Wadi Rum is a breathtaking desert located in the southern part of Jordan, known for its stunning red sandstone landscape and rugged mountains. Wadi Rum is located relatively close to Petra and therefore the two can easily be combined. If you’re planning a trip to Jordan, Wadi Rum should be on your itinerary. Wadi Rum is often compared to Mars, and you will be rewarded with a unique Martian landscape. In this Wadi Rum Guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting Wadi Rum, including how to get there from Amman and Petra, the 4-hour jeep tour we did, what camps to stay and a photographic overview of the most beautiful sunset.
How many nights in Wadi Rum, Jordan? Well, I feel that one night in the desert is enough. Although I would advise arriving early, so you have time for the afternoon jeep-tour, you can see the sunset and the sunrise the next morning.ย
Important to know is, is that you shouldn’t enter Wadi Rum with your own car. When booking a camp, they will provide you with instructions on where to park your car and where and when they will pick you up with a jeep. A jeep is definitely needed to drive through the sand, and the driver can bring you safely to the camp.
Overall, I would advise you to rent a car when travelling to Jordan. Driving is safe and easy (except for the larger cities). If you don’t have a car, you can get to Wadi Rum from Amman by taxi or shared minibus. From Amman, the drive will be approximately 4 hours. A private taxi costs between 50 and 700 JOD. A shared taxi/minibus costs between 10 and 15 JOD, and they generally leave from Abdali Busstation in Amman. If you want to be adventurous, you can also take a public bus from Amman to Aqaba and take a taxi to Wadi Rum afterwards. Another option is to take a tour of Wadi Rum (and Petra), which you can book here.ย
The drive from Petra to wadi rum is approximately 1,5 hours. Your options are the same as when travelling from Amman, and you can either go by private taxi (25-50 JOD), shared taxi/minibus leaving from Wadi Musa station (5-10 JOD). However, also here, I would advise you to rent a car during your full trip through Jordan, as it allows you to explore more of the country and drive the scenic King’s Highway.
The best way to explore Wadi Rum is by taking a 4-hour jeep tour with a local Bedouin guide. We specifically decided on the 4-hour jeep tour as a full day is quite long and expensive, while on a 2-hour tour, you won’t be able to go far and miss out on the Um Frath bridge. The tour will take you through the desert, where you’ll see some of the most stunning rock formations, including the famous Seven Pillars of Wisdom.ย
We booked our tour at the camp we stayed, as most camps offer their own jeep tours. We decided to go for an afternoon tour, to skip a bit of the harsh light and be back at sunset.ย
During our tour, we visited the ancient petroglyphs, the Um Frath Bridge, a very impressive red sand dune and several locations from Star Wars. We trusted our driver to show us the best locations for the time we had in the desert. One of the locations we, unfortunately, missed out on is Lawrence’s spring, which is one of the most famous sights. We paid 35 JOD per person for the tour, which was not shared with other guests.ย
There are several camps in Wadi Rum where you can spend the night. The camps range from basic Bedouin tents to luxury eco-lodges, with amazing bubble tents and the prices vary accordingly. It can be quite overwhelming to find a suitable camp, as there are many to be found on Booking.com and they all have very good reviews. We loved our camp, Wadi Rum Legend Camp, however, the camp was closer related to the edge of the desert than we thought. Therefore, my main recommendation is to pay attention to the location and opt for a camp that is located deeper in the desert to have the full experience.ย When staying at a camp, they will do their best to make you feel comfortable and enjoy the experience. Due to the heat in the ground, they did the cooking for us under the sand, which was amazing to witness. Furthermore, they did throw a small party after dinner with some traditional sweets and dancing.ย
Wadi Rum Legend Camp is a perfect budget place, with prices around โฌ35 per room. They are basic Bedouin tents with an ensuite bathroom and a great atmosphere and friendly staff. Another great option for budget travellers is the Beyond Wadi Rum Camp, where twin rooms start from โฌ30 per night.ย
When you are seeking a more mid-range accommodation option in Wadi Rum,ย the Wadi Rum Bedouin Campย might be perfect for you. Prices start at about โฌ75 per night. Another option is the Wadi Rum Star Wars camp.ย
Are you open to a luxury option and an unforgettable experience in one of the Martian bubble tents in Wadi Rum? The Memories Aicha Luxury Camp is the most popular one. Prices start at โฌ200 for a luxury tent and โฌ400 for a panoramic luxury tent. Another place offering panoramic tents is the Zeina Desert Lodge, where prices start at โฌ200 and are therefore cheaper than Aicha Camp. Sun City Camp also offers Martian and dome tents. However, out of these 3 options that would be my least favourite as it is located closer to the road.
One of the highlights of visiting Wadi Rum is watching the sunset over the desert which is therefore worth a separate section in this Wadi Rum guide. The best place to watch the sunset is from the top of one of the sand dunes, where you’ll have an unobstructed view of the horizon. Most jeep tours will include a stop at a sand dune for sunset, but you can also hike to one on your own. We had a perfect sunset spot near our camp which you can find by clicking here or entering “Wadi Rum – Sunset Viewing Point” in Google Maps.
In conclusion, the Wadi Rum Desert is a must-visit destination in Jordan, with its stunning landscape and rich history. A 4-hour jeep tour, spending the night in a Bedouin camp, and watching the sunset are some of the best experiences you can have in Wadi Rum. Don’t miss out on this amazing destination!
