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Today, Wadi Rum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular side trips to combine with a visit to Petra, Jordan.
It’s easy to see why it’s been the setting for epic sci-fi movies like Transformers, The Martian, Star Wars, Sand and of course the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia.
Doesn’t it just look like something out of a Star Wars set?
Tour in Jordan
Tour in Jordan is not like anywhere else. The vast, surreal desert landscape of Wadi Rum Jordan in the Middle East has featured in many famous Hollywood movies. Exploring the marsupial valleys of the Wadi Rum desert by jeep reminded me a bit of Utah and its epic red canyons and canyons, and in this case you also get a big dose of world history and culture along the way. It seems like everyone goes to tour in Jordan to see Petra these days, but if you take a day or two to swing by Wadi Rum, you won’t regret it. It’s one of the best adventures you can have in this part of the world. This Wadi Rum travel blog will explain how you can get there and everything you need to know before you go.
History of the Wadi Rum desert
The valleys and valleys of the Wadi Rum desert have been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. It is an area famous for being used by Lawrence of Arabia during the Arab Revolt during World War I, and Wadi Rum Jordan has many carvings and ruins dedicated to T.E. to Lawrence.No man can live this life and come out unscathed. He will bear the stamp of the desert… and have a longing to return. For this harsh land can cast a spell that no temperate climate can match. Detective Wilfred Thesiger
Day trips to Wadi Rum
First, if you’re on a tight schedule and want to skip the extra steps of organizing your own trip to Wadi Rum, or if you’d rather do it all with a verified tour company, there are options. There are a number of highly rated companies that offer pre-arranged day tours to the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, including pickup and drop-off, some of which are package tours that also include Petra Jordan. If you prefer to make your own arrangements and do everything yourself (which is ultimately cheaper), then this will be covered next.
How to get to Wadi Rum?
Wadi Rum is located in southern Jordan, about 105 kilometers (65 miles) south of Petra, or 175 miles south of the capital, Amman. There is no airport in Wadi Rum, so international flights to Jordan will mainly be from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). You can buy flights to Amman on Skyscanner. After arriving in Jordan, you can travel to Wadi Rum by rental car, private taxi or bus (recommended).🔸 From Amman
Wadi Rum is a 5-6 hour drive from Amman. A private taxi is the easiest route, but costs at least 100 JD (~$140 USD) one way. You can also take the JETT bus (cost 9 JD) from Amman to Aqaba and get off at the Wadi Rum junction. The turn is well marked on the highway. To go in the opposite direction, take a taxi to Aqaba (cost 25 JD and 1 hour), then take the JETT bus (9 JD) from Aqaba to 7th Circle in Amman. Here is the bus schedule on their website.🔸 From Petra
Wadi Rum is a 1.5 hour drive from Petra. A private taxi will cost around 35 JD (~$50 USD) one way. There is also one minibus per day that leaves Petra at 6:00am and costs 7JD. You can book this through your Petra hotel and they will pick you up there. The same bus returns from Wadi Rum at 8:00am. at or 9:00 a.m.🔸 From Aqaba
Wadi Rum is 1 hour drive from Aqaba. A private taxi will cost around 30 JD (~$40 USD) one way. You can also take a bus from Aqaba bus station to Amman or Petra (3 JD) and get off at the Wadi Rum junction. Buses run north every hour from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Map of Wadi Rum Jordan
Here is a detailed map of Wadi Rum provided by the official Jordanian Tourism website. The total protected area is 275 square miles (720 square km), so that’s a lot of ground to cover. The best way to get around is in a 4×4, more on that later.
Map of Wadi Rum area. Click to enlarge Courtesy of the official Jordan Tourism website.
How to get around?
🔹 By Jeep
The standard way to get around Wadi Rum is by jeep or other 4×4 vehicle. My tour was actually in an Isuzu pickup truck, but the jeep tours last for 2, 3, 4 or 5 hours. ). The driver will take you to all the main attractions and explain what they are and you will have the opportunity to go around and discover them on foot.🔹 By the camel
Camels are the ships of the desert, and Wadi Rum is the perfect place to take those epic camelback photos you’ve always wanted. The only downside is that the camels are quite slow and the canyons are too big and spread out to cover effectively, so I wouldn’t recommend a full day camel tour unless you have more than one day to spend in Wadi Rum. With this you can also take a shorter 1 hour camel ride for around 15 JD (~$20 USD).🔹 On foot
Trekking in Wadi Rum Jordan is possible, especially in the cooler months, but I don’t think it’s ideal. You won’t see much while walking, and again, the canyons are very large and spread out, so this won’t be an effective way to explore unless you have a lot of free time in Jordan.
