Your Jordan itinerary is not complete without a visit to the Dead Sea. The lowest lake on the surface of this planet is a place you have not seen before in your life. Take a dip in the salt-rich water and float as you enjoy the scorching sun of the Middle East.
Talking about things you have not seen before in your life, you might want to start thinking about where you want to head next on your Jordan trip.
Wadi Rum in the deep South of Jordan is just a few hours away from the Dead Sea and has earned itself the nickname Mars on Earth. Come from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum and find out why.
| How to Get From the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum (and Vice Versa) |
| By taxi: For a fee of 100 JD you can travel directly between the two. With a four hour travel time it is the quickest. Book with Wadi Tribe for taxi transfers starting from 80 JDs. |
| By rental car: Explore the Dead Sea Highway in your own rental car. Head to Wadi Rum via Aqaba with maximum flexibility. |
| By tourist bus: The bus trip includes stops in Amman, Petra and Aqaba. It will cost you around 50 JD. |
| By mini bus: The journey by mini buses includes three stops. With a cost of ca. 25 JD it is your cheapest option. |
In this article, we tell you how to get from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum highlighting the fastest, most comfortable and cheapest ways.
Traveling along the Dead Sea Highway – 5 Things to Know
To get from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum Village, you will first follow the length of the Dead Sea Highway.
Here is what you should know about road trips in Jordan:
- Independent Wins: Jordan is an amazing country to go for an independent road trip. Rental cars are rented out at airports for competitive rates and the driving in Jordan is mostly manageable, especially once you get out of Amman. Travelling along the Dead Sea Highway is a great road trip experience. Plus, public transport along the Dead Sea is rather sparse.
- Driving in Jordan: To drive by yourself in Jordan, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) costing $25. Apart from that, driving in Jordan is relatively hassle-free. Important road sings are displayed in Arabic and English and traffic stops usually occur at fixed checkpoints and are relatively straightforward.
- GPS problems in Jordan: Since October 2023, Israel has been waging an extensive war on Gaza as well as military operations in the Palestinian West Bank and Southern Lebanon. Part of the war efforts seems to be GPS jamming and spoofing, a measure that will render your Google Maps directions useless in the worst case. Therefore, make sure you know where to go.
- Sights along the way: Taking a dip into the Dead Sea is by far not the only activity along the Dead Sea Highway. Some other notable sights along your journey from North to South are the Ma’in Hot Springs, Wadi Mujib and the Museum at the Lowest Point of the Earth. Make the most of your time at the Dead Sea and visit one of these places, too.
- From the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum Village: Eventually, you will leave the Dead Sea Highway and edge closer towards Wadi Rum Village. On the way, you will have the chance to make yet another stop at the rose city of Petra though. Petra is an ancient city carved out of red sandstone that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An alternative stop along your journey can be Aqaba on the shores of the Red Sea.
Getting from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum Village – Transport Options
But most importantly, how do you get to Wadi Rum Village from the Dead Sea? Yes, road trips are amazing, but not everyone has a license and there most be more comfortable and cheaper ways, right?
Yes, absolutely! Let me guide you through them:
By Taxi – The Most Direct Route
The most hassle-free and comfortable way to get to Wadi Rum from the Dead Sea is to simply take a taxi. Depending on your pick-up point along the Dead Sea, your ride to Wadi Rum will take a little more or less than 4 hours by taxi, covering a grand total of 300 kilometres.
Tourists with limited time should definitely aim for this option as it might be more expensive, but saves a lot of time. But how expensive is it actually?
According to the experiences of other travellers, you should expect to pay around 100 JD for a one way trip between the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum, a hefty but fair price tag. Make sure to reach out to taxi companies beforehand to secure better deals.
For the best rates, book your taxi transfer from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum with Wadi Tribe. At Wadi Tribe, you enjoy preferential rates on transfers starting from just 80 JDs.
By Rental Car – The Most Flexible Option
Getting a rental car in Jordan is a great choice. Upon arriving to Jordan via Amman Airport, you can get your rental car right at the terminal for a very affordable rate and do all your trips with it, as you will most probably return to Amman at the end of your trip.
Getting from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum Village by car takes approximately four hours depending on where you start your trips and how many stops you make along the way.
The route you will follow to get to Wadi Rum, will take you along the Dead Sea Highway (officially referred to as the Jordan Valley Highway) until you reach the coastal city of Aqaba. From there, you will follow the Aqaba Highway and the Desert Highway before turning onto Wadi Rum Road.
By Tourist Bus – The Comfort Choice
Of course, bus travel also exists in Jordan. Tourist buses are best equipped to navigate between the tourism hotspots in the North and the South and boast comfy seats with air-conditioning. However, there are no direct links between the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum Village.
