Wadi Rum is best known for its sandstone rock formations that rise from the ground suddenly up to a height of almost 2,000 meters. Surely, there has to be some quality rock climbing here, right? And indeed you are right.
In fact, Wadi Rum looks back at a long history of rock climbing that started long before tourists started heading to the South of Jordan.
Today, you are free to revisit some of the Bedouin routes that have been in use for centuries. Let us tell you all about those famous Bedouin and modern routes.
| Ranking | Climbing Area | Type |
| #01 | Jebel Rum | Trad |
| #02 | Barrah Canyon | Trad |
| #03 | Jebel Umm Ishrin | Trad and Sport |
| #04 | Jebel Khazali | Trad and Bedouin |
| #05 | Jebel Burdah (Burdah Rock Bridge) | Trad and Sport |
Experience Wadi Rum.
Hike, scramble and climb up the mountains of Wadi Rum, all while basking in the joys of Bedouin culture at night. Book your worry-free experience now.
- Experience Wadi Rum.
- Rock Climbing in Wadi Rum – Know These 5 Things Before You Go!
- Wadi Rum Rock Climbing Routes – Don’t Miss these Climbs While in Wadi Rum
- About the Rock Climbing Tradition in Wadi Rum
- How to get to Wadi Rum Village
- Where to Stay in Wadi Rum
- What Else to Do in Wadi Rum
- FAQs
Rock Climbing in Wadi Rum – Know These 5 Things Before You Go!
There is some quality Wadi Rum rock climbing. Let’s make sure that you come to Wadi Rum with the right expectations. Know there 5 things before you head out:
- How to Get to Wadi Rum: Getting to Wadi Rum is possible via multiple modes of transport. Coming from Petra, the capital city Amman and other cities nearby such as Aqaba, make sure to stop at the Wadi Rum Rest House. From there, your Wadi Rum desert experience will start. Transfers from Wadi Rum Village cost nothing, if you have accommodation booked.
- Where to Climb: There is multiple designated climbs for trad gear as well as some interesting sport climbing. Make sure that you are always climbing in a designated climbing area. Usually, non-climbing zones are visibly marked with a sign prohibiting rock climbing. We have compiled some of the most popular climbing routes in this article.
- Climb with a Certified Guide: The desert is vast and many of the routes are far apart from each other. Adding to that, some of the Bedouin guides are real experts of their own classic routes carrying certification as Mountaineering guides. Also, booking a certified guides helps you get good deals on All-Inclusive experiences including all the gear you need.
- Save the Environment: When rock climbing in Wadi Rum, do make sure to minimise your impact on the environment. In the Wadi Rum Protected Area, you are advised to minimise your usage of chalk and invasive gear. For the same reason, you will have trouble finding lots of prepped sport climbing routes.
- Where to Stay the Night: Rock Climbing in the Wadi Rum desert is an exhausting affair. Take your chance then, and find a camp to sleep under the stars in Wadi Rum. Sleep in the desert in a simple sleeping bag or find a solemn retreat in a cozy Bedouin desert camp. Make sure to book it all at once to save money on your trip.
Wadi Rum Rock Climbing Routes – Don’t Miss these Climbs While in Wadi Rum
Ranging from trad to sport, there is some truly thrilling climbs in the Wadi Rum desert. Make sure to bring your climbing shoes and embark on a mission to scale on of these mountains in Wadi Rum:
Jebel Rum
Jebel Rum, also referred to as Mount Rum, is one of the focal points of the desert landscapes. It appears as a stretched-out mass of sandstone rock pillars rising up to 1,734 meters above sea level. It offers itself to a number of thrilling climbs that you should not miss out on.
The three most popular route choices on this mountain are:
- The Pillar of Wisdom – Trad Climb with around 5 pitches on the East Face of Jebel Rum with stunning desert views
- The Goldfinger – Trad Climb with around 3 pitches on the East Face of Jebel Rum with stunning desert views
- Black Magic – Trad Climb with around 7 pitches on the East Face of Jebel Rum fit for lesser experienced climbers. Note: Climbers have warned about loose rock on the climb.
