretty much every Jordanian knows in English and they shout it with gumption! Don’t be surprised if you are invited to a Jordanian’s home for tea or dinner. They are incredibly hospitable and love getting to know foreigners.

There are five best places to visit in Jordan, including Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba. It’s a relatively small country, so pretty much every Jordan itinerary covers these highlights. We’ve provided in-depth info on all the best places to visit in Jordan so you don’t miss anything important during your trip.

We’ll tell you all about the best things to do in Jordan and exactly how to do them. So sit back, relax, and start daydreaming about your upcoming trip to this spectacular country!

Visiting Jordan: The Basics

Getting to Jordan

Jordan has two international airports; Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, and Kin Hussein International Airport in Aqaba (AQJ). Americans will get a visa on arrival for 40 Jordanian Dinars (~$56 USD).

How Much Time to Spend in Jordan

When figuring out your Jordan itinerary plan to spend about 10 – 14 days. That should give you enough time to explore the highlights of this beautiful country without completely overdosing on tea and hummus.

Is it Safe to Visit Jordan?

Jordan has continued to be a safe and welcoming place for tourists to visit despite having some sketchy neighbors. We had one questionable incident (described in detail below). More than likely, it was just a couple of curious guys wanting to get to know the foreigners.

Other than that we felt confident that if we accidentally dropped our wallet in the middle of a random city street, we could go back a week later and it’d still be sitting there, untouched.

Female travelers need not be concerned about men passive-aggressively rubbing up against their bums as is often common in conservative countries. It is not commonplace for people of the opposite sex to touch each other in Jordan, so you’re unlikely to get anything other than a friendly handshake.

A Few Things to Know Before you Go

  • Muslims make up about 92% of the country’s population and they are extremely conservative. While tourists aren’t necessarily expected to cover their heads, women should be sure to cover their shoulders and their knees in public. Remember that you’re not here to change the culture, you’re here to experience a new one.
  • At the time of writing the conversion rate in Jordan was about 1.4 USD to 1 Jordanian Dinar (JOD) and 1.2 EUR to 1 JOD. We’ll be referring to currency in Jordanian Dinars. Be sure to convert accordingly when budgeting for your trip!
  • Learn a few key phrases to get around Jordan! “Sale-em wall a come” is a nice way to say “hello” (technically it means something like “peace be with you”). “Shoo kran” is “thank you”. And “ma sell em” is “goodbye”.
  • Don’t expect to travel by bus on Fridays in Jordan. Muslims consider it to be their “prayer day” and stay close to home, so buses are infrequent, if at all.
  • If you are planning to drive in Jordan, watch for unmarked, difficult-to-see speed bumps everywhere.
  • Everyone smokes and no one drinks alcohol. Tea is the country’s “Jordanian whiskey” and smoking is permitted anywhere and everywhere. Plan on refraining from booze and packing your inhaler.
  • Another interesting fact about Jordan… it’s the only country in the Middle East that doesn’t have oil reserves.

Budgeting for Your Trip to Jordan

You’ll find food and accommodations to be very reasonably priced in Jordan. You’ll find a hotel to suit every need, from budget to luxury and everything in-between. In a similar vein, you’ll find street food options as well as high-end dining restaurants in all major tourist destinations.

However, the country really gouges foreigners in fees to enter their most popular tourist sites. Petra entrance fees and Wadi Rum tours are no small investments.

The Jordan Pass

The Jordan Pass is a great way to save some money while visiting Jordan. It includes your entry visa for the country of Jordan (which normally costs $40 JOD) and provides you free entrance to 40 tourist attractions in Jordan, including Petra, Wadi Rum, and Jerash. You’ll need to purchase it before you arrive in Jordan which you can do on the Jordan Pass website.

Price of the Jordan Pass

  • $70 JOD if you opt for a 1-day pass to Petra
  • $75 JOD if you opt for a 2-day pass to Petra
  • $80 JOD if you opt for a 3-day pass to Petra
The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Views of the Treasury, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Is the Jordan Pass Worth it?

Yes! When you add up the cost of your visa (40 JOD) and the cost of a one-day pass to Petra (50 JOD), you’re already paying 90 JOD and the price for the Jordan Pass would only be 70 JOD. You’d get an immediate savings of 20 JOD. Other sites you’re likely to save a few dinars on with the Jordan Pass include Jerash (10 JOD) and Wadi Rum (5 JOD).

