THE GRAND TRAVEL GUIDE TO WADI RUM

Wadi Rum desert is one of the most famous deserts in the world. After Petra, Wadi Rum is the second most popular and famous tourist attraction in Jordan. Millions of tourists visit this great red desert every year. In summer 2022, I was one of those lucky travelers who had a chance to visit and enjoy this wonderful desert. 

I started my Jordan travel from the south of the country. I spent a few days in Aqaba and then started going up thereby visiting all the famous historical and natural landmarks of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Thus, Wadi Rum was the first and most significant place I visited at the start of my journey in Jordan. Only after visiting the Wadi Rum desert, I decided to visit Petra. 

At first, Wadi Rum might look very complicated. Indeed, the desert is a very complex place requiring guidance and explanations. Even though I gathered some information regarding the Wadi Rum desert before visiting it, I was truly confused by its vastness when I first entered its territory. It was surely one of the most biggest deserts I have visited in my life. 

In this grand travel guide to the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, I will provide you with all the necessary information and tips on how to get the most out of your visit to the famous red desert. Hold tight. It is going to be a long ride. 

ABOUT WADI RUM

Wadi Rum is the biggest valley and desert in Jordan. In the Arabic language, Wadi Rum is called وادي رم Wadi Ramm. This great desert is also called as Valley of the Moon (from Arabic, القمر Wadi Al-Qamar). Wadi Rum is situated only 60 km east of the Aqaba. The desert is a protected area that covers over 720 square kilometers of stunning wilderness in the souther part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Wadi Rum is composed of big sandstone mountains and granite. The highest elevation in Wadi Rum is the mountain Jabal Umm ad Dami at 1,840 m. This wonderful desert is still inhabited by bedouins. There is even a whole village inside the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan. 

Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.

HISTORY OF WADI RUM DESERT

For centuries, the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan has been inhabited by different cultures and nations. Nabatean Arabs are one of the most prominent nations that inhabited the Wadi Rum desert for a long period of time. The ancient history of Wadi Rum lacks exact facts, numbers, and data. However, it is obvious that this ancient land has been inhabited since prehistoric times. 

Wadi Rum desert in Jordan received international prominence because of its close connection to the famous English officer and spy T.E. Lawrence. The man passed through this vast desert several times during the famous Arab Revolt. T.E. Lawrence was the instigator and the main organizer of the revolt. He cooperated with the Arab leaders of today’s Saudi Arabia to start the revolt against the mighty Ottoman Empire. 

T.E. Lawrence passed Wadi Rum and it is also said that he even had a house in the red desert. Modern maps and itineraries of Wadi Rum contain T.E. Lawrence’s house. There is actually no real evidence that the spy had a house in Wadi Rum. In his famous book, T.E. Lawrence gave detailed descriptions of the deserts and the emotions evoked by the great vastness of Wadi Rum.

The government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan quickly realized the significance of Wadi Rum and its great touristic potential. Thus, in 1998, the rulers of Jordan declared Wadi Rum a protected area. With the help of the World Bank and international NGOs, the government of Jordan developed a team that oversees the protection and maintenance of the natural reserve. 

HOW TO GET TO WADI RUM

If you are in Aqaba, you will need to drive 60 km to the east of the city, and you will be in Wadi Rum. If you are in Amman, or any other southern or central Jordanian city, you will need to drive south to the side of Aqaba on the King’s Highway road. If you have a car, it will be easy to navigate and get to the Wadi Rum desert regardless of your current physical location. 

DON’T TAKE TAXIS TO WADI RUM

Regardless of your physical location in Jordan, you will always meet and see loads of entrepreneurial taxi drivers ready to drive you wherever you are. When they see a tourist or a traveler, they hope to get a huge jackpot. In their minds, tourists are bags with money. 

If you are a savvy backpacker, who saves money to travel more, you shouldn’t use any taxis wherever you travel. On the other hand, if you are a tourist with no desire of traveling smarter, you are free to waste a fortune on taxis.

THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO WADI RUM

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation in the south of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. You can’t find buses, minibuses, and other vehicles that could drive you to Wadi Rum for a small fee. The only option are taxis which I don’t recommend using at all costs. 

HITCHHIKING TO WADI RUM

When I came to Jordan, Aqaba city was my starting point. I started my journey in Jordan from Aqaba. When I finished swimming in the Red Sea and resting on the hot beaches of the city, I decided to visit Wadi Rum.

Hitchhiking is one of the best options to quickly get to Wadi Rum

I woke up early in the morning, exited the territory of Aqaba city center, and started hitchhiking. I arrived at Wadi Rum in two cars that were heading to the desert. Hitchhiking to Wadi Rum was very easy and quick. I didn’t have to wait for too long and the kind drivers were very glad to give me a ride. 

WADI RUM ENTRANCE FEES

To be honest, I didn’t pay even a single cent to enter Wadi Rum. Since I was in a car that gave me a ride we just passed the visitors’ center and nobody stopped us. Before coming to Jordan, I bought Jordan Pass that gave me full access to all Jordanian sightseeing places. Even if I had to pass through the visitors’ center, I would show my Jordan Pass and get a free entry to Wadi Rum. 

Thus, if you arrive at Wadi Rum in a car that gets inside the territory of the desert, it is likely that you won’t pay anything for the entry. If on the other hand, a driver drops you off before entering the territory of Wadi Rum, you will certainly pass through the visitors’ center. There, you will be required to pay a fee. 

As of August 19, 2022, a standard entrance fee of 5 J.D (7 USD) is applied to all international tourists and travelers. The Ministry of Tourism of Jordan claims that the money is used to support local Bedouin communities and protect the Wadi Rum area. Thus, it is very good to pay for entry to the Wadi Rum desert. 

HOW MANY DAYS ARE ENOUGH TO EXPLORE WADI RUM 

Wadi Rum is a really very expansive desert. Whilst it takes like 2-3 days to fully explore Petra in Jordan, Wadi Rum can be seen in one full day. You don’t need more than that. Whether you visit Wadi Rum on foot or in a vehicle, you can fully explore the prominent desert in a single day. 

Most of the visitors decide to spend a night in Wadi Rum. This is a very good decision. We don’t get a chance to sleep in a famous desert every day. Thus, it is likely that your visit to Wadi Rum will take one day and the next morning. 

I spent one full day in Wadi Rum, and this time was enough for me to fully enjoy and appreciate the place. By the end of the day, I was just sitting on a rock and enjoying the view. I spent a night in Wadi Rum, and the next, day exited the area of the desert to visit Petra. 

HOW MANY DAYS CAN YOU STAY IN WADI RUM

You can pitch your tent in Wadi Rum and stay there for months. Nobody will disturb you there. You can spend an unlimited period of time in the desert. The place is so huge that nobody will even recognize your presence. There are no police, no guards, and no patrols in Wadi Rum. Tourists and travelers enter the desert and exit it either the same day or the next day. People don’t stay in Wadi Rum for longer. If you are interested in camping in Wadi Rum, I will provide you with some useful tips on how to do it the right way. 

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT WADI RUM

Spring and Autumn is the best time to visit Wadi Rum. In winter, it can get cold. The wind inside the wadi is cold even in the middle of summer. I imagine that the wind must be very severe in winters. Therefore, winter isn’t the best time to visit Wadi Rum.

I am trying to survive in this shadow while the scorching hot sun leaves you no chances

I visited Wadi Rum in June. The weather was very hot and the scorching hot sun wasn’t merciful towards me. I suffered in the desert. In this condition, you don’t enjoy the gorgeous views of the desert. Instead, you suffer under the sun. This is why I think that summer isn’t the best time to visit Wadi Rum. 

