The Wadi Rum Desert is not only a great place for Jeep tours and nights under the stars. It also offers itself to some of the most amazing hikes.
Hiking in Wadi Rum is the perfect way to get away from the masses and explore the desert in a unique and exhilarating way.
Let us show you, where you can find the best hikes around the Wadi Rum Protected Area and how to master them one by one.
| 5 Things to Know Before Planning Your Hike. |
| You have to pay a fee to enter Wadi Rum. You need additional transport to get to the trailheads. You want to book a hiking guide. You need to prepare for the desert hike. You have to respect local regulations. |
For the Hiking Enthusiasts.
Book your Hike with Wadi Tribe.
We offer worry-free, all-inclusive hike packages in Wadi Rum.
- For the Hiking Enthusiasts.
- Short Hikes
- Day Hikes
- The Wadi Rum Trail
- Can you hike by yourself in Wadi Rum?
- Can you walk around Wadi Rum?
- Can you go to Wadi Rum by yourself?
- How many days to spend in Petra and Wadi Rum?
- Can you do a day trip to Wadi Rum?
5 Things you need to know before hiking in Wadi Rum
Before you start planning your hike in the Wadi Rum desert, you should be aware of the special character of the Wadi Rum desert that will impact your planning in multiple ways:
- Entrance Fee to Wadi Rum: One doesn’t just come to Wadi Rum like any other place in the world. The Wadi Rum desert ist registered as a protected area and special rules apply to stays within it. Visitors have to pay a fee upon entering the area at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre. That fee is set at 5 JD per person while kids enter for free. 4WD vehicles pay an extra fee of 25 JD and Jordan Pass owners are exempt from the entrance fee.
- No cars in Wadi Rum: First up, you need to be aware that in Wadi Rum, you cannot simply park at the trail head of a hike, purchase a day pass and start from there. While there is no strict rule that prevents any personal cars to go beyond the Wadi Rum Village within the protected area, you will rarely see any. There is no paved roads outside of the village, so if you are not coming in a 4WD vehicle already, you better contact a Bedouin guide with a pickup truck.
- Booking a tour guide: I know what you are thinking right now. Surely it’s possible to solo hike in Wadi Rum. And yes! While it is true that nobody can force you to contract a Bedouin guide, there is more than a few good reasons for booking one anyways. Trails in Wadi Rum are not marked. Also, Wadi Rum Village really is the only place to get supplies and reliable transport. So, if you don’t want to turn your day hike into a survival mission, you better book that guide – they are affordable anyways.
- Desert Hiking: If you have never gone on a hike in the desert before, be aware that desert hikes are quite different from your regular hiking experience. Hikes usually start early in an attempt to beat the heat with long breaks in the afternoon. Also, many of Wadi Rum’s most stunning hikes are also very exhausting and technically challenging. Be sure to check with a Bedouin guide about the conditions of a hike beforehand.
- Rules for Hiking: In the protected area of Wadi Rum , hiking and rock climbing is not allowed in every place. Visitors are advised to only hike and climb where it is permitted owing to the high risk of injuries. Rock climbing and hiking is strictly prohibited in certain areas. Signs inform you about these restrictions on-site. Rock climbing is also subject to a number of other rules that will be further described later on.
Day Hikes in Wadi Rum – Try these Day Hikes in Wadi Rum
Tourism in Wadi Rum is dominated by day tours by pickup truck and stays in traditional-style Bedouin deseert camps. Hikers, however, have the option of extending their stay and embarking on a hike after their desert tours or scrapping the pickup trucks altogether.
Hike the vast expanse of this ancient desert, sleep unter the stars and explore parts of the desert that the human eye rarely lays its sight upon.
Short Hikes
There is a number of short hikes in the Wadi Rum desert that you can do even within the confines of a Half Day Tour or Full Day Tour. These hikes, sometimes endearingly described as walks, are short 1-hour hikes through some of the more appealing rock formations of the desert.
For these hikes, you do not need a lot of experience or a high fitness level. Still, they will take you away from the hustle and bussle to the quiets parts of the desert.
Khazali Canyon
Barely a hike, Khazali Canyon offers a first introduction to the varied terrains of the Wadi Rum desert. Khazali Canyon is a mere crack in Jebel Khazali, but an amazing way to start your journey through the desert. At Khazali Canyon you are greeted by a wild fig tree guarding the entrancet to the shady canyon.
Once you make it past it, you can spend a solid 15 minutes walking and admiring the rock formations. But look closely! On the rock formations you can find petroglyphs, ancient inscriptions of the Nabataean civilisation of Wadi Rum. After about 100 meters the crack in the mountain is stating to be obstructed by rocks and it is time to turn back.