Barrah Canyon
Barrah Canyon might only be one of the shorter canyons of the Wadi Rum desert, but acts as one of the climbing hotspots of the desert – for multiple reasons. For climbers into crack climbing, this is the first spot to hit in the Wadi Rum desert. There are several route choices to make.
Our hand-picked recommendations for Barrah Canyon are:
- Merlin’s Wand – Traditional crack climbing along one of the desert’s recommended routes, reported with around 5 pitches
- The Star of Abu Jadaidah – Trad climb with around 7 pitches along one of the more popular routes of the desert
- Desert Leather – Trad climb with around 2 pitches for more experienced climbers
Jebel Umm Ishrin
Jebel Umm Ishrin is another indispensable hiking hotspot in the desert. Its name roughly translates to “the Mother of Twenty” referring to the twenty sandstone rock pillars it seems to be made up of.
The red rocks of Jebel Umm Ishrin offer themselves to some quality climbing such as:
- Asssaoud Canyon – Trad Climb with a total height gain of 340 meters on the East side of Jebel Umm Ishrin. Note: Warning of loose rock after rain
- Musa’s Slab – A classic Wadi Rum sport climb on a Granite sport wall perfectly fit for warming up for harder climbs
- Jebel Nassrani – Trad Climb with a total height gain of 370 meters for more experienced climbers
Jebel Khazali
Jebel Khazali is one of those mountains in this ancient desert that have been in use long before modern climbing even came into existence. Today it offers a mix of Bedouin routes a modern trad climbing.
Pick your poison between some quality trad climbs and a more traditional approach:
- Jebel Khush Khasah – Choose between a Trad Climb with 10 pitches and a Bedouin route with an exhilarating scramble up the mountain
- Jebel Khazali – Better known for its rock paintings close to the entrance of Khazali Canyon, it also offers some room for some good of scrambling further inside
Jebel Burdah (Burdah Rock Bridge)
The Burdah Rock Bridge is one of the more imposing natural stone arches of the Wadi Rum desert. Most tourists reach it by hiking up Jebel Burdah. However, there is also some quality trad climbs up the East face of the mountain. The surrounding rock lends itself to some shorter climbs, too.
Choose between these three crowd favorites:
- Jebel Umm Froth – Trad Climb up some 30 meters to the natural stone arch of Umm Froth, usually quite busy
- Jebel Burdah – Trad Climb on the East Face of the Burdah Rock Bridge, plan a full day for this one
- Gabr Amrh – The slab wall of Gabr Amrh is another haven for sport climbing in Wadi Rum, fit for multiple climbs on the same trip
About the Rock Climbing Tradition in Wadi Rum
Rock Climbing has been an integral part of life in the Wadi Rum desert for millennia. To Bedouins, rock climbing has not been a source of entertainment for the longest time though. Rock climbing routes first developed along the massive sandstone rock formations for hunting purposes.
Bedouin tribes inhabit Rum in a semi-nomadic lifestyle having learned to make the most of the scarce environment. The prey the Bedouins had in mind listens to the name Ibex. This type of Mountain Goat has since trained local Bedouins to climb like along the long crack systems with ease.
The discovery of commercial rock climbing in Wadi Rum can at least be attributed in part to the BBC documentary “The Face” by Tony Howard, telling his story of climbing in Wadi Rum. In the documentary, the viewers can follow British climbers Tony Howard and Diana Taylor on their quest to scale the Han mountain in Wadi Rum.
Ever since, Howard has dedicated his life’s work to developing modern climbing routes in Jordan, opening rock climbing to tourists, publishing multiple documentaries, guides and books.
How to get to Wadi Rum Village
Coming to Jordan, you will most likely arrive by plane to one of the following airports: Queen Alia International Airport closed to the capital city Amman or Aqaba International Airport close to Aqaba, a resort city on the shores of the Red Sea.
If you are planning to see some other tourist sights of the country first such as the ancient Nabatean city of Petra or the Dead Sea, you can also plan your arrival to Wadi Rum from there.
