21 Things To Know Before You Visit Wadi Rum | How To Visit Jordan's Red Desert

Planning to visit Wadi Rum? This is what you really need to know.

Updated October 2023

From the moment our Bedouin guide’s battered white Toyota pick-up truck left the tarmac behind and trundled deep into the vast rust-red desertwe knew an unforgettable experience lay ahead.

Across two weeks in JordanWadi Rum was the place that left us most awestruck.

One of the world’s most spectacular desert landscapesstretching forever ahead and dotted with sandstone mountainsmonolithscanyons and secrets carried by the windthe ‘Valley of the Moon’ is somewhere that no traveller in Jordan should miss.

Howeverwhat’s the best way for your travel ?

Before we visited on our two-week road trip in Jordanworking out how best to experience Wadi Rum was the most challenging part of our itinerary planning and research. There was a lot of information out therebut it felt like a few essential pieces of the jigsaw puzzle were missing. There were also a bewilderingly high number of desert camps and tours to go throughand a limit on how much time we could feasibly spend looking through them all.

As we had a good amount of time in Jordanwe decided to spend two nights in the desert so we could enjoy it slowlymake our own impressions and mistakesand then pass on the necessary practical tipscontext and insight for your own planning.

With this postwe want to help you have the best possible adventure in Wadi Rum - whether it’s an independent day tripovernight stayor tour from elsewhere in Jordan

From the basics on logistics and weather to how to pick the best desert camp for your travel what a jeep tour really involveshow long you actually need in the desertwhat to bring (and leave behind)whether to visit Petra firsttour recommendationsand tips to travel betterthese are 23 essential things to know before you visit Wadi RumJordan.

In terms of inspirationwe hope the photos and the landscape speak for themselves.

What On Earth Is Wadi Rum?

The ‘Wadi Rum Protected Area’ is a designated nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage site.

A cavernous ocean of ochre sandit forms the largest ‘wadi’ - dry valley - in Jordanand is about the same size as New York city. Except the smattering of camps and tents to sip hotsweet tea in the shadethere are few to no buildings or permanent settlements.

There are no roadsand the only waymarkers are the changing hues of the dunes and the contours of mammoth sandstone sculptures; works of art shaped and carved by windsandsaltand the earth’s subtle shifts.

It is a remarkableuntouchedawe-inspiring place to behold.

ITt’S The Tribal Home of Bedouins

As barren and inhospitable as the desert may seemthousands of preserved rock carvings and inscriptions in gorges and canyons here point to ‘12,000 years of human occupation’.

Today thoughWadi Rum is only home to several Bedouin tribes.

Meaning ‘desert dweller’ in Arabic (badawī)these nomadic people have historically roamed the desert regions of the Middle East and North Africa. Their peripatetic way of life was significantly impinged with the creation of new borders and countries in the 20th centuryas well as encroaching modernisation and industrialisationbut traditions and identity have remained strong.

The majority of Wadi Rum’s Bedouinparticularly the younger generationshave chosen to stay permanently in the small concrete village at the entrance to the desertalthough there remain some roaming and living in the traditional manner. With historic rights to parts of the landthey own and operate the majority of the desert campsand work as driversguidescookscamp managersas well as various other trades associated with the tourism economy which underpins the majority of incomes here.

Bedouin hospitality and the local community therefore play a significant role for the traveller visiting Wadi Rum todayand your time here offers an excellent opportunity for cross-cultural connection around the evening firewhen sharing food at campor as you spend time with your driver-guide.

Life on Mars

Wadi Rum may already feel oddly familiar to some of you thoughas the desert has been a much-used filming location for Hollywood classics and blockbusters.

The 1962 classic ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ started it allinspired by its real-life protagonist’s connections with Jordan*and more recent movies filmed here include The MummyStar Wars: Rogue On AND Star Wars: Rise of SkywalkerTheebPromotheusthe live-action Aladdinand Dune.

If you couldn’t tell alreadypeople like to film here when they need a stand-in for strangeunwelcoming planets.