Entrance fees
- Adults. 5 JD (~$7 USD)
- Children. Free (under 12 years old)
- Jordan Pass. Free
See the truck in the lower right corner of this picture?
Dress code
There is no strict dress code in Wadi Rum as it is not a temple or religious monument. Jordanian culture is relatively conservative, so wearing modest clothing in public is a good idea. That would mean something that covers your knees and shoulders.
Best things to do and see in Wadi Rum
The best part of the Wadi Rum desert has to be the massive mountains and valleys you can see in all directions, but there are some smaller sights to check out as well. This is not a complete list of every canyon, rock, and interesting thing to see in Wadi Rum, but these are just some of the highlights to look for. One day is enough time to see most of the places on this list, but maybe not all, so you’ll want to prioritize the things that appeal to you the most.🔸 Sikh Um Tawaqi
It is a narrow gorge with impressive walls and rock formations, as well as some ancient rock carvings. It’s a short, easy walk through the canyon, but the sheer scale makes you feel tiny.
🔸 Lawrence’s face
These are some fun carvings of the face of Lawrence of Arabia in Sikh. They are very obvious and you will pass them on your way through the valley.
🔸 Anfashier registrations
These sticks are ancient petroglyphs carved by nomadic tribes.One can see big camels, camels with riders, children, tools, weapons and other such things. The pictures are on a rock wall above the ground, so if you want to get a close-up picture like this, you’ll have to climb some rocks.
🔸 Lawrence House
These are the old ruins of a house where it is believed that T.E. Lawrence stayed and kept arms during his campaigns.Not impressive, but the historical significance makes it interesting. If you climb to the top of the rocks, you get a good view of the surrounding area and a bunch of rock bonfires at the top.
🔸 Burda bridge
This is a huge natural rock bridge. You need a guide to get to the top. It is moderately difficult and takes several hours. Not recommended if you are afraid of heights.🔸 Burra Gorge
This is a very narrow canyon that at some points becomes almost as tight as Utah’s native canyon.
🔸 Um Froth Rock Bridge
This is a cool rock bridge similar to the arches you see in Utah. There is a path to the top and out of the bridge. Just be careful as it is higher than it looks and the sandstone can be slippery.
🔸 Small bridge
This is another natural bridge made of bright orange rock. It’s a quick climb to the top and you get amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains.
🔸 Mushroom stone
This is a large mushroom-shaped rock that is great for photography.Unfortunately, this is the one I missed on my Wadi Rum tour, but the pictures of it look great.🔸 Seven pillars of wisdom
This huge, dramatic rock formation, named after Lawrence’s 1922 autobiography of the same name, is one of the first sights you see when you enter Wadi Rum.
Hiking in Wadi Rum in Jordan
If you want to spend more time in Wadi Rum and see the starry sky over the desert, there are dozens of Bedouin companies that offer tent camping for up to 10 JD (~15 USD) with free breakfast. So is it worth camping here? It’s longer than I wanted to stay and I hate paying for camping. I also had some reservations about how safe it is since you’re in the middle of nowhere, although in a flashy situation like this, with crew watching over you, it should be fine. Don’t get me wrong, Jordan is a safe country and all, and most people are friendly and harmless. I noticed a lot of tourists camping in Wadi Rum when I was there and I never heard any bad stories from the people who did it, I’m sure it’s a great and unique experience.
Where did I stay?
I stayed at the Rocky Mountain Hotel near Petra for 26 JD ($37 USD) per night, which was a pretty good deal compared to other hotels I’ve tried in the area (Jordan isn’t the cheapest country to travel to). Rocky Mountain is a 20 minute walk from Petra or you can use the hotel’s daily shuttle.Jane, the lady who owns the hotel, was kind enough to drive me to Petra and pick me up later. She is a New Zealander and obviously works very hard. The hotel also helped me arrange my Wadi Rum jeep tour from Petra.Overall it was just what I needed and the staff was very helpful in arranging transfers, meals and more. Prices can fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
I stayed at the Rocky Mountain Hotel near Petra
The city of Wadi Musa. The entrance to Petra can be seen in the distance.
Jordan is safe.
Yes, I think Wadi Rum is safe. No place in the world is completely safe, but Jordan is a stable country that welcomes millions of tourists every year. Terrorist attacks are possible, but that’s the case everywhere. They don’t seem to be common in Jordan anymore. In an age of terror, I would try to avoid large crowds when traveling here, but again, this is a basic safety tip that applies almost anywhere today.
