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Your ultimate guide to Wadi Rum in Jordan

If you’re planning a visit to Wadi Rum in Jordan, be prepared for an adventure of a lifetime. Wadi Rum boasts a picturesque landscape that has a way of pleasantly surprising even the most seasoned travellers. From its breathtaking sand dunes and glorious sandstone and granite mountains to its rich history, this UNESCO World Heritage Site will certainly not disappoint. 

You can take in the landscape and history by taking a 4x4 jeep tour, a leisurely camel tour or by hiking or scrambling. There is certainly no shortage of activities for young and old alike, and you can do as much, or as little, as your heart desires. 

Another unmistakably unique part of the experience is interacting with the local Bedouin who will generally act as your guides. They’ll give you a taste of their warm hospitality, local cuisine and sweet black tea in a traditional goats-hair tent, among the sand dunes or next to a warm campfire under the dazzling stars. 

Planning to visit Jordan? 

Wadi Rum Eco Tours offers you an authentic Bedouin experience that takes the fragile desert environment into account. Choose one of our carefully curated desert tours and experience the desert with the expertise of our Bedouin guides. 

Where is Wadi Rum? 

Wadi Rum is located in the southern part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Located just 60 kilometres from the famous Red Sea and the lovely port city of Aqaba. It is 324 kilometres from Jordan’s capital city Amman, a distance that can be made by car in four to five hours. 

Wadi Rum is part of the Arabian Desert, specifically the Western edge of this large desert region that extends into Iraq, Yemen and Oman and covers almost the entire Saudi Arabia (apart from the South-west corner along the Red Sea). 

Ideal months to visit Wadi Rum 

The ideal months to visit Wadi Rim are between the Spring months of March and April and during the beginning of Autumn from October to November. This is because this is when temperatures will be neither excessively high nor low, making it the ideal time to adventure and explore to your heart’s content. 

How to get to Wadi Rum

We’ve covered this topic in our post entitled a guide to getting to Wadi Rum from Amman, Aqaba, and Petra’, which you can have a look at for more information. 

Wadi Rum’s 12,000-year history 

More than 45,000 petroglyphy, inscriptions and archaeological treasures are strewn across the desert attesting to the existence of about 12,000 years of human history in the region. These can be linked to the early stages of development of the alphabet and early agriculture and urban life.

Many of the petroglyphs and inscriptions were made by the Nabataeans who were an ancient Arab civilization that inhabited north Arabia and part of the Southern Levent. While the Nabataeans’ main settlement was the stone city of Petra, these ancient people also settled in Wadi Rum. 

In addition, there is a great deal of scripts from the Thamud tribes which originated in Saudi Arabia. This text is referred to as Thamudic text and is estimated to be between 2,100 and 3,500 years old. The text makes reference to religion and love and contains a number of signatures. 

Wadi Rum’s top sights

Being part of the largest deserts in Asia of course you can expect to enjoy the arid landscape with its seemingly endless stretches of sand and granite and basalt rock features and mountains. 

The weather has shaped these into stunning unique formations that will capture your imagination and leave a lasting impression on you. You’ll see large mountains, ominous cliffs, narrow gorges, unique rock formations (some resembling melting wax), and natural bridges which are a favourite for both amateur and professional photographers.

Here are 10 sites that Wadi Rum Eco Tours can include in their 4x4 Jeep desert and wild desert tours

1. Lawrence’s Spring: A natural spring located halfway up a mountain that still provides water for the Bedouin people’s camels and goats. You can either climb all the way to the spring and enjoy the views from under the shade of a fig tree or skip the climb and explore the ancient rock inscriptions, interact with the camels and take photos of the stunning scenery.
2. The Khazali Canyon: An impressive canyon that forms part of the Jebel Khazali mountain. There are plenty of inscriptions along the canyon walls.
3. The little bridge: One of five naturally formed rock bridges, this is the perfect place to take a few photos and enjoy the natural sandstone rock formations. 
4. Lawrence’s house and the Anfashieh inscriptions: The inscriptions and drawings depicting camel riders and huntsmen are estimated to be at least 2,000 years old and are beautifully strewn across the mountains and rock formations. You can also see Lawrence’s house which is in fact an old Nabatean temple made from bricks.
5. The mushroom stone: A large stone in the form of a mushroom that makes for a great photo. The formation resulted from weathering of the weaker rock at the bottom of the rock, which allowed for the more sturdy rock on top to remain largely intact. 
6. The Burdah rock bridge: Another natural rock bridge that is loved by visitors. Since it is at the top of a mountain which would take significant time to hike up, you can view the impressive structure from the bottom and we guarantee that it will take your breath away. 
7. Abu Khashaba Canyon: You can take a 30-minute walk through the staggering canyon and enjoy its towing cliffs and the sandy gorge with interesting desert shrubs littered across the sands. 
8. Umm Fruth rock bridge: A natural rock bridge that lies 15 meters above the ground, and a favourite for all visitors to Wadi Rum. You will have to scramble up to the top but it is a pleasant journey. 
9. The Al Kashkasheh Valley: A beautiful valley surrounded by glorious mountains with a view of contrasting red and yellow desert sands. 
10. Al Qatar Mountain: Before reaching the view of Al Qatar mountain which is at the end of a 15-minute hike you can see Um Mugur and enjoy the spectacular scenery. 

Spotting Wildlife in Wadi 

The majority of wildlife in the desert is nocturnal meaning that spotting them will be incredibly difficult. That said there are still some wild animals and birds which you may be lucky enough to spot. 

These include the famous Arabian oryx which has been reintroduced into the area through a breeding programme, the Arabian sand cat, hyraxes, hedgehogs, wolves, ibexes and gazelle, foxes, and gerbils. 

You can also spot some birdlife which will include vultures, eagles, finches, the Desert Lark, the Black and White Mourning Wheatear and the White Crowned Black Wheatear. Various species of insects and reptiles can also be seen. 

Where to stay in Wadi Rum 

Wadi Rum Eco Tours invites you to stay in our traditional Bedouin camp in the desert and enjoy resting in a traditional Beduin goats-hair tent. You will be provided with dinner, breakfast and a delicious picnic lunch depending on your selected tour and stay. You can also sleep under the stars which is the way the Bedouin people slept - in open caves under the stars.