Be sure to purchase at least a week prior to your trip as their website has trouble processing credit card payments. We didn’t give ourselves enough time to buy a Jordan Pass before we arrived in the country so unfortunately, we weren’t able to get our payment processed. That mistake ended up costing us over $100 USD!


The Best Places to Visit in Jordan

1. Amman

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Views of Amman from the Citadel, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Your Jordan itinerary will almost certainly start in Amman as it has the largest international airport in the country. Amman is a city that truly has a little something for everyone. You’ll find both a thriving metropolis filled with fancy hotels and trendy fashion malls. There are also quaint, gritty old towns where locals smoke hookahs on street corners while peddling perfume.

The locals are incredibly friendly and inquisitive so expect to get a few stares and requests for photos. Buy a traditional Jordanian dress and wear it around town if you really want to make some new friends!

Check out our favorite tourist attractions in Amman:

Try the Amazing Street Food

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Knafeh from Habibah Sweets, Amman, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Mezze comes from the Persian word ‘To Taste’ and in Jordan, it encompasses a variety of dips, appetizers, and small shared dishes. What better way to get a taste of Jordan than with a breakfast of mezze plates, including hummus, moutabel, and falafel in the busiest little fast food joint in town – Hashem Restaurant.

With waiters running around like chickens with their heads cut off and locals scouting out tables, it can be difficult to figure out how to get seated. But once you do, you’ll get to experience the tastiest hummus in all of Amman! Your meal will run you about 4 JOD.

Address for Hashem: Complex No 4, Prince Mohammad St 4, Amman. Open 24 hours.

Mansaf is a must-try local dish in Jordan as it is considered to be the country’s national dish. The three major ingredients in mansaf are rice, lamb (or chicken), and jameed (fermented goats milk yogurt). Pour the yogurt gravy over the meat and rice and enjoy! You’ll find this specialty all over Jordan but Al Quds Restaurant is a good place to try it first!

Address for Al Quds: Complex No 8, King Al Hussein St 8, Amman, Jordan. Open 8 am – 11 pm.

You’ll know you’ve arrived at Habibah Sweets when you turn down a side street off the main drag in the city center and see a line of people in front of what looks to be a small ticket counter. You must try the knafeh and the kullaj. Both are stuffed with a mozzarella-like cheese and drenched in a sticky rose-scented sugary syrup. Sounds a bit strange right? It will be one of the best desserts you’ve ever tasted – trust me!

Address for Habibah Sweets: Marwan Madi Complex, Al Hazar St 2, Amman. Open 9 am – 12 am.

Visit the Roman Theater

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Roman Theater at Night, Amman, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

The Roman Theater is an ancient, well-preserved amphitheater just a short easy walk from the old town. You’ll pay a small fee to enter and it won’t take you long to wander around while snapping a few photos.

The real fun of this theater, however, is in the evening after the sun goes down. You cannot enter the amphitheater, but the lights illuminate the square in front. It fills up with children playing games, food vendors hawking snacks, people puffing on hookahs, and lively locals living it up!

Climb up to the Amman Citadel

The best views of Amman are from this small area of ruins high on the hill above the old city. It’s a short, uphill hike from town and just a small fee to enter the area. Locals will point you in the right direction your whole way there so don’t worry about getting lost.

Stroll around the grounds of the Citadel and snap photos of the very brown city below. Walking through these ancient ruins is definitely one of the most interesting things to do in Amman.

There is also the strangest assortment of relics in the free Jordan Archaeological Museum so it’s worth a peek if you have extra time.

Take a Day Trip to Jerash

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Ancient ruins of Jerash, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

The ancient city of Jerash lies about 30 km north of Amman in an area that has been continually inhabited for over 6,500 years!  One of the world’s largest and best-preserved Roman towns, Jerash, encompasses expansive plazas. It also houses two theaters, a beautiful colonnaded street stretching the length of the city, and the impressive Hadrian’s Arch marking the entrance to the site.

You’ll pay a small fee to enter the Roman ruins of Jerash (10 JOD/person unless you have a Jordan Pass), but once inside you’ll have an ancient metropolis to explore! There are very few areas deemed “off-limits” so you can wander around the well-preserved temples, theaters, and arches to your heart’s delight.

You can purchase water, tea, soft drinks, and random trinkets from several vendors inside the ruins (despite what the vendors outside of the entrance gate tell you).