Due to these otherworldly landscapes and its famous reddish-orange huesWadi Rum is also the filmmakers’ favourite choice of a closer-to-home alternative to Mars; indeedif there’s a movie with ‘Mars’ in the titlechances are some of it was shot here!

Titles include The Last Days on Mars (2013), Red Planet (2000), Mission to Mars (2000)and the desert was also the main filming location Matt Damon’s ‘The Martian’ (take a look at the trailer here).

If you’ve got room in the suitcasemight as well pack a space suit for some photo opps…

* The remarkable life and works of T.E. Lawrence (the British army officer better known as Lawrence of Arabia) are worth taking stock ofand he is often credited with making Wadi Rum an attraction amongst western tourists. Indeedseveral landmarks in the desert are named after him and he is thought to have spent time here during his expedition to support the Great Arab Revolt; howeverthe extent of how much time and where he actually spent hiding out in Wadi Rum is quite open to debate.

Where Is Wadi Rum & How To Get There

It’s in the southeast corner of Jordanclose to the border with Saudi Arabiaand the only way for tourists to arrive at the entrance to the Wadi Rum desert is via road.

Find it here on Google Maps.

Typical drive times from other popular destinations in Jordan are:

Aqaba // 1 hour56 km

Petra (Wadi Musa) //  2 hours107 km

Madaba // 4 hours296 km

Amman // 4 hours313 km

Dead Sea // 4.5 hours330 km

When planning your Jordan itinerarythe southern city of Aqaba and Petra (Wadi Musa) are the two most sensible destinations to visit before or after Wadi Rumor convenient bases for an easy Wadi Rum day trip (especially if you don't have a rental car).

We've shared advice on transporttaxisand tours from both in these short explainer posts:

· How To Get From Petra to Wadi Rum

· How To Get From Aqaba to Wadi Rum

If you do have a rental car thoughyour options open up slightly. Given the north-south layout of Jordan's most visited placesa very popular option is to drive straight down the Desert or King's Highway from the capital city of Amman, the city of Madabaor the Dead Sea resorts to one of Wadi Rum or Petra; as Petra is a couple of hours closer to all of them thoughthat is going to make the most sense as your first stop. Howeverif you'd prefer to flip them around and do Petra on your way back norththere wouldn't really be a downside.

Before deciding or renting anything thoughwe highly recommend reading our Essential Guide To Driving in Jordan.

The Village & Visitor Centre Logistics

Though most of your time in Wadi Rum will be spent within the wide open empty desertit's really important to understand two key locations you'll encounter on arrival and before the roads disappear into a sea of sand. 

Wadi Rum Visitor Centre | From the signposted turn-off at the Wadi Rum intersection on the Desert Highway (here on Google Maps)it's a stunning 22kms along a narrow road to the modern Wadi Rum Visitor Centre Complex. If you're on a tourmake sure to pay attention out the windowsand don't rush this section if you're driving.

All visitors must stop at this Centre in order to register with the officialsshow their Jordan Pass and/or purchase tickets. You also need to know details of your cartourand accommodation (if you're with a tour guidethey may take care of this on your behalf). 

Those of you with a rental car may wish to park up for a few minutes at the adjacent car park in order to do this (Andrew just pulled to the side of the police checkpoint and walked to the office though).

Note that if you've arrived without pre-arranging any jeep tours or accommodationthis is also the best place to set something up spontaneously.

Find the Centre here on Google Maps. Opening hours are 7am - 10pm.

Wadi Rum Village | It's a further 7 kms from the visitor centre to the breezeblock Wadi Rum village (maps). The gateway to the desertthis is now the permanent base for most of the Bedouin community involved in Wadi Rum's tourism tradeand it has a few cafes and shops for basics (pricer than elsewhere) alongside dozens of battered Toyotasresting camelsthe odd resting camel being driven in the back of a battered Toyotaand (exclusively it seems) men and young boys hanging out. 

This isn’t somewhere you'll spend much timebut for those with a rental carit’s where you’ll park up and meet with your camp / guide.

It's also the departure point for taxis and the daily bus to Petra.