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO ENTER WADI RUM

It is surely better to enter the territory of Wadi Rum in the morning or afternoon. Later afternoon is also a good time to start exploring the Wadi. Since you most probably will be in a car, you will have enough time to explore Wadi Rum even if you come in the middle of the day. 

BEST PLACES TO SEE IN WADI RUM

Wadi Rum isn’t like any other sightseeing place you have seen in your life. To be honest, it is quite difficult to navigate inside the Wadi. It is huge. Everywhere around you, you will see massive rock formations. 

Wadi Rum in the evening when the sun is down and the desert gets its true colors

In Wadi Rum, every mountain, rock, and hill has its name. However, there are no headlines and marks. You never know which rock is “rock A”, and which mountain is “mountain B”. Only local bedouins and professional guides know these things. Thus, this place is very complex. 

I visited Wadi Rum without a vehicle or a guide. For me, the desert was the most complex and impossible place I have ever visited in my life. I never hire guides or cars to carry me inside sightseeing places. However, Wadi Rum isn’t the easiest place to navigate even if you are a very experienced backpacker. 

Shortly, there are no best places to see in Wadi Rum. The whole desert is a nature’s miracle. Explore it from the start till the end. Enjoy and appreciate the view of every single rock, hill, mountain, and dune. 

NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED INSIDE WADI RUM AREA

Pay attention that you won’t be able to enter Wadi Rum with your own vehicle. Whether you own your car or you rented it, you will be stopped at the entrance and not allowed to get inside the area of the desert in your automobile. 

Only bedouin cars are allowed in the territory of Wadi Rum

Only bedouins on 4WD cars are allowed to be inside the desert. These bedouin Arabs are drivers and guides who show the tourist the desert. Some of these bedouins are just drivers, and some of them are also guides. 

CAN YOU EXPLORE WADI RUM WITHOUT A GUIDE

I think that guide in Wadi Rum is unnecessary if you are a solo traveler on foot. First, no guide in Wadi Rum will agree to show you the desert on foot. This desert is bigger over 700 square kilometers big. Thus, hiking in Wadi Rum probably under the scorching hot sun would be disastrous suffering for you and your guide. 

You will also get a lot of new friends in Wadi Rum. These camels are very curious.

However, if you hired a bedouin vehicle near the visitors’ center, then getting a guide is an absolute necessity. Your guide will show you different mountains, and rock formations, and name their names. He will also provide you with all those small scraps of the available information regarding the history of Wadi Rum. 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO EXPLORE WADI RUM ON FOOT

I visit Wadi Rum in June and it was tremendously hot in the desert. I spent the biggest part of the day resting in a shadow instead of exploring the valley. Hiking in the desert was impossible due to the hot weather. This was the only place I have visited in my life that couldn’t be backpacked on foot. 

Theoretically, it is possible to explore Wadi Rum on foot. However, you will need to follow certain recommendations to be successful and not get into trouble by getting lost in the vast and hot desert. Further, I will provide you with powerful tips on how to backpack Wadi Rum on foot and without a guide. 

YOUR GUIDE TO BACKPACKING WADI RUM

Now, let’s talk about how you can successfully backpack and explore Wadi Rum without a vehicle and a guide. I did it in the summer of 2022, and you can also do it if you follow certain smart tips and recommendations. Here is a list of some savvy backpacking tips that will let you backpack Wadi Rum as a solo backpacker. 

DON’T VISIT WADI RUM IN SUMMER

The scorching hot sun is your main enemy in Wadi Rum. You will get exhausted after a few minutes of hiking in the desert if you do it on a hot summer day. On cooler days, hiking and trekking in Wadi Rum are possible. 

Headwear is a must in Wadi Rum. It is very hot there.

Spring and autumn are ideal times to backpack Wadi Rum on your own. In winter, it might get cold, and the cold wind will make you suffer. Thus, the first rule for backpacking Wadi Rum is to choose the right time for the visit. 

