How to Visit Wadi Rum & What to Expect in Jordan’s Martian Desert
How to Visit Wadi Rum & What to Expect in Jordan’s Martian Desert was originally published in 2025
Wadi Rum.
Even the name sounds like a whispered secret passed down by ancient winds. Also known as the Valley of the Moon, this otherworldly desert in southern Jordan makes for a surreal experience among red sand dunes and towering sandstone monoliths.
Let me take you on the journey with camel rides, Bedouin tea, and moments that will have you feeling as if you just took off for Mars.
In this guide to Wadi Rum, I will break down everything you need to know to travel to Wadi Rum like a pro, or like a dusty, wide-eyed wanderer, which is basically the same thing.
Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services for Jordan?
Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at IATI Insurance. Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.
The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue.
What is Wadi Rum & Why Should You Go?
Wadi Rum is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan, about an hour north of Aqaba and close to Petra. Picture colossal rock formations rising from ochre sands, ancient petroglyphs etched into canyon walls, and night skies so clear you’ll start reevaluating your entire existence. Wadi Rum is Jordan’s largest wadi (valley) and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
If it looks familiar, that’s because Wadi Rum has starred in more blockbusters than some Hollywood actors. Think Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Dune, Star Wars: Rogue One. This place is basically typecast as “alien planet,” and it’s not hard to see why.
How to Travel to Wadi Rum
1. Getting There:
The easiest jump-off points to visit Wadi Rum are Aqaba, Petra (Wadi Musa), or Amman:
- From Aqaba: It’s a quick 1-hour drive. Many camps offer transfers, or you can grab a taxi (~30 JOD).
- From Petra: About a 90 minute to two hour drive. Tours often connect the two, or if going at it more independently, you can hire a taxi for about 20 JOD.
- From Amman: A long haul of about 4–5 hours by car or by JETT Bus. It departs daily at 8:00 am.
Tip: There’s no public transport directly to the sites within the Wadi Rum Desert. You’ll need to arrange a pickup or drive yourself to the Wadi Rum Visitor Center and link up with your camp or guide from there.
2. Wadi Rum Entry Fee:
- Entry is 5 JOD per person, but it’s included with the Jordan Pass, which you should get if you’re visiting Petra, Jerash, or other sites around Jordan. The Jordan Pass also waives your visa fee if you’ll be staying in Jordan for more than three days.
Where to Stay in Wadi Rum
- Bedouin Nights Camp: If you’re looking for something rustic, authentic, and culturally immersive, and budget-friendly, this is your place.
- Memories Aicha Luxury Camp: This is what we splurged for on our night in Wadi Rum, the bubble domes are well worth the splash-out in our opinion.
Most camps offer all-inclusive packages with meals, tours, and transport from the village or visitor center. Book ahead if you’re traveling in high season.
What to Do in Wadi Rum
1. Jeep Tours (aka Dune Joyrides):
This is the main event. Tours range from 2-hour sprints to full-day explorations. You’ll bump along in an open 4×4 with a local Bedouin guide who knows the desert like the back of their sun-weathered hand.
Expect stops at:
- Lawrence’s Spring (yep, like T.E. Lawrence)
- Khazali Canyon (ancient Nabataean and Islamic inscriptions)
- Sand dunes you can sprint-slide down like a chaotic gazelle
- Natural arches like Umm Fruth Rock Bridge and Burdah Rock Bridge (the latter is a legit hike)
Later in this post, find a more detailed list of the common stops along the Wadi Rum jeep tours.
2. Camel Treks:
You’ll either feel like a movie hero or a wobbly noodle, depending on how coordinated you are. Either way, riding a camel through Wadi Rum at golden hour is a must. You can opt for short rides or multi-day treks if you’re really leaning into the desert nomad fantasy.
3. Hiking & Climbing:
If you want to get vertical, Wadi Rum is one of the world’s top spots for rock climbing and scrambling. Jebel Um Adaami is Jordan’s highest peak, and the hike gives you views of Saudi Arabia.
4. Stargazing & Overnight in a Bedouin Camp:
When the sun dips below the rocks, Wadi Rum transforms. The air cools, the stars pop like glitter, and your camp becomes a cozy outpost in a sea of silence. Whether you choose a traditional Bedouin tent or one of those glass-domed Martian bubbles (yes, the ones you’ve seen all over Instagram), staying overnight is essential.
You’ll eat zarb, a delicious Bedouin barbecue cooked in an underground oven, and drink mint tea like your life depends on it.