After the villagethe tarmac ends and it's just sanddesertand wilderness: it's this area that is the true 'Wadi Rum Desert' that you'll experience with your jeep tour and sleep in at camp.

Top Tip // Tours arranged without an overnight stay in a camp (or all-inlcusive overnight stays with companies like Get Your Guide or Viator) vary in their pick-up location depending upon which tour you book - be sure to confirm where you’ll meet the tour guide prior to arriving.

You Need To Leave Your Car Behind

Unless otherwise advised by your camp or tourif you're arriving with a rental car or private taxiyou will park and meet with your guide or accommodation’s driver in the Wadi Rum Rest Stop (maps).

The Rest Stop is in the villageand it’s really just a car park and meeting point. Parking is free and it's safe to leave your vehicle and main luggage here for as long as you are in the desertbut we recommend taking valuables with you and storing anything worthwhile out of sight. And just double-check the car’s locked and windows closed before you head out to the dunes!

From hereyour camp or tour is responsible for transporting you in and out of the desert proper.

It's not permitted for a visitor to drive in and around Wadi Rum with their own vehicle unless you've got a suitable 4x4 and permission. A 4x4 permit is available at the Visitor Centre at 25 JD for owned vehicles35 JD for rentalsbut we would strongly advise against doing this if you have a rental 4x4; it's likely against the Ts&Csthere are no roadsand getting lost and stuck in the sand is inevitable.

If staying in one of the super-luxuriousbe aware that some offer privatesecure parking elsewhere in the villageand you will be advised of this after making your booking.

Top tip // We rarely go direct when hiring carsinstead preferring to use two popular rental aggregators to compare costs and find the best deal. The two companies we use are AutoEurope and RentalCars - both of which we have had excellent experiences with and saved substantial amounts over going direct (never entirely certain whybut it’s a common outcome when we do a comparison).

Find out more and reduce your costs + stress with 17 Things To Know Before Driving in Jordan.

Best Time Of Year To Visit Wadi Rum & Desert Seasons

Wadi Rum is a year-round destinationbut seasons impact a desert more than you may necessarily assume andgiven Jordan's increasing popularity as a travel destinationthere are defined times of year when the crowds from day tripstoursand overnights will be notably larger.

The most crowded months will be September to November and February to Maycoinciding with high season in Jordan. The warm to hot weather at these times is idealbut in our experience there can be a few too many people at popular stops on the standard jeep tour itineraries (more on this later).

In July and Augustthe days get longer and crowds thin outbut it's stiflingly hot in the desert and across southern Jordan (up to 40°c). Unless you’re used to super hot temperatureswe’d recommend avoiding these months.

December to February sees lower demand but chillier nights and more inhospitable weather conditions (even snow!). Because of this fewer camps may be in operationbut prices may be reduced. If visiting in this seasonyou really need to pay attention to what you pack for Wadi Rum - see final section of this guide.

Whenever you visitnote that the difference between midday and midnight temperatures can be quite starkso it’s always best to bring a layer no matter the season. Overcast weather is also a possibilityso spectacular sunsets cannot always be guaranteed.

As we explain further in 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Jordanwe think it’s best not to visit Wadi Rum when Ramadan falls.

Finallyand we speak from personal experience herethere’s an annual marathon in Wadi Rum and sometimes an ultra (crazyright?). Usually held in Maywe fortunately found out about this a few days before we arrivedso were able to change our dates last minute (aside from camps being full with runnerswe didn’t think large groups of runners would add much to our photos!)

You Need Tickets for Wadi Rum

Most of you will actually have free entry with your Jordan Pass. The government tourism ticket bundles in over 40 attractions in Jordanincluding Petra and Wadi Rumand waives visa fees toomeaning it's guaranteed to save money for the majority of travellers.

You do however have to purchase it before you arrive in Jordan.

Find out more about the passits money-saving benefitsand whether you should buy it in our short explainer review of the Jordan Pass.

If you don't have the Passthankfully the standard tickets are very cheap at 5JD for adultsand you simply purchase them in person at the small official office in the visitor centre (best to bring cash). Tickets can and should only be purchased from this officeso don't pay anyone else at the visitor centre who offers or asks.

