What to Do in Wadi Rum – 22 Things To Do in the Wadi Rum Desert

Your visit to Wadi Rum is not merely another bullet point on your travel itinerary. All the contrary! Upon stepping into the Wadi Rum Desert, you will be presented with a world of opportunities.

What to do in Wadi Rum, Jordan? How about a Camel Ride?

Whether you will enjoy thrilling desert activities or embark on a fascinating venture deep into the desert, you are guaranteed to find something that is just down your alley!

Our Top 3 Activities in Wadi Rum:

1. Go sandboarding in the Red Desert.
2. Explore the Wilderness Area in the White Desert.
3. Watch the Stars at night in your Bedouin Camp.

If you are still wondering what to do in Wadi Rum, these are 22 fun, thrilling, interesting and truly mesmerising things to do in the Wadi Rum desert:

6 Things to Know Before You Arrive to Wadi Rum , Jordan

Before we jump head-first into the action, please pay attention to this PSA. To make your travel planning a breeze, make sure to do these six essential things before you visit Wadi Rum:

What the Wadi Rum weather will be like: Make sure to book your trip to Jordan – and especially Wadi Rum, Jordan during the winter months between October and March to have the best weather conditions. If coming during summer, be prepared for the desert heat, while nights still cool down sufficiently.
What to Bring: Let’s run down some of the essentials of a Wadi Rum stay. First up, sunscreen and a hat. I repeat. Sunscreen and a hat. And enough cash for whatever you want to buy. There is no ATMs in either the desert of Wadi Rum Village.
How to Get There: Any way you like, really. Reaching Wadi Rum is possible via private car, taxi, bus and mini bus. If you are coming to Wadi Rum as part of a longer Jordan trip, you will most likely reach Wadi Rum via the Desert Highway. For more guidance, make sure to check out our guide on How to Get to Wadi Rum from Petra (Wadi Musa).
Which Wadi Rum Tours to Book: While there is at least 20 activities in Wadi Rum, that I can name off the top of my head, there are some clear crowd favourites. For short stays, a Jeep Tour of the red desert is the best way to get to know Wadi Rum in a single day.
What to do at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre: On your way to Wadi Rum Village, you will have to make a stop at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center. Make sure to pay your fee to enter Wadi Rum or present your Jordan Pass to enter for free. Also, if you haven’t get some hard cash at the ATM of the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre.
Where to Meet Your Hosts: The huge majority of desert camps in Wadi Rum ist located deep within the …. desert! You will, however, only venture as far as Wadi Rum Village by yourself. From there, your Bedouin guides will pick you up. So make sure to communicate your arrival time with them.

Stay in A Bedouin Camp

Stay in a Bedouin camp and experience Wadi Rum like a local.

The Wadi Rum Protected Area is not only a place of unique natural sights, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Part of this heritage is the Bedouin culture, that has shaped the desert’s history for the last centuries.

Bedouin life has been present in the deserts of Southern Jordan for millennia. Wadi Rum specifically has provided conditions that favoured semi-nomadic settlement in the region. Hunting prey in the mountains and making the best of the arid lands, Bedouins have made the desert their home.

With that, they developed some of the characteristic features of Bedouin culture that continues to shape the look of the Wadi Rum desert up until today. One of those are the black goat-hair tents that serve to protect the Bedouins from the relentless Wadi Rum weather.

Stay the night in a traditional-style Bedouin tent to experience the simplicity of desert life while still enjoying amenities such as running water and electricity. Adding to that, these desert camps give you the unique chance to interact with Bedouins and learn about their unique culture – that is facing a multitude of challenges today.

If for a romantic getaway or a honeymoon, the luxury tents of Wadi Rum offer an amazing refuge in the middle of the desert. They are far away from society yet close to meaningful encounters with Bedouins and travelers alike.

Go on a Jeep Tour of the Red Desert

Jeep Tours of the red desert of Wadi Rum are the GOAT of Wadi Rum tours. Exploring Wadi Rum from the back of a Toyota Pick-Up is not only the most thrilling, but also the most efficient way of getting to know the desert’s many sights and quirks.