When to Visit Wadi Rum
Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) are the sweet spots with pleasant temps, but do expect crowds. Summer can be brutal (like, 40°C brutal), while winter brings cold nights and the rare chance of snow dusting the peaks.
What Stops You’ll See on a Wadi Rum Jeep Tour
Most people who travel to Wadi Rum opt for a Jeep tour to explore the sprawling desert, and honestly? It’s the best way to experience the raw, cinematic grandeur of this place. Whether you go for a half-day hop or a full-day deep dive, here are the classic stops you can expect on most Wadi Rum Jeep tours:
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Named after T.E. Lawrence’s famously dramatic memoir, this iconic rock formation towers near the Wadi Rum Visitor Center. The seven fluted buttresses rise like natural skyscrapers out of the sand, and they’re usually your first big wow moment in the valley. Pro tip: they look especially majestic in early morning light or golden hour.
Lawrence Spring
Just a short distance from the Seven Pillars of Wisdom is Lawrence Spring, believed to be the watering hole mentioned in Seven Pillars of Wisdom. It’s a tiny spring tucked into the base of a cliff, marked by a lone fig tree and panoramic views over the desert plain. There’s a steep climb up to the actual spring, though watch your step—but the view? Worth the mini scramble.
Red Sand Dunes
You know those dramatic, Mars-red dunes you see in all the Wadi Rum travel posters? Yeah, these are them. The dunes are massive and fun to climb, though getting to the top feels like a workout in quicksand. Running or sledding down is the desert version of a rollercoaster.
Anfishiyyeh Inscriptions in Khazali Canyon
History nerds, this one’s for you. Anfishiyyeh is a large rock face within Khazali Canyon etched with ancient petroglyphs and Thamudic and Nabataean inscriptions, some dating back over 2,000 years.
You’ll spot petroglyphs of people, animals, and even fertility symbols tucked along the walls, some are surprisingly high up, making you wonder how ancient artists even reached them. Your guide might share stories passed down through generations, adding a layer of oral history to the visual one.
Lawrence’s House
Or, well, what’s left of it.
This crumbled stone structure is believed to be the remnants of a Nabataean outpost that Lawrence of Arabia may have used as a base. Whether or not he actually lived there is debatable, but standing among the ruins with the wind howling and the rocks blazing orange? You feel the mythos either way.
Little Bridge
Little Bridge is the smallest of the three famous Rock Bridges in Wadi Rum. It’s just a short trip over from the Red Dunes.
Mushroom Rock
It’s exactly what it sounds like: a freestanding sandstone formation shaped like a giant mushroom. It’s one of those weird and wonderful geological oddities that makes you stop, stare, and silently thank erosion for its artistic taste. Great for quirky desert photos and a quick leg stretch.
Burdah Rock Arch
If you’re up for an adventurous hike, Burdah Rock Arch is one of the highest and most dramatic natural arches in Wadi Rum. The climb isn’t easy, so think scrambling and mild exposure, but the views from the top are jaw-dropping.
Most Jeep tours just stop at the base unless you’ve pre-arranged a climbing guide.
Umm Fruth Rock Bridge
This is the most accessible and photogenic of Wadi Rum’s rock bridges. You can climb it in under ten minutes with some light scrambling, and the view from the top is straight-up Martian magic. It’s a popular photo spot, so expect a few folks up there doing their best Lion King poses.
Tips for Visiting Wadi Rum
- Bring cash: There are no ATMs in Wadi Rum.
- Dress for extremes: Days are hot, nights are chilly. Layers are your friend.
- Protect your skin: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a scarf to shield from wind and sand are key.
- Respect the culture: Wadi Rum is home to Bedouin communities, so modest dress and good manners go a long way.
- Stay unplugged: There’s limited signal and Wi-Fi.
Final Thoughts on Wadi Rum
Visiting Wadi Rum felt like stepping off Earth for a hot minute, somewhere between an Indiana Jones chase scene and a NASA mission. But beyond the cinematic landscape, what moved me most was the heart of the place: the stories carved into stone, the quiet hospitality of the Bedouin, the way time slows under a sky dusted with constellations.
If you’re planning to travel to Wadi Rum, do it with curiosity, respect, and a wide-open sense of wonder.
Planning to visit Wadi Rum soon?
Drop any questions below or let me know if you’ve already been and what blew your mind most! And don’t forget to check out my Jordan itinerary for how to connect Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea into one epic Middle East adventure.