Under-12s receive free entryand we should also note here that Wadi Rum is very much a suitable and enjoyable activity for families!

Even if you have the Jordan Passnote that you still need to register and show it at the visitor centre before travelling onward to the village.

Do not try to enter Wadi Rum on your ownwithout a guide or without a tour.

Things To Do in Wadi Rum 

Okso what exactly is there to do in Wadi Rum?

The epicotherworldly landscapes are the main drawand experiences and activities revolve around immersing you within them.

The two most popular things to do in Wadi Rum are jeep tours and desert camp staysand anyone staying overnight should do both.

Jeep Tours

Usually with a Bedouin driver and a converted Toyota 4x4 pick-up trucktours vary in length (from two hours to a seven to nine hour ‘full day’) and shuttle you around several landmarksviewpointsrock bridges and formationshospitality tentsand canyons; the experience of driving around and what you see from the jeep is as much a part of it as the places and a photo spots you’ll stop at.

Jeep tours can be private or sharedand we’ve shared more details on them later in this post.

Desert Camps

Mostly owned and operated by local Bedouins and situated in the middle of nowhere in the desertstaying in a Wadi Rum desert camp will add a whole new dimension to your experience. Aside from the settingthe chance to hear stories passed down through the generationsshare food around the fireand listen to traditional music performed under the starlight marks it out as perhaps the most memorable night you’ll have in Jordan since Dane Bowers.

Desert camps range from basic goat-skin structures to luxury glamping podswith these transparent bubble domes becoming very Insta-famous the last few years.

We actually spent our first night wild camping in a caveand we talk more about that in this post: How To Choose You Wadi Rum Camp (published soon).

You can also do ATV ridesstargazingcamel and horseback treksrock climbinghiking and cycling: the last four require a specialist focusguideand more attention paid to weather conditionsso we won’t be going into much detail in this post. For climbers thoughthis article is a good place to start your research.

Although you can book and plan all of the above activities independentlyyou can only do these experiences in Wadi Rum with an official guide or tour.

How Long Do You Need in Wadi Rum?

This will really come down to how long you have for your Jordan adventure.

As we were travelling in the country for two weekswe decided to spend two nights in the desert to experience as much as possibleand hopefully pass on decent advice to travellers like you.

Our viewbased on that personal experienceis that a half-day jeep tour (4-5 hours) to experience the desert and visit the landmark rock formations and viewpointsfollowed by a night in a camp and departure the following morningis going to give you everything you’re hoping for and all the ‘highlights’.

You'll be able to witness a glorious sunset and sunrise (unmissable in our books) and go at an unhurried pace throughout. With firesmusicand social circlesspending the night in a camp is one of the moments people treasure mostand it's also a nice opportunity as a traveller to connect with others.

Sowhy don't we recommend longer?

Perhaps a little idealisticallywe had thought that staying longer would enable us to have a more off-the-beaten-track experiencebut it transpired that our full-day jeep tour (9-10 hours) was simply stretched out with more tea breaksa very long lunch and napand a couple of extra stops at rocks and canyons. The heat was also intense in Mayand our enthusiasm waned a little as fatigue kicked in on that second afternoon’s explorations (which nobody ever wants to feelbut we’re just being honest).

For the extra money and timewe didn’t feel the full-day jeep tour met our expectations. The extra night in camp wasn’t a waste of time at allbut it also wasn’t 100% necessary.

The final reason we don't recommend two nights in Wadi Rum to everyone is that it's going to take up too large a portion of most week-long Jordan itineraries.

What About Wadi Rum Day Trips?

We don’t want to diminish or discount the option of doing a Wadi Rum day triphowever there are some important things to be aware of before you decide not to spend the night:

1. You may regret it.

2. Staying overnight may actually make your Jordan itinerary more seamless.

3. A couple of hours in a jeep may not be enough.

For independent travellers a day trip may mean a very long travel day. The last thing we'd want to do after several hours in the desert heat is to have to get back in the rental car for a couple of hours to go drive somewhere else. In terms of logisticswe wouldn't recommend having a strict deadline in the desert either.