Looking what to do in Wadi Rum, you should at the very least start off with a Jeep Tour. Choosing between Full Day Tours and Half Day Tours, visitors can make their exploring fit their itinerary.

Either way, a Jeep Tour will not only take you deep inside the Wadi Rum desert physically, but also offers deep historical, cultural and natural insights.

Jeep Tours are the one activity you should not miss out on.

Some of my favourites stops along the Jeep Tours of the red desert are: Al Khazali Canyon, Lawrence Spring, Mushroom Rock, Abu Khashaba Canyon, Umm Fruth Rock Bridge as well as Lawrence House – the supposed remnants of Lawrence’s home during his time in Wadi Rum.

Even ignoring all the attractions in Wadi Rum, a Jeep Tour is well worth it for the thrilling experience of breezing through the desert on the back of a pick-up truck.

And fear not! Once you are done basking in the wind on your jeep ride, your guide will make sure to some room to stretch your muscles on a hike or a sand boarding adventure.

Stay in A Luxury Camp

Wadi Rum is not only about dust, sand and heat. Beoduin hospitality has also opened doors to some truly luxurious experiences in the heart of the desert. Today, you can find great opportunities to spend a night or two in one of the various luxury camps of Wadi Rum.

Wadi Rum’s Luxury Tents come in all shapes and sizes. Ranging from big Bedouin tents to Honeymoon Suites in the desert, there is certainly a pick for your taste, too. Some running themes are panoramic windows, comfy beds, private bathrooms and the occasional access to a pool.

The luxury of a Wadi Rum stay does not stop at your doorstep either. Along with your luxurious accommodation, you will also be treated to buffet breakfasts and dinners as well as free water, internet and transportation for the duration of your stay.

Explore Wadi Rum’s White Desert

The red desert of Wadi Rum is without a question THE focal point of the Wadi Rum Protected Area. After all, it’s red! When visiting Wadi Rum for more than two day, however, we recommend you to give the White Desert Tour a try.

The white desert of Wadi Rum is often times also referred to as the Wilderness Area of Wadi Rum. It is far less frequented by tourists and offers a vital refuge to wildlife living in and around the Wadi Rum desert.

Starting around Abu Khashaba Canyon and the Umm Fruth Rock Bridge, it stretches far into the Wilderness Area offering access to some of the least explored sights of the vast desert such as: Jebel Umm Ad Dami, Wadi Sabet, Wadi Nuqra, Cow Rock and Jebel Al Hash.

Diving deep into the white desert, you will encounter far more eroded sandstone mountains and whiter sand all making for a wholly different aesthetic contrasting itself from the red desert. And the best thing is: You will not have to wait in line anywhere.

Stay in a Bubble Tent

Bubble tents are all over social media and an interesting option among the luxury camps of Wadi Rum.

Bubble tents have absolutely EXPLODED all over social media feeds in the last years. Researching the Wadi Rum desert on Instagram and Tik Tok, there is no way that you have missed the Bubble tents of Wadi Rum.

Staying overnight in a bubble tent can be a unique experience in Wadi Rum that also offers plenty of opportunities to get a snapshot for your socials. Catering to tourists who know what they want, these bubble hotels boast high-quality furniture, plenty of amenities and top-notch services.

But wait, I haven’t mentioned the best part of an overnight stay in a bubble tent yet – apart from it looking like literal Mars. Your bubble tent will offer you also 360 degrees views of the night sky in Wadi Rum. And trust me, it is worth it!

Beware though, with all the hype around the dance bubble hotels, you should take offers with a grain of salt, too. Make sure to compare prices and check reviews before decide if and where to stay in a bubble hotel in the Wadi Rum desert.

Enjoy the Thrill of a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Are you looking for something something truly special to do during your visit to Wadi Rum? Then, a hot air balloon ride might just be what you have been looking for.