PREPARE TO SPEND A FEW DAYS IN THE DESERT

If you really want to backpack Wadi Rum on foot, you should prepare to spend a few days there. The desert is huge and your movements will be slowed down by the sand. Thus, it will take a lot of time to explore and see even a small portion of Wadi Rum. 

TAKE ENOUGH WATER AND FOOD

I should inform you that there aren’t any supermarkets where you can buy water or food in Wadi Rum. In deserts and mountains, everything is scarce. There are no lakes or rivers where you could refill your water storage. Therefore, drink and eat only when you really need to. 

There are no “best to visit places” in Wadi Rum. Every corner of this wonderful desert is God’s masterpriece

There are some bedouin camps in Wadi Rum. The bedouins will give you some water if you are really exhausted. However, regardless of how good people are, deserts and mountains make people very mean. I am telling you this from my personal experience. In cities, people will readily share their food and water with you because food and water are abundant in cities. In remote areas, everything is different. Therefore, prepare to be fully self-sufficient if you visit Wadi Rum. 

DON’T ATTEMPT TO BACKPACK WADI RUM WITHOUT GPS

You will probably get lost in Wadi Rum if you attempt to backpack it without a guide. If you get lost in very remote areas where even bedouins can’t be found, you will die. This is why you shouldn’t enter Wadi Rum without GPS. 

Download Maps.me on your phone, and then download the map of Jordan. Throughout your hike, make sure that your phone is well-charged. As a backpacker, you must have a power bank. 

WHERE TO SLEEP IN THE WADI RUM DESERT

Regardless of your style and mode of travel, you will surely need to sleep somewhere in Wadi Rum. In the desert, you will have two options. You can sleep in dedicated bedouin tents where you will be served some tea, food, and maybe snacks. You can also sleep in the desert wherever you want. Let’s analyze these options.

SLEEPING IN A BEDOUIN TENT

If you sleep in one of the bedouin tents, you will need to pay a fee. The price is 25 J.D (35 USD) per night. For this money, you will get a bed in the tent, a dinner, and a traditional breakfast.

For 35$, you can spend a night in one of these tents

This option is a good choice for couples, families, and tourists. Adventurous tourists and backpackers would choose something more exciting even if it is less comfortable. 

WILD CAMPING IN WADI RUM

During my visit to Wadi Rum, I climbed a high hill and slept there. I didn’t pitch a tent because it was too hot to be inside a tent. Instead, I put my sleeping pad on the hill and used my sleeping bag when the wind got stronger. 

That night was one of the best nights of my life. In Wadi Room, there is always a very pleasant wind. At night, this wind gets stronger and cooler. It is like sleeping in a hotel room with air conditioning. I paid nothing to sleep in one of the most picturesque and beautiful places in the world. 

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SLEEP ON THE TERRITORY OF BEDOUIN CAMPS

It was late afternoon and I was resting in a shadow near one of the Bedouin tents. A young bedouin approached me and told me that it was forbidden to sleep on the territory of bedouin camps. I assured the bedouin that I was just having some rest there and I would definitely choose another place for a night’s sleep. 

While choosing a place for your sleeping pad or tent, make sure you are far away from the bedouin camps. Otherwise, these guys will disturb you and demand you to move to another place. 

MY HONEST OPINION

Wadi Rum is a very interesting place. It isn’t the most stunning place I have visited in my life, but the desert surely deserves the hype. Your experience in Wadi Rum can get spoiled by the hot weather if you visit it in summer. This is exactly what happened to me. The scorching hot sun made me exhausted, and I couldn’t fully enjoy my time in Wadi Rum. 

Wadi Rum isn’t a typical historical or cultural place. To fully see, enjoy, and appreciate the desert with comfort, you should hire a vehicle and a guide. This is one of the few places where you can’t be fully self-sufficient. Backpacking Wadi Rum is a real option. However, it will require a lot of dedication, strong will, and suitable cool weather.