Howeverwe do appreciate that some of you won't have a rental carmay have limited time in Jordanor have cirucmstances which mean an overnight stay in Wadi Rum isn't feasiblepracticalor desirable.

Day Trips From Amman | With an at best four-hour drive between Amman and Wadi Rumwe genuinely don’t recommend trying to visit on a day trip (whether independently or with a tour) from the capital - it’s just too far.

Insteadif using Amman as a baseconsider this super popular tour which also includes a night in a Wadi Rum Bedouin campa visit to Petraand a short time at the Dead Sea. It’ll be a jam-packed couple of daysbut at least you won’t notice the long driving distances.

Day Trips From Aqaba | Given its proximityAqaba makes an ideal base from which to visit Wadi Rumand is easily accessible with public transport or an excellent tour like this one. You can find more tour options and full details on how to reach Wadi Rum on a day trip in this guide.

Day Trips From Elsewhere in Jordan | It’s theoretically possible to do a day trip to the desert from anywhere in Jordan - you just need to book a tour in advanceand get yourself to the Wadi Rum to early enough to meet your guide (which usually means having your own rental car). There are loads of optionsbut the following have excellent reviews:

• There are an abundance of full-day jeep tours availablethe vast majority offering identikit days out. This tour tour however is particularly highly rated and includes stop at all major attractions in Wadi Rumgood guides and food throughout the day.

• If you’re short on time but determined to make the most of what you havea half-day tour may be perfect - this option has an abundance of excellent reviews and would be our pick!

Try To Arrive in The Morning or Mid-Afternoon

Quick point here - there are all manners of way to make your Wadi Rum visit bespokeespecially if you're in priordirect contact with the accommodation you've booked online.

For examplewe arrived at 5pm to head out for sunset and our cave camptwo German travellers we met arrived at camp in the late afternoon and then went out on their jeep tour the following morning before going to Petraanother couple arrived at midday and had five hours in the jeep and a night at the camp. A French guy arrived in the eveningstayed overnightthen headed on his tour after breakfast.

Jeep tours and accommodations don't operate on too much a fixed scheduleso you can arrive in the morningafternoonor evening and make it workwhich may be a real benefit to some of you.

Howeverfor easethe best experience and easiest planningwe'd suggest arriving at Wadi Rum in the morning, doing your jeep tourenjoying sunsetspending the night in your desert campand then leaving the following morning to your next destination.

Failing thatarrive in the mid-afternoon so you can have time to witness a spectacular sunset of the sandstone sculptureshave the night at campand then go on your jeep tour the following morning.

What a Wadi Rum Jeep Tour Actually Involves

Aside from offering the opportunity to cover large swathes of Wadi Rum (though certainly not all of it)the experience of trundling along in the back of a beaten and battered converted Toyota pick-up truck is part of the fun.

Most of the ‘jeeps’ are actually pick-up trucks that have seen better dayswith the flat-bed back converted into a seating area formed of narrow benches on each side with varying levels of comfort and cushioning. There is usually a cloth-based shade to protect you from the sunbut this can be removed easily if you’d prefer a little direct light.

The jeepsdriven by young Bedouin menferry travellers from rock formation to viewpointdune to duneand camp to canyon. Although there are no roads or signsand navigation of the landscape may seem unfathomable to the outsiderthese guys know it like the back of their hand.

There are several types of jeep tours that you can join: 2-hour3-hour4-hour or full day (7-8 hours)and they all follow a fairly fixed route.

Almost all tours will include the Red Sand DuneKhazli Canyon (home to the remarkable petroglyphs)Lawrence Springthe Small Arch BridgeLawrence Houseand a perhaps a few viewpoints.

If you join a full-day touryour guide will also take you to Mushroom RockAbu Khashaba CanyonUm Fruth rock bridge (very photographedbut the most crowded and unenjoyable part we went to) and the White Duneas well as provide lunch in an peacefulisolated area and tea from an incredible sunset spot.