Flying high several hundred meters over the ground, the hot air balloons of Wadi Rum take the undisputed top spot for the best views of Wadi Rum.

A hot air balloon ride over the Wadi Rum Protected Area is certainly one of the more costly activities the area has to offer, but it is also worth every penny. Check with your hosts to confirm, if and when hot air balloon rides are being offered.

Enjoy a Bedouin Barbecue

Bedouin food is nowadays merged with Levantine-Arab cuisine to a large extent. After all, Beoduins are very happy to call themselves Arabs, too. Their cuisine does retain some real specialities however. One of those is the famous Zarb – a kind of Bedouin barbecue.

The Zarb is a barbecue that is cooked underground for several hours before being served for dinner. It consists of chicken, potatoes and a mix of vegetables and it is served with bread and salads such as Fattoush. When visiting Wadi Rum, do not miss out on trying the Zarb.

Sleep Under the Stars in the Wadi Rum desert

A comfortable night’s sleep in the Wadi Rum desert does not have to happen in the warm embrace of a Luxury Tent. After all, Bedouins have spend lifetimes sleeping right on the desert floor in union with nature.

Sleeping under the stars in the Wadi Rum desert is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you do not want to miss out on. A night out in the desert with little more than some comfy sheet and a sleeping bag is the perfect way to connect with nature in Wadi Rum.

There is plenty of guides that organise overnight stays in the desert now. You can choose between sleeping in the desert outright or seeking refuge in the safety of a mountain cave in the desert.

With both options, you will have a Bedouin by your side, cooking dinner, playing music and providing everything you need for a comfortable night of sleep.

Once your tummy is full of food and your ears are full of music, it is time to kick back and fall into your sleeping bag. And that’s where the real magic happens. Look up and enjoy the clearest night skies you might see all your life – far away from the next living souls and a world away from the next city.

Go Hiking in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is home to mountain up to 1,850 meters tall.

If you are looking what to do in Wadi Rum sportswise, hiking in Wadi Rum is your safest bet. Not only are there multiple impressive sandstone mountains in the desert, but there is also one or the other rock bridge offering itself for an exhilarating hike.

While it might not seem that way, the imposing sandstone mountains of Wadi Rum shoot to a height of more than 1,850 meters (6,000 feet) above sea level with Jebel Umm Ad Dami being the highest of them all.

Hiking those mountains will not only present a satisfying challenge for casual hikers. It also brings along the chance to get some of the best views of the Wadi Rum desert you can imagine. From the top of Jebel Umm Ad Dami and Jebel Al Hash, you can even look far into the Saudi Arabian desert.

Embark on a 7-Day-Hike along the Wadi Rum Trail

There’s always that one person that NEVER gets enough of hiking. You have just finished a two-day weekend hike and they are already planning the next venture. Sounds familiar? Then take your chance to banish that person into the desert (if it’s you, I’m hereby banishing you).

Deep in the Wadi Rum desert you will find one of Wadi Rum’s newest attractions, the Wadi Rum trail. The Wadi Rum trail is a 7-day-hike crossing through the Wadi Rum Protected Area in its entirety. It offers the most comprehensive hiking experience in Wadi Rum.

The Wadi Rum Trail is the product of a recent effort in the region to boost ecological tourism by creating several long-distance hiking trails such as the Sinai Trail and the Red Sea Mountain Trail.

While the Wadi Rum Trail is still more of a concept than a marked trail, you can already book Bedouin guides to do the journey with you.

Embarking on the Wadi Rum Trail with a Bedouin guide, you will be one of the first lucky ones to complete this trail through the desert. Also, you will find ways to get acquainted with Bedouin culture and the Wadi Rum desert far away from the hustle and bustle of the daily influx of tourists.

Scramble to the Top of Burdah Rock Bridge

Natural stone arches are typical features of the desert landscape.

When hiking becomes too monotonous, the mighty Burdah Rock Bridge offers an interesting combination of hiking and rock climbing around Jebel Al Burdah that is best descried as some proper scrambling.