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Wandering through Jerash, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

How to get to Jerash from Amman:

Buses run frequently back and forth to Jerash (except on Fridays) from the Northern bus station in Amman and the 45-minute journey will set you back only about 2 JOD each direction. The buses simply leave when they are full rather than on any sort of set schedule (this is common all over Jordan). It’s best to arrive early and be prepared to wait up to an hour for the next departure.

Alternatively, you can opt for a ~35 JOD round trip taxi ride (they’ll give you 2-3 hours to explore while they wait) if you prefer convenience over economy.


2. The Dead Sea

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Floating in the Dead Sea, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Everyone who visits Jordan or Israel likely has swimming in the Dead Sea on their bucket list. At 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. It is also the deepest hypersaline lake in the world at 1,000 feet deep and 30% salinity. All that salt means that no plants or animals can reside there which is where the “dead” name originated. 

The saline water has a high density that keeps bathers buoyant and actually makes swimming impossible (so don’t accidentally float too far from the shore). The Dead Sea definitely one of the best places to visit in Jordan.

Here are a few of our favorite things to do at the Dead Sea:

Lounge at the Beach

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Floating in the Dead Sea, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Most of the prime seafront property has been snatched up by fancy resorts, but there is a public beach available. It’s worth it to splurge while you’re here to have access to a nice beach with showers (the salt will make you itch like crazy).

There is also Dead Sea mud available for the taking, and chairs for lounging. It’s also nice to have a freshwater pool to relax in once you get tired of floating in super salty water!

A Few Tips Before Your Float:

  • Don’t shave your legs a day or two before you visit the Dead Sea – the saltwater will enter your open pores and burn like hell!
  • Don’t jump into the sea or splash around once you get in – the salt will burn your eyes and tastes terrible if you get even a little into your mouth.
  • Give yourself a mud treatment!
  • While you are expected to dress fairly conservatively in most of the country, most foreigners wear bathing suits on the beach and at the pool in the Dead Sea.

Where to Stay:

The Ramada Resort Dead Sea offers reasonably priced rooms, a large breakfast spread, and a gorgeous pool. They are set back from the beach a bit but shuttle guests to and from the sea frequently throughout the day.

Check Prices on Booking.com

Hike the Wadi Mujib Siq

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Hiking the Wadi Mujib Slot Canyon, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

The price of this hike is steep but it’s not-to-be-missed during your trip to Jordan! The hike is rather short in length, about 3/4 of a mile each way. You’ll be walking through ankle-deep to waist-deep water the entire time and scrambling up waterfalls so it’s by no means a leisurely afternoon stroll.

You’ll be mesmerized by the amazing scenery with narrow towering canyon walls surrounding you and beautiful waterfalls along the way. You’ll be feeling proud of yourself for overcoming the obstacles you’ll encounter.

Plan on giving yourself at least two hours to complete the hike, including time for a swim below the largest waterfall at the end. And expect to gain a few new bruises along the way!

A few Tips to Prepare for the Hike:

  • Opt for tennis shoes over flip flops, but plan on them getting soaked.
  • If you feel uncomfortable with your ability to navigate a bit of rope climbing through waterfalls, you can hire a guide for an extra 35 JOD (total, not per person).
  • Your entire body will get WET. I’m not exaggerating. Bring a dry bag for your valuables (or you can rent one for a small fee).
  • A lifejacket comes with your entrance fee and you are required to wear it at all times during the hike, just in case.
  • While women are expected to dress fairly conservatively in most of the country, many foreigners were hiking in bathing suits and it seemed to be the norm rather than the exception.
  • Don’t attempt this one if there is even a slight chance of rain – flash floods are no joke.

Hike the Wadi Zarqa (Lower Ma’in Trail)

This free, easily accessible hike has loads of potential. Our guess is that once you get 1/2 mile or so into the canyon it begins to be enjoyable. We can’t say for sure, we turned around pretty quickly. This was the only time we felt even remotely nervous during our time in Jordan and here’s why…

When we were getting our backpacks together in the parking lot, a truck pulled up and two men got out. Back to them in a few.

We entered the trail and immediately, there were probably 20 people hanging out under the bridge (it was unclear if they were homeless or just out for an afternoon barbecue). This seems to be a popular spot for locals to hang out and dump their trash – we had to gingerly step over dirty baby diapers and soiled paper plates.

And then those two guys (not equipped with anything that made it seem like they had planned on doing an afternoon hike – no backpacks, no water, no hiking-appropriate attire) started pacing us. We stopped to see if they would go on, they stopped about 100 yards up and waited.

It seemed like they were up to no good.