Because of the relatively standard itinerary across all companieswe don’t think you should be too fixated on what a tour will stop atbut rather the length of it. In shortthe longer the tourthe more you’ll be able to explore and see but a four-hour tour will bring you to the most famous highlights.

In terms of visiting these places in the jeepyour driver-guide is responsible for transporting youwill tell you when to clamber out of the jeepand then you’ll have a walk aroundtake some photosperhaps a sweet tea in the Bedouin hospitality tents at eachbefore getting back into the jeep and moving on to the next stop. There’s a bit of walking at eachand light-scrambling involved to access some viewpoints (quite precarious and unguided in sections)but most of your time is spent in the back of the vehicle.

Note that your driver-guide (who also takes on the role of cook for longer tours) are all local Bedouin men. From our personal experience and what we overheadthey have varying levels of English - some very excellentsome very very basic - so bear this in mind if it’s important to you.

How to Book Your Jeep Tour & Cost

Jeep tours can be arranged in advance of arrival (either with your desert camp or with a tour company) or once you arrive at the camp:

Tours Booked Directly With the Desert Camps

For those staying in a desert campthe bedouin host will arrange the tour for guests - either upon their arrival to Wadi Rum Villageor in advance following the booking.

These tours can either be shared or privatewith the shared option offering a more affordable price per person; the ultimate price will be based on numbers in the total group (usually no more than six in totalplus the driver). You should budget in the region of 20-30 JD per person for the 2-4 hour shared toursand 35-50 JD per person for full-day shared tours. For private tours of two peopleit’s 30-60 JD per persondepending upon length.

Payment tends to be in person at the camp before or after your Jeep tourin cash.

The jeep tours offered by high-endluxury camps will have a higher costand they’ll tend to use newer vehicles - which would actually pass an M.O.T. - that may allow you to sit the back seat rather than the boot (but the fun really is about really being in the converted boot).

It’s very important to appreciate that most of the camps co-ordinate and share a pool drivers and jeepsrather than own and operate their own exclusively.

Depending on your arrival timethe tour will either start from the Wadi Rum village when you’re collected or meet at your camp - for those staying over nightthis will likely depend upon what time of day you arrive.

It’s very important to appreciate is that most of the camps co-ordinate and share a pool drivers and jeepsrather than own and operate their own exclusively.

Tours Booked Online

There are a huge number of jeep tours that can be booked online and in advance of your arrival to Wadi Rum. The only decision you’ll have to make is how long you’d like your tour to be:

Full Day Tour | There are an abundance of full-day jeep tours availablethe vast majority offering identikit days out. This tour tour however is particularly highly rated and includes stop at all major attractions in Wadi Rumgood guides and food throughout the day.

Half Day Tour | If you’re short on time but determined to make the most of what you havea half-day tour may be perfect - this option has an abundance of excellent reviews and would be our pick!

Two Hour Tour | Ideal for those short on timethis two-hour tour has great reviews.

Sunset Tour | Watching the colours of Wadi Rum change at golden hour and into sunset was incredible - and usually only possible if spending the night. Day trippers keen not to miss this spectacle should consider joining this four-hour sunset tour.

Overnight Stays | If you’d prefer to combine your jeep tour with an overnight stay in a Bedouin campbut want to book it togetherin advance and onlineconsider this super popularhighly-rated and very well-priced tour.

AlternativelyIif you’d prefer to sleep under the stars (like we did on one of our nights in Wadi Rum)this tour is an excellent choice. Includes full-day jeep tour and food. Find out more here.

How To Choose Your Wadi Rum Camp

Go to the Wadi Rum page on booking.com and you'll find 428 properties listed.

Over on Airbnbit's 470 listings.

Some are priced as little as a couple of quid per nightwhilst others cost well over £400! Some are simply goatskin tents with a thin mattress on the floorwhilst others are Instagram-famous luxury bubble tents with soft furnishingsairconjacuzzisand private bathrooms in film-set locations.

One of them have even got a bloody swimming pool!

The problem is not finding accommodation in the desert for your travel or travel budget; the problem is finding the right one from the overwhelming choice.