Burdah Rock Bridge is one of Wadi Rum’s many natural stone arches sitting high above the red sand of Wadi Rum on Jebel Al Burdah. The scramble to the top take around two to three hours and poses a fun challenge to more experienced hikers.

Booking a hiking tour with a local Bedouin provider, you will not only receiver guidance during the hike, but you will also treated to a filling lunch cooked right in the middle of the desert as well as a Bedouin tea at sunset after completing your hike.

Go Rock Climbing at Jebel Rum

Besides hiking, there is an active rock climbing scene in Wadi Rum, too. Throughout the vast desert and its sandstone mountains, there is plenty of opportunities for rock climbing of all levels, the best of which you can find at Jebel Rum.

Rock climbing is a long-lasting tradition in the Wadi Rum desert. Bedouins have long since learned to climb the mountains of Wadi Rum to hunt prey such as the Ibex.

They are experts at scaling and navigating through the desert’s mountains. Some of them have since trained to become certified mountaineering guides.

Jebel Rum has long been regarded as the highest peak of Wadi Rum, before geographical mapping revealed that the highest peak was (and still is) Jebel Umm Ad Dami. However, Jebel Rum has remained a focal point of the desert for its central location, unique aesthetic and amazing climbing routes.

Around Jebel Rum, you can find Bedouin, trad and sport climbing routes for beginners and experts alike, making it easy to find the perfect climb for anyone. To get all the necessary gear, make sure to book a rock climbing tour with a certified guide.

Ride a Camel

Enjoy camel riding to get to know the desert most important animal.

While Jeep tours have long since become the primary mode of exploring Wadi Rum, they are (obviously) not the traditional means of moving through the Wadi Rum desert. This spot belongs to the camels that have served the Bedouins as life stock for centuries now.

Camel Rides are a laid-back and family-friendly affair that offer a more slow-paced insight into the Wadi Rum desert. Starting from either Wadi Rum Village or your Wadi Rum camp, the camel ride takes for a joyride through the desert without having to break a sweat.

Don’t be fooled though. Going with the rhythm of the camel can be quite physically demanding. Moreover, make sure to inquire with your Bedouin hosts about the rates and schedules for camel rides. Usually they are held in the morning to beat the midday’s heat.

Go Sandboarding on the Sand Dunes of the Red Desert

Sandboarding is something for the thrill-seekers in Wadi Rum.

Creativity knows no end in Wadi Rum and has provided for yet another activity for thrill seekers in Wadi Rum. After hiking, scrambling and rock climbing your way through the Wadi Rum desert, you will also be given the chance to sandboard down one of the red sand dunes of Wadi Rum.

Sandboarding might seem like a daunting task, but it is actually a bunch of fun – once you have made it to the top of the dune!

If you are passing by Abu Khashaba Canyon on your Red Desert Jeep Tour, make sure to let your driver know that you would like to sandboard and just like that you’re in for the fun at the sand dunes of Abu Khashaba.

Visit the Seven Pillars of Wisdom

T. E. Lawrence of Arabia is one of the most famous – if not the most famous – personalities to arise from the Wadi Rum desert. The British army officer came to be know for his role in the Arab revolt during World War I. Today traces of the Brit remain in the Wadi Rum desert.

While I have spilled the tea about Lawrence Spring and the beloved Lawrence House already, the Seven Pillars of Wisdom are another reminder of Lawrence’s presence in the desert. The sandstone rock formation with seven pillar-like elements is named after Lawrence’s book “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”.

Relive the Arab Revolt

Talking about Lawrence, Wadi Rum and the Arab revolt, Wadi Rum has got just the thing for you, if you consider yourself a bit of a history geek.

From the historic Wadi Rum train station, you currently have the chance to watch a live reenactment of the Arab revolt play out right on front of your eyes – all while being aboard the Hejaz Railway.