That, coupled with the garbage made this hike a no-go for us. That being said, if you avoid attracting sketchy characters and get beyond the trash, there’s no doubt that this hike is incredibly spectacular! The water flowing down the canyon is from the Ma’in Hot Springs, so it’s warm and milky blue and absolutely stunning!

Ma’in Hot Springs Resort and Spa

Ma’in Hot Springs Resort and Spa is 866 feet below sea level and deep in a valley surrounded by a beautiful mountain landscape. It is about one hour drive from the resort area of the Dead Sea and offers a public hot springs area with four waterfalls and a water temperature ranging from 86-99 degrees F.

The cost for the public springs is 15 JOD/person and makes for a perfectly relaxing day trip. They also offer full-on spa pampering sessions.

Dana Biosphere Reserve

You can break up your journey as you head south from the Dead Sea to Petra at the Dana Biosphere Reserve. It is a great place to stop for a night (or two).

There, you’ll find a huge nature preserve full of sweeping panoramic views, wildlife, and loads of hiking trails.


3. The “Lost City” of Petra

Petra (also known as both “The Rose City” and “The Lost City”) dates back to the third century BC. It was home to some 20,000 Arab Nabataeans at its peak.

This ancient city is filled with intricate facades carved into rose-colored stone and expertly engineered water collection methods. It allowed the Nabataeans to create an oasis in the middle of this arid desert.

The amount of work that must have gone into creating this city is beyond impressive. It has led to it being one of the highlights of Jordan. It is now one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world! 

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Leading camels at the Treasury, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

There is so much to see and do in Petra, we have an entire post dedicated to it! Everything you need to know about Petra, you can find in our Ultimate Guide to ‘The Lost City’ of Petra, Jordan!

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Your Ultimate Guide to 'The Lost City' of Petra, Jordan

4. Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum (also known as The Valley of the Moon) is located in southern Jordan. It is a large desert valley surrounded by massive sandstone mountains and granite rock. It is aptly named as it literally feels a bit like you are on another planet while you are roaming around the vast expanse of desert. The Martian was filmed here for good reason. 

Wadi Rum is a famed tourist destination in Jordan. It offers visitors the ability to sleep in a Bedouin tent in the middle of the desert under the stars and explore the area by 4-wheel Jeep or 4-legged camel tours. The desert transforms from a blistering desert by day to a magical sea of muted colors around sunset and then a sky full of stars at night. It truly is a wonder to behold.

Check out our favorite things to do in Wadi Rum:

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Sunset at Wadi Rum in Jordan

Stay at a Bedouin Camp

Practically every person actually living in Wadi Rum is of Bedouin origin. Traditionally, as nomadic goat herders, they have now turned to develop tourism in Wadi Rum. A night in a Bedouin camp will mean legendary hospitality, delicious food, a starry night sky, a campfire, perhaps a shared hookah, and all the mint tea (“Bedouin Whiskey”) you can drink.

And there are some amazing luxury desert camps in Wadi Rum if your budget allows for it.

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Bedouin Camp in Wadi Rum, Jordan

We had so much trouble trying to figure out how to book our stay that we envisioned writing an incredibly informative post to help our readers navigate the process more effectively. After two nights and countless conversations with other guests, we still don’t really know for sure. But here’s our best guess…

Options for Booking a Night at a Bedouin Camp:

  • Online at Booking.com – Food and lodging are generally included in the price, but transport from the Visitor’s Center is not. Also, tours will need to be booked separately.
  • On their website directly – But you’ll need to do it well in advance as the hosts can be slow to respond.
  • When you arrive at the Wadi Rum Visitor’s Center – But you won’t have a chance to read reviews and may end up being the sole resident of a questionable camp.
  • Through your friendly hotel staff in Aqaba or Wadi Musa – Although it’s likely they will make some sort of commission.

Be sure to communicate with your camp staff prior to your arrival to coordinate transportation and tours. Taxis will only take you as far as Rum Village and you’ll need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get out to your camp. Stop at the store in the village to buy water before you venture into the desert!

Top Bedouin Camps in Wadi Rum:

  • Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp offers unobstructed views of the night sky from the privacy of your own little bubble (literally). You won’t find a more luxurious, high-end, and unique camp in Wadi Rum!

Check Prices on Booking.com

  • Wadi Rum Discovery Camp offers tents similar to those that you’ll find in most of the camps throughout Wadi Rum but the “main tent” offers an indoor fire pit – perfect for lounging around during chilly evenings. You’ll love to end your busy day by sitting around the cozy fire while chatting with the new friends you’ve made at camp!

