A visitor to Wadi Rum gets the strong impression that Wadi Rum was a favourite haunt of the British soldier. In fact, if you read his stirring memoir "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" you will see that Lawrence did indeed come to Wadi Rum quite often. Lawrence says himself that he was enchanted by the possibility of escape in the solitude of Wadi Rum, and he visited six times in a year and a half, both for tactical purposes as well as for his own personal enjoyment. Many people are under the false impression that Lawrence's "Road to Aqaba" took him through Wadi Rum. However, he actually came to Wadi Rum for the first time much later. The attack on Aqaba took the easier road down Wadi Yitms. The film, although accurate in many other respects, falsified this element because the directors wanted to take advantage of the stunning landscapes of Wadi Rum, in order to build viewers' anticipation for the coming attack on Aqaba.

Nevertheless, this impression has become engrained in the local culture, so much so that many of the young Bedouin are starting to believe these stories, which naturally are happily elaborated on by their elders having fun with the tourists. Indeed, upon entering Rum village, you will see the legacy Lawrence left us: Lawrence of Arabia "Supermarket"!