The scene to be re-enacted is an ambush on the Hejaz Railway by Lawrence and the Bedouins. This ambush aimed at cutting off Ottoman supply lines during the Arab revolt within the Ottoman Empire.

And do you know what’s even better? You will get to witness this spectacle completely for free, if you hold a Jordan pass.

Go Perfume Shopping at the Souvenir Stands

Used in cosmetics, this desert plant can be bought at souvenir stands.

The Bedouin tourist infrastructure inside the Wadi Rum desert is very simple to understand. Jeeps are connecting the numerous sight that are spread all throughout the red and the white desert.

Every now and then, a sight is equipped with tea tent where complementary tea is served. And with the tea comes the chance to get some classic Wadi Rum souvenirs.

While many of the souvenirs you can get at these stands resemble souvenirs you can get anywhere in the world, it is the natural products that might peak your interest. We found at lot of joy in the solid perfumes and soaps made from camel milk and desert plants.

Drink Camel Milk (and Pay a Visit to Local Restrooms)

At Lawrence Spring, the camels of Wadi Rum get to refill their water resources.

Camel milk is one of the few products that are locally sourced in the Wadi Rum desert. The camel herds held in moderate freedom between Wadi Rum Village and the Wadi Rum desert itself, deliver litres of the milk to their shepherds, offering a valuable product.

From its use in cosmetics to its outstanding nutritional value, it is a resource the Bedouins can count on. Visitors however, might have a hard time coping with the sheer nutritional value of raw camel milk – and do parts of that coping on the toilet seat. If given the chance, do make sure to give it a try though.

Step into the Footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia

While the Seven Pillars of Wisdom in Wadi Rum are just a mere homage to the great Lawrence of Arabia and the authenticity of remnants of his house remain debated, Lawrence Spring at the onset of the Wadi Rum desert coming from Wadi Rum Village offers a more tangible footsteps of T. E.’s doing in the desert.

First discovered by the Nabataeans (the guys who made Petra), the spring that now bears Lawrence’s name, was soon forgotten and remained so during centuries of Bedouin settlement in the area.

However, Lawrence is said to have been intelligent enough to decipher Nabataeans stone inscriptions pointing to the spring leading him and the Bedouins to a now vital source of water for the camels of the desert.

Explore Ancient Inscriptions and Learn about the History of Wadi Rum

Nabataeans left the earliest traces of civilisations in Wadi Rum.

The Nabataeans high culture that used to exist some millennia ago in Wadi Rum, remains shrouded in mystery to this day.

Their impressive remnants stretch from the once-great stone city of Petra all the way into modern-day Saudi-Arabia, leaving an impressive record of what it means to master life in the desert.

Between Petra and Saudi Arabia, Nabataeans – semi-nomadic people in their own right – also settled Wadi Rum long before the Bedouins came to make a life in this part of Jordan. What’s left of them now are numerous stone inscriptions, so-called petroglyphs, all throughout the desert – a must for history lovers.

Watch the Stars of the Wadi Rum Night Sky

The night sky of Wadi Rum is a sight to behold of.

After giving you a whole truckload of recommendations on what to do in Wadi Rum, I want to recommend you to NOT do one thing: to sleep.

Well, at least not right after dinner. Bedouin dinners are lavish and filling, inviting you to travel straight to the land of dreams. But if you have any energy left within your body, I suggest otherwise.

Grab a blanket and a torch and venture some meters from the lights of the camp. Put down the blanket on the sandy desert floor and lay on it with your back.

What will open up before your eyes will be some of the most pristine night sky filled with stars and even the Milky Way that you will see in a long time. Enjoy!

Hunt the Filming Locations of Star Wars & Co.

Wadi Rum is a true gem for filmmakers that are looking to capture outerworldy footage. Owing to its red sand and unique rock formations, the desert has long been known as Mars on Earth. In recent years, filmmakers have started to take advantage of this.