Check Prices on Booking.com

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Wadi Rum: 7 Luxury Camps to Spend a Night in Jordan's Desert

Take a Jeep Tour

You’ll need a 4-wheel drive vehicle and either a guide or some knowledge of how to drive through thick sand in order to see all of the sites that Wadi Rum has to offer.

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Lone Tree in Wadi Rum, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

It would be awesome to tour the area on your own if you are an off-roading pro and you can get your hands on a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Private vehicle permits are available at the visitor’s center.

You’ll need to arrange a tour through your camp or at the Visitor’s Center if you don’t have your own set of wheels. Fees are generally set per vehicle rather than per person, so if you make friends at your camp you can split the cost of a tour!

Jeep Stops Along the Tour:

  • Lawrence’s Spring – a steep scramble up the side of a mountain to a tiny, uneventful spring. On the plus side, there is a large tree at the top that offers a nice reprise from the mid-day heat.
  • Sand Dunes Area – a large sand dune that you can hike up and then run down.
  • Anfashieh Inscriptions – a narrow canyon lined with interesting hieroglyphic inscriptions.
  • Little Bridge – a small rock bridge that you can view from the side and/or walk across.
  • Lawrence’s House – supposedly a house that Lawrence of Arabia lived in at one time. Now just a pile of rocks.
  • Um Fruth Rock Bridge – a large rock bridge that you can view from the ground and/or walk across.

If you’re like us and crave more of an “off-the-beaten-path” tour, we would recommend coordinating with your guide or tent village host regarding which sites you want to visit and which ones you’d rather skip. In our humble opinion, the bridges and the inscriptions were interesting but the rest of the sites seemed a bit unnecessary.

Go Rock Climbing

Wadi Rum is a world-renowned climbing, bouldering, and mountaineering destination. Offering simple to technical ascensions and knowledgeable Bedouin guides, all experience levels can find rocks to suit their fancy!

Take a Camel Tour

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Camels in Wadi Rum, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Many tourists opt to take the camel trek from the Visitor’s Center to their camp instead of a 4WD vehicle. It’s definitely worth it if you’ve never taken a camel ride before. But keep in mind that camels are not particularly comfortable to sit on. So, any tour lasting longer than two hours will give you a nasty case of numb bum.

Fun camel fact: we found that most camels in Jordan are named Lazy, Daisy, or Michael Jackson.

Watch a Camel Race

The Best Places to Visit in Jordan: Tourist Attractions: Camel Race, Wadi Rum, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

They don’t happen very often, but if you happen to find yourself in the Wadi Rum area during a camel race, get your butt out of bed early to watch this entertaining 6 am spectacle.

Instead of people riding on the camels, they don little robot-like machines on the camels. Owners control them while careening through the dust in trucks alongside the race. Watch from the bleachers or head down to the start line if you want to see the action up close.

If you’re feeling extra ballsy, find a camel owner that will let you ride in the back of their truck! But be prepared to get absolutely covered in dust.


5. Aqaba

Aqaba is a coastal city located on the Gulf of Aqaba and connected to the Red Sea right near the Saudi Arabia border. This deep, narrow gulf filled with vibrant coral reefs is renowned for its recreational and technical scuba diving.

Snorkeling is popular as well and there are plenty of great spots to explore right near the beach! It’s a popular place for tourists to get their PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification. Or, just to relax by the pool or on the beach.

Check out the best tourist attraction for your trip to Aqaba:

Visit South Beach

The South Beach area of Aqaba is a 7.5-mile stretch of beaches and shallow bays. You’ll find a plethora of dive center resorts! There are a variety of price points located right across from the public beach, Marine Park Beach. It is home to 11 dive sites. The Visitor’s Center is a fun place for kids to explore Aqaba’s diverse marine life.

Where to Stay:

Arab Divers has it all! A relaxing pool, diving courses and tours, a friendly staff, and comfortable rooms. You’ll be tempted to never leave this relaxing property but it’s worth popping into the city of Aqaba to explore at least once.

Are you feeling inspired to plan a trip to Jordan? We hope this post helped!


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About the Author:

  • Valerie Wheatley

    Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag.

    Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her!

    These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

11 thoughts on “The 5 Best Places to Visit in Jordan”

  1. It’s been on my list for a while and I’ve been nearby but I’ve not travelled in Jordan yet. Your post seems to cover most of what I want to see so I’ll be referring to it before I travel to Jordan.

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