Walking in Khzali Canyon is part of most Wadi Rum tour packages, so there really isn’t any extra planning necessary on your behalf, if you have booked a desert tour already. If in doubt, make sure to ask your Bedouin guide, if he is planning to pay the shady canyon a visit.
Small Sand Dunes
While the rock formations of Wadi Rum usually take the crown for all sorts of rock climbing and hiking in the desert, one shouldn’t disregard the unique hiking the sand dunes of Wadi Rum have to offer. One of the more popular sand dunes – fittingly names Small Sand Dune or Red Sand Dune – stands out for its smooth hiking and amazing views.
Ascend the dune in a short but technically challenging hike that will take you around 15-30 minutes and take in the distant views of the desert from the top. As you come closer to its peak the sand subsides to rock and once on the top, you will find yourself standing on a rocky plateau some hundred meters above the ground.
Scrambling around the sand dunes of the desert offers a great distractions from the more mentally-taxing sightseeing and is usually part of tour packages. Make sure to pay the dunes a visit and let your driver know that you will take the time to hike all the way to the top.
Abu Khashaba Canyon
Significantly longer and wider than Khazali Canyon is another canyon further into the desert that is called Abu Khashaba Canyon. Abu Khashaba Canyon is an hour drive away from Wadi Rum Village nicely tucked away in the middle of the expansive desert.
The canyon is about four meters wide and offers a refreshing mix of intricate vertical formations and sandscapes as the wind forms beautiful patterns within the canyon.
The walk is not a quiet spot away from the larger tourist crowds, but also a welcome refuge from the sun that relentlessly taxes the gorgeous landscape of Wadi Rum. Spend 30 minutes to an hour walking through this canyon gazing at the rocks that almost look like molten and dried wax and end your hike with a thrilling descend on the other end.
The other end of the canyon is dominated by a sand dune that now serves as the base for a thrilling sand boarding operation. Ask your Bedouin guide to fetch a board for you and end your hike sand boarding. Visits to this canyon are usually part of fill day tour packages.
Day Hikes
If you are looking to continue hiking after your tour by pickup truck, you will be greeted by some truly amazing hikes that last at least a few hours. The best hikes in Wadi Rum that can be done with any hiking guide, are Jebel Umm Ad Dami, Jebel Al Hash and the infamous Burdah Rock Bridge.
Embark on some truly technically challenging hike and master the rock formations that grow abruptly throughout the desert reaching heights of up to 1,800 meters.
Jebel Umm Ad Dami
The Jebel Umm Ad Dami stands tall at a whooping 1,854 meters above sea level posing a serious challenge to hikers of all levels. Hiking this mountain is a mission for a full day. We advise you to book a stay in a Bedouin camp in the desert and start early the next day.
Embark on your hike with the rising sun to escape the mid-day heat. Booking through a Bedouin camp, you will also be treated to a breakfast in the morning, plenty of water, Bedouin tea and even a filling lunch in the desert. This way, you will only have to worry about making it to the top – and bringing a hat (or head scarf).
The hike itself is fairly technical with one of the other tricky section. Overall, it should take you no more than four hours to complete this hike. From the top, you will have some of the most expansive views of the wide flat valleys stretching from the red desert all the way to the white desert and back. You do not want to miss out on this one!
Jebel Al Hash
Similar to Jebel Umm Ad Dami, Jebel Al Hash offers amazing views of the desert at a stunning height of 1,700 meters above sea level, while not being as physically taxing as the former. Hiking this mountain is a great activity for any active person who has half a day to spare in Wadi Rum. You don’t really need extensive hiking experience for this one.
Summiting Jebel Al Hash is especially interesting because it gives you the unique chance to get a glimpse of Saudi Arabia’s desert landscape, that lays just across the Jordan-Saudi border south of the mountain. Take in the breathtaking views and enjoy a lunch prepared the traditional Bedouin way.
Hiking Jebel Al Hash takes approximately three hours and can be accomplished within half a day. The hike starts after a filling breakfast and ends in the late afternoon. After summiting Jebel Al Hash, you will be transferred back to your desert camp where you will get to enjoy a traditional Bedouin dinner.
Burdah Rock Bridge (Jebel Burdah)
When it comes to day hikes, one could say that we have saved the best for last. Burdah Rock Bridge, also known as Jebel Burdah, is certainly the most unique hike you can embark on in Wadi Rum. Wadi Rum is home to a number is unique rock formations ranging from small ones such as the famous Mushroom Rock and bigger ones such as Burdah Rock Bridge, a tall natural stone arch.
Hiking up to the top of the arch takes several hours and requires at least some experience as a climber as the trail combines hiking and climbing elements. As you make it closer to the top, you will, get a glimpse of the spectacular views beneath you.