Since then, Wadi Rum has played a role in a number of top-tier movie productions such as two editions of the Star Wars franchise, The Martian and Dune. Set yourself a challenge and try to locate some of the filming locations of your favourite Wadi Rum movie to take an iconic Wadi Rum snapshot.

The Best Tours to Book in Wadi Rum

The “jeeps” of Wadi Rum are the perfect way to get to know the desert.

If you are coming to Wadi Rum for a short while, a Jeep tour is your best bet for a comprehensive impression of the desert. If you are looking to choose one of the Jeep Tours in Wadi Rum, these are our recommendations.

Full Day Tour

The Full Day Tour is an eight-hour jeep tour that encompasses all notable sights of the red desert and even some of the sights of the white desert.

It is the perfect introduction to Wadi Rum and an immersive, worry-free experience with your Bedouin guides taking care of driving, explaining and cooking.

Full Day Tour and Hike

If you are coming to Wadi Rum for a two night stay an a Bedouin camp, the Jeep Tour and Hike combo is your best bet.

After getting a fast-paced comprehensive introduction to the desert on the first day, you will get the chance to hit the brakes on the second day and get active yourself, all while taking in the incredible views of Wadi Rum.

The Best Places to Stay in Wadi Rum

Experience Bedouin hospitality in on of the many desert camps.

When you visit Wadi Rum, you will generally have the choice between a more traditional stay in the desert and a more luxurious one. While some aspects like the traditional Bedouin dinner are always the same, the difference are in the type of accommodation and the amenities provided:

Traditional Bedouin Tent

Looking for a cheap Wadi Rum camp, you will find loads of dirt-cheap traditional Bedouin tents online. These simple Bedouin tents aim to recreate the atmosphere of real Bedouin camps by sticking to the basics, yet providing everything a tourists need to get a comfortable night’s sleep.

Luxury Tent

Spread out between the desert camps, you will also find some luxury camps that provide more of a high-end experience in Wadi Rum.

While this type of desert camp might seem appealing at first sight, I do have to critique that staying in a bubble might remove you too far from the cultural insight you could gain from staying in a real Bedouin camp. Luxury tents built in the traditional Bedouin style offer a nice compromise for your night in Wadi Rum.

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FAQs

Is it worth going to Wadi Rum?

If you are currently planning your visit to Jordan, you should definitely consider visiting Wadi Rum. Wadi Rum ranks as one of the countries best tourist sights along with the Dead Sea and Petra (Wadi Musa).

Moreover, the Desert Highway grants easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage Site that in has dozens of fun activities to offer.

How long should I spend in Wadi Rum?

The average time spent in Wadi Rum is two nights with most guests arriving from Petra (Wadi Musa) at midday on their first day and lodging in a desert camp for the subsequent two nights.

While staying overnight in Wadi Rum for just one night, might be too short only allowing for superficial exploring of Wadi Rum, two nights strike the perfect balance of diving into the different facets of the desert, while not completely exhausting yourself in the unforgiving Wadi Rum weather.

What is so special about Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum is special for a number of reasons. For one, it holds immense cultural and historical significance with the Nabataeans and Bedouins being settled there at different points in time.

Also, its natural importance can hardly be overlooked, offering some of the most unique landscapes of the world.

What is the most beautiful part of Wadi Rum?

Millions of people visit Wadi Rum every year. Most of them come to see the red desert with its sand dunes and its rock formations with their own eyes. It mars-like environment is most often considered the most beautiful part of Wadi Rum.

If you are looking to get closer to nature during your Wadi Rum visit, you should not ignore the White Desert, however, as it is considered the Wilderness Area of Wadi Rum.

How many days do you need in Wadi Rum?

Depending on your interests and your travel schedule, you should at least plan to stay in Wadi Rum for a night or two. If you can, staying for three nights or more can be a rewarding experience too, especially in winter.

That is because Wadi Rum has loads to offer beyond Jeep tours and Camel Rides. Once you have gotten the essentials out of the way, you will be able to explore Wadi Rum on a deeper level during your last day – whatever that might look like for you.