From all of the above cities, you can get to Wadi Rum Village by rental car, taxi and bus. For some bus routes, allocate extra time for a transfer in Aqaba. On the way to Wadi Rum Village, you will pass by some of the first climbing routes such als the Seven Pillars of Wadi Rum. Also, you will have to make an obligatory stop at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center.
From Wadi Rum Visitor Center, it is only another 10 minutes to get to Wadi Rum Village itself. If you have booked a tour, a local bedouin guide service or a stay at one of the desert camps, communicate with your host for a smooth pick-up. Meet them at the Wadi Rum Rest House.
Where to Stay in Wadi Rum
If you decide to visit Wadi Rum, your trip will not be completed without an overnight stay out in the desert. There is several types of accommodation in the desert and one of them will certainly be down your alley:
- Stay in a Bedouin Camp: Staying in a traditional-style Bedouin camp one of the most authentic experiences you can have in the desert. The camps, prepared to host and feed Western tourists, invite you to a comfortable night in a Bedouin tent made of goat hair.
- Stay in a Luxury Desert Camp: Bedouin camps have long since adapted to the standards of tourists coming to Wadi Rum for a unique experience. To provide more comfort and a romantic night under the Stars, many desert camps now offer Luxury Tents with panoramic terraces or Luxury Bubbles for overnight stays.
- Sleep Under the Stars: Nature lovers will however not be forced to sleep in a desert camp. The vast desert area and its caves provide plenty of opportunities for tourists to sleep right under the stars. Make sure to communicate with your Bedouin guide to find the best overnight spot in the desert.
What Else to Do in Wadi Rum
Apart from rock climbing, Wadi Rum also offer a number of other natural, historical attractions and other cultural sites. Make sure to embark on a desert hike, see the ancient rock paintings and dive deeper into Bedouin culture to get a full picture of the Wadi Rum desert.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site not only offers itself to rock climbing, but also has some other equally interesting routes for hiking for all levels. Day hikes such as the Jebel Umm Ad Dami, Jebel Al Hash and Burdah Rock Bridge, perfectly complement the thrill of climbing in Wadi Rum.
Adding to this, Jeep tours of the red desert will give you deeper insights into the importance of the impressive rock formations you are planning to scale. They hold immense natural and cultural value providing a refuge for desert life. Jeep Tours in the Protected Area are the preferred method of exploring for tourists.
Some of these rock formations hold secret older than the Bedouin settlement of Rum. Rock paintings around places such as Lawrence’s Spring and Al Kazakh Canyon bear memories of an ancient civilisation: the Nabataeans, the same people who built the ancient Nabatean capital Petra an hour’s drive north.
FAQs
Can you climb in Wadi Rum?
Yes, there is several routes for trad climbing and sport climbing in Wadi Rum. Climbing is permitted only in designated areas. Also, it is advised to make use of a local Bedouin guide service. The local Bedouins not only known the mountains best, but also provide all the gear for your climb.
What makes Wadi Rum special?
The Wadi Rum Protected Area is adorned for its unique sandstone rock formations and red sand dunes, lending to comparisons to the red planet Mars. Additionally, it holds immense historical and cultural value. Since its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has only earned more international recognition.
When to climb in Jordan?
Climbing in Jordan is technically possible all year round. However, we advise you to plan you hike for the winter months, between October and March, to make the most of your experience. The summer’s heat often reaches more than 40 degrees Celsius making climbing the hot rock a gruelling task.
Is Wadi Rum safe for tourists?
Wadi Rum is absolutely safe for tourists. Since the Arab revolt in the early 20th century, the area not seen any significant amounts of civil unrest. Additionally, eco adventure tourism plays a vital role for the livelihood of the local Bedouin tribes. Therefore, tourists are most often well-received in the desert.
Why are Wadi Rum camps so cheap?
Wadi Rum camps can come to you dirt-cheap on booking platforms such as Booking-com and TripAdvisor. This is because the local Bedouins are running their all-inclusive bedouin camps on a loss. That’s right! For the Bedouins, the profit is in extensive desert tours, hikes and climbs. Make sure to contribute to the community in this way, too.
Wadi Tribe 