Once you are standing on the rock bridge itself, the wide flat valleys reveal themselves to you in all their glory. Summiting Burdah Rock Bridge take a total four to five hours according to your level of fitness.
Usually, the hike is a full day venture, starting from a desert camp in the vicinity and ending there again. Make sure to get enough rest for this trial and bring a hat along with sunscreen.
Long-Distance Hikes in Wadi Rum – Dive Deep into the Wadi Rum Desert
You cannot even be staisfied by a couple of physically taxing hours under the relentless sun of the Middle East? Make it a couple of days then. The so-called Wadi Rum Trail is a new long-distance hiking trail that winds all the way through the territories of the local Bedouin tribes taking a total of seven days to complete.
The Wadi Rum Trail
The Wadi Rum Trail is the latest in a number of efforts to connect the Middle East via hiking trails and the logical northern continuation of the Sinai Trail and the Red Sea Mountains Trail. It is less of a marked and established trail, but more of a concept that is promoted by the Wadi Rum Trail organization and realised by local Bedouins who serve as guides.
The Wadi Rum Trail can be hiked in its entirety within a full week. Hikers can also decide to book a guide for only a part of the way and hike a section of it, if they don’t have enough time to complete the whole hike.
This trail takes you through narrow canyons, over vertical rock formations and far away from where tourists usually stray. It is a combination of walking, hiking and even sections of rock climbing all inspired by the ancient paths of Bedouin tribes that have been roaming these desert landscapes for centuries.
Hikers should be aware of the physically taxing nature of this hike. This new route is certainly not for unexperienced hikers or the faint-of-heart.
Hikers embarking on the Wadi Rum Trail usually book a full package that already includes their food, water and accommodation. This way, hikers can fully concentrate on the mission ahead – the Wadi Rum Trail – while local experts take care of their troubles.
Not in the mood for a hike? Try Rock Climbing in Wadi Rum
If you think that hiking is just a blown-up way of referring to walking around, you might be more inclined to try climbing in Wadi Rum. Climbing has been part of Bedouin culture for centuries now. It is an integral part of Wadi Rum’s history.
Therefore, you will have no trouble finding a suitable guide to accompany you on your climbing adventure. Be aware though, that rock climbing is only allowed in certain areas within the Wadi Rum Protected Area.
Avoid climbing in areas where climbing is strictly prohibited. These areas are usually marked with signs that inform you about it. Also, try to use as little invasive gear as possible and try to minimise your use of chalk in order to protect the desert environment around you.
Conclusion
The Wadi Rum Trail is the crown of all hikes in Wadi Rum, but certainly not the only one of its kind. Make yourself familiar with the wide selection of hikes presented in this article and make sure to find on that suits you. Every Wadi Rum trail is worth your time, so don’t be afraid to make a choice.
Once you have made your choice, be sure to contact Wadi Tribe to book your hiking adventure in Wadi Rum including the Wadi Rum Trail.
FAQ
Can you hike by yourself in Wadi Rum?
Hiking by yourself is not advised within the Wadi Rum Protected Area. This is due to the technical nature of the hikes and the low availability of resources such as water and emergency services. Usually, hikes in Wadi Rum are mastered with the help of a guide who knows the paths and has the means i.e. a Jeep to supply you with food and water.
Can you walk around Wadi Rum?
Walking around Wadi Rum is possible and a great way to find some of the more quiet parts of the desert. Go for a stroll before sunset and discover some of the lesser known facets of the desert. Just make sure to let the owners of your Bedouin camp know that you’re wandering off. Otherwise, they might start looking for you (speaking from experience here).
Can you go to Wadi Rum by yourself?
Yes, you can go to Wadi Rum by yourself. Renting a car is a good option to explore the south of Jordan and a very safe one, too. Jordan is considered the safest country of the Middle East and continues to experience political stability in times of unrest. Once in Wadi Rum, you will have to leave your car in the Wadi Rum Village, if you are not coming with a 4WD vehicle yourself.
How many days to spend in Petra and Wadi Rum?
For the ancient city of Petra, we recommend a stay of at least two days. The archeological site including to monastery is simply to extensive to be explored in one single day. If you are planning to go on a hike in Wadi Rum, you should also plan to stay at least two days. This will give you the chance to do your hike, sleep under the stars and be part of a jeep tour.
Can you do a day trip to Wadi Rum?
It is perfectly possible to do away trip to Wadi Rum. Possible starting points are Petra and Aqaba with trips taking a couple of hours and jeep tours in the desert lasting until sunset. While it is possible, we still recommend you to stay in the desert as a night in a Bedouin camp is a truly unforgettable experience.
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