One of the most important things to know for independent travellers is that your desert camp is going to be the lynchpin of your experience: they communicate quite a bit in advance of arrivaltransport you in and out of the desertarrange or provide jeep tourslook after luggagefeed youand even co-ordinate your onward travel.

Many of the traditional Wadi Rum camps are quite indistinguishable and some pop up and disappear each year. Some are in nicermore secluded locationswhilst others are a little close to civilisationin the line of sight of another campor quite ramshackle and weather-worn. Some of the more expensive ones have far too many tents in situ for the price tag. 

It would be easy to just pick a random cheap one which looks like all the rest - and there's nothing wrong with that - but it quickly becomes overwhelming to trawl through them all (and tell them apart / understand the differences). Similarlyit would be easy to pay far too much for something that isn’t really that different from the more basic camps.

That's why we did all the hard work for you and put together this short explainer on How To Choose Your Wadi Rum Camp (published soon)including our pick of the best available for each type of traveller and budget.

If you want to cut to the chasethree of the best options for different travel s are:

Luxury Bubble | Wadi Rum UFO Luxotel

Mid-Ranger | Milky Way Bedouin Camp

Budget | Wadi Rum Backpacker Camp

As we mentioned in the above sectionif you’d prefer to save timeyou can book an ‘all-inclusive’ Wadi Rum overnight tour which includes a full-day jeep tourdecent desert camp accommodationmeals - this tour is super popularhighly-rated and very well-pricedbut this tour is a good alternative too.

Read // How To Choose Your Wadi Rum Camp + The 6 Best Wadi Rum Luxury Camps

Book Your Camp & Tour in Advance of Arrival

As the camps are usually responsible for coordinating your transport to / from the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre or Villageyour main point of contact before arrivaland arranging tours and foodit's a good idea to get it booked before you arrive in Jordan (especially on shorter trips).

This is particularly pertinent if you're travelling in either of the two high tourism seasons (February to May and September to November)and essential if you have your heart set on a particularly famous luxury bubble camp.

It is absolutely possible to simply turn up at the Visitor Centre without a booking and sort something out with someone there and theneven in high seasonbut you'll be turning up at a camp which you know nothing about and have little choice in.

Do note that whilst a few of the largerfancieror more established camps have their own website for direct bookingswe're recommend going via Booking.com (here) or Airbnb (here); aside from recent guest reviews allowing you to make an informed decisionthey offer more reliable hassle-free online cancellations.

If you’re not looking to spend a lot of time researching options and communicating with hostsconsider booking a Wadi Rum tour which includes everything: a full-day jeep tourdesert camp accommodationand meals.

Doing it that way also allows you to pay pretty much all the associated costs of your Wadi Rum tours and accommodation in advance onlinereducing the need to bring a big wedge of cash.

Plan // How To Choose Your Wadi Rum Camp.

What To Pack For Wadi Rum

What not to bring with you is almost as important as what to bring.

Packing should primarily revolve around protection from the sunthe sandand the winds that can sometimes swirl around.

Sand will also get everywhereand anything that was white will become rust red for a while.

In terms of clothingcomfortable and lightweight is best during the day. Personallywe eschewed sportswear in Jordan for lightnatural fabrics such as linen and cotton - much nicer! A looselong-sleeved shirt is an excellent travel hack to offer extra sun protection without working up a sweat.

Whichever season you're visitingyou should bring a layer to ancipate chillier nights and quite a notable swing in temperature from the peak afternoon heat. Howeverfor the winter months (December to March) all the camps recommend also bringing more substantial warm layers with you - a fleecewindbreakerwarm hat etc. Rememberit's better to be able to strip off a layer than freeze your arse off without one!

In terms of essentials that everyone should take:

+ Small daypack

+ Hat and sunglasses

+ Scarf or shawl for sun protection

+ Suncream

+ A travel filter water bottle - we use ours religiouslyincluding in Jordan. Find out more about how they work in this post.