Therefore, you will first need to head back to Amman via JETT Bus for 10 JD, before making your way South from there. While there used to be direct buses from Amman to Wadi Rum Village operated by JETT Bus, tickets are currently not being sold on their website.
Your most direct route to Wadi Rum by bus therefore includes stops at Petra (10 JDs) and Aqaba (15 JDs) and one last bus to Wadi Rum from Aqaba (15 JDs).
This trip would amount to 50 JD per person with overnight stops. For updated information on the schedule, we recommend reaching out to JETT Bus directly.
By Mini Bus – The Cheapest Way
Jordanian locals do not use big, air-conditioned tourist buses to get around the country, but rather opt for small mini buses.
Travelling by mini bus is the most affordable way to get around Jordan, but needs some planning, as buses usually don’t start and stop exactly where you want them to. Make sure to do your research!
There are minibuses operating between the Dead Sea and Amman, Amman and Petra, Petra and Aqaba as well as Aqaba and Wadi Rum. Without a doubt, you will have to make overnight stops along the way, so make sure to build your journey along this route.
The price per person is significantly lower than for the JETT bus however. In total, this option should cost you no more than 25 JD per person, making it the cheapest option to get from the Dead Sea to Wadi Rum Village.
Arriving to the Wadi Rum Village – Things to Do in Advance
Upon arriving to Wadi Rum Village, you should be aware of a few things:
- Wadi Rum Entrance Fee: Wadi Rum Village and the Wadi Rum desert area located in a specially designated Protected Area. This means each person has to pay an entrance fee of 5 JD at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center upon entering.
- The Jordan Pass: Purchase a Jordan pass in advance to waive your entrance fee to Wadi Rum and get a free historic train ride experience with it. Additionally, buying the Jordan pass will waive your visa fee upon arrival (check, if it applies for your nationality).
- Come with Cash: Try to take enough cash before starting your drive to Wadi Rum, as there is no ATMs in the desert, but you will be asked to pay cash for services. The last ATM is located at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center.
- Wadi Rum Rest House: When arriving to Wadi Rum Village, look for the Wadi Rum Rest House which hosts a big free parking lot for cars arriving to Wadi Rum. This is also, where your Bedouin camp hosts will be waiting for you.
- No cars in the desert: No cars are allowed to enter the Wadi Rum desert without paying an extra fee of 25 JD. Note, however, that paying the fee only really makes sense, if you are coming with a 4×4 vehicle, as the rugged terrain in the desert does not allow for smooth or damage-free driving. Therefore, book your tours and hotels in Wadi Rum and enjoy a free Bedouin transfer.
Getting from Wadi Rum Village to the Dead Sea
As your adventure in Wadi Rum comes to an end, your Bedouin hosts will transfer your back to Wadi Rum Village, where you again have the option to go by taxi, rental car, bus or mini bus.
As for taxis, tell your hosts to call one the day before. As for rental cars, your car will be waiting for you at the Wadi Rum Rest House.
And, ultimately, as for buses, there is one daily bus each between the touristy JETT buses and the local mini buses. In any case, you first destination after Wadi Rum Village will be Aqaba.
FAQs
How far is Wadi Rum from the Dead Sea?
The Dead Sea and Wadi Rum Village are roughly 300 km apart by road. If you make the trip by car, it will take you roughly four hours depending on your exact start and end point. There is no direct bus route between the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum.
How to get from Dead Sea to Wadi Rum?
You can get to Wadi Rum Village from the Dead Sea via taxi, rental car, tourist bus and mini bus. The taxi and the rental car are the most direct and flexible options. Buses allow you to save money, but force you to make stops in Amman, Petra and Aqaba.
How long does it take from Dead Sea to Petra?
Depending on your mode of transport, the transfer from the Dead Sea to Petra can take three hours to two days. By taxi and car, you are looking at a transfer time of three hours. If you are opting for buses, you will need to make a change in Amman, possibly resulting in an overnight stay in the Jordanian capital.
Which is better Aqaba or Dead Sea?
The Dead Sea and Aqaba are two tourist hotspots in Jordan, both located near a body of water. But while the Dead Sea is a lake that is unusually high in salt and quite literally dead, Aqaba lays on the coast of the Red Sea, a prime location for snorkelling and diving. The two can hardly be compared.
How long does it take to drive from Wadi Rum to Dead Sea?
If you are looking to drive from Wadi Rum Village to the Dead Sea by yourself, you should plan four hours of driving. The route will take you to Aqaba first and then up North along the Jordan Valley Highway. Plan some extra time for the occasional traffic stop.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travel advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
