Indiana Jones WISHES he could have arrived at the ancient site of Petra this way
There’s a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indy (Harrison Ford) and his dad (Sean Connery) arrive at the ancient ruins of Petra on horseback, on their hunt for the Holy Grail.
It’s a classic moment, and the sight of this UNESCO World Heritage Site in Jordan makes most viewers put it at the top of their travel wish-list immediately.
But while horseback might appear to be the ultimate way to approach Petra, some new images by photographer Fergus Kennedy prove otherwise. When it comes to transport methods, paramotoring is clearly the coolest option by far.
Read more: 10 fascinating deserts around the world
Kennedy was one of a group of paramotor pilots – the first ever – invited to view and photograph the landscapes and ancient ruins of this part of Jordan from the air. By travelling in paramotors, they were able to fly closer than any other manned aircraft has ever managed before.
The extraordinary adventure took them from the iconic rock formations of Wadi Rum (which featured in the Matt Damon film, The Martian, as well as Lawrence of Arabia); across to Petra; then over mountains at 1,500 metres; and finally all the way down to 300 metres below sea level, to skim over the salty waters of the Dead Sea at sunset.
Sadly, paramotoring is not available to tourists, but the insanely amazing photos from this day are – here’s a small but epic selection:
There’s also a spectacular video from the day, just to ensure your wanderlust is well and truly piqued:
About the photographer:
Fergus Kennedy is a marine biologist, photographer and film-maker, and an experienced multi-rotor pilot and camera operator. Through his company, Skylark Aerial Imaging, he provides aerial video, still photography and 3D modelling services to clients including the BBC, ITV, ABC Television, Canon Europe, Toyota, Nissan, Love Productions (Fergus is responsible for the intro sequence for The Great British Bake Off), WWF and the Royal Navy. His first book, Drone Photography Masterclass, was published by Ammonite Press in 2017 and he is a judge for the Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition. Later this year he serves as consultant editor on the new book, Masters of Drone Photography which will bring together an amazing collection of drone photographers from around the world and share their secrets on how they achieve such wondrous photos.
Explore More
Book Confidently With Us
Pay safely with us
Proudly Australian owned and operated