+ Comfortable shoes - sandals/birkenstocks are good for most of the daybut not so good for some of the scrambling. Trainers are a good half-way housebut remember they'll get full of sand for a few days/weeks. Unless coming here to hike specifiallyyou do NOT need hiking boots. 

+ Warmer layers evening (long trousersa jumper/hoodieand socks at a minimum)

+ Basic toiletries & some emergency tissues/toilet paper

+ Any personal medial supplies and basic first aid kit

+ Snacks (nothing else in the camp except what you're served)

+ Head torch (if you've got one).

+ Travel towel (most camps don’t provide a towel)

+ Lip balm

+ Mobile phone charger (not all camps have charger pointsbut most now do)

+ Battery pack (especially if on a full-day tour or at a very basic camp)

+ Insurance information

What you need to bring for overnight stays will vary a little according to whether you're staying in the more comfortable camps and retreatsor in the more rustic goatskin tents. They're responsible for beddingbut facilitieswarmthand comfort levels will vary.

Water is usually provided on your jeep tour and by the camp butif you’re not carrying a travel filter water bottle (we use this one)it makes sense to bring a spare bottle or two.

Lastlyall the guides and drivers are menand they're also the ones responsible for running the campsso modest dress is required of women. If unsure of what that meansor what to packread Emily's guide on what to wear in Jordan (published soon).

Where to Leave Your Luggage

In our correspondence with several camps before we visitedthey were all happy for us to leave our larger luggage in their office or home in Wadi Rum Village. Howeveras we travel with a ridiculous amount of photography equipmentwe had no room for the other stuff we needed and asked if they would be able to shuttle them into the camp - and they were kind enough to do this.

Howeverfor those of you packing a little lighterit’s best to take what you need in a small daypack and leave the suitcase or backpack in the rental car or back at the hotel.

If that’s not possiblewe’d suggest getting in touch with your camp to ask what the can do; most will be happy to help you outbut it will be difficult to do if they’ve got a full jeep and no advance notice.

By the wayno mobile phone service at most of the camps (and only spotty wifi available in some of the fancier options)and this is something you should fully embrace as part of the experience.

Make the Most of the Shade

Super important point - you want to avoid sunburnsun-exhaustionor dehydration impacting your enjoyment of everything you plan to do after Wadi Rum.

The heat hereespecially if you’re exploring for 5+ hours or visiting during the warmer monthscan be intense and unforgiving.

Sodo not view your time in the back of the jeep as the chance to get a suntan or leave off the fabric shade affixed to the roof for longer than necessary. Slap on the suncream and wear a hatstay hydrated with small sipswear a loose long-sleeved shirt or scarf when out in the openand make the most of shaded areas when and where you encounter them.

Bring Plenty of Cash

Cash is still king in Wadi Rumand you’ll need to bring plenty with you to cover tourssouvenirsany spontaneous purchases in the villageand emergencies. The majority of desert camps will not accept payment by card (although some do offer this service back in the villagewith an extra % on top)so it’s important you have a think about which activities + tours you want to do before arrival.

At time of writingthere is no ATM in Wadi Rum villageso you need to budget ahead and get to a cash machine in Wadi MusaAqabaor wherever you’re starting your tour. As a minimumbased on typical costs excluding accommodationyou should take 100 JD per person.

As explained further in this post - 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Jordan - ATMs in Jordan will usually charge a withdrawal fee so it’s best to withdraw larger amounts each time.

Alternativelyyou can book a Wadi Rum tour online which includes eveything - a full-day jeep tourdesert camp accommodationmeals - which removes the need to pay for or arrange things in personand means you’ll carry less cash into the desert.

Where to Next?

6 Amazing Wadi Rum Luxury Camps

Transport Guides | Wadi Rum to Petra and Aqaba to Wadi Rum

Our Definitive Guide To Visiting Petra

Driving in Jordan | An Essential Guide

The Perfect Jordan Itinerary (published soon)

23 Things to Know Before You Visit Jordan (published soon)

Is the Jordan Pass Worth It?

13 Wonderful Things to Do in Jordan

A Short Guide to Aqaba | Red Sea Resorts & Diving