One look, and you’ll question whether you’re still on Earth. Wadi Rum in Jordan spreads out in waves of red sand and towering red formations that seem carved for a movie set. In fact, filmmakers turned this desert into Mars in The Martian and used it in Star Wars: Rogue One. Locals call it the ‘Valley of the Moon’, and the name fits perfectly. Yet nothing feels artificial here. As Jordan’s second most visited attraction after Petra, this protected area draws everyone who wants more than sightseeing. There are countless things to do in Wadi Rum. Visitors come for thrilling jeep tours, peaceful nights in Bedouin camps, and a kind of silence you can rarely find anywhere else. Let’s go beyond the famous viewpoints to learn why you should add it to your Jordan bucket list.
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A desert so dramatic that Hollywood calls it Mars.
What is Wadi Rum famous for?
Wadi Rum is not only famous for its Mars-like red landscapes and serving as a filming location, but also for its authentic Bedouin culture. Jordan’s largest dry river valley became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 because of its natural beauty and cultural history. It also stands out for carved inscriptions, desert camps, jeep adventures, and stargazing-friendly night skies.
Where is Wadi Rum Located?
Open a map of southern Jordan and look near the Saudi border. Wadi Rum spreads across one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the Middle East. According to the UNESCO website, this protected area lies east of the Rift Valley and south of the central Jordanian plateau. It covers approximately 74,200 hectares of dramatic desert terrain. It’s equivalent to roughly 720-742 square km (280-287 square miles).
You’ll find it about 60 km east of Aqaba, roughly a one-hour drive. From Petra (Wadi Musa), the journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes (about 100 km). If you travel from Amman, expect about 4 hours on the Desert Highway. The area is also home to Jordan’s highest mountain, Jabal Umm ad Dami, rising to 1,854 m above sea level. This location places you deep inside Jordan’s wild southern landscape – far from city noise, close to pure desert silence.
Our Experience
You can visit Wadi Rum on a day trip from Aqaba, Petra, or even Amman if you feel ambitious (4 hours). But the best way to experience it is to stay overnight in one of the desert camps.
We explored Wadi Rum in February 2025 and arrived with our private driver Ihab (who travelled with us during our Jordan trip) and met with a local Bedouin guide. The three-hour 4×4 tour introduced us to the main highlights. We admired towering rock formations, wide valleys, and narrow canyons, and visited major viewpoints.
After the tour, we checked into our luxury desert camp – Wadi Rum Magic Luxury Camp. That evening, we enjoyed a traditional Bedouin dinner cooked underground in a zarb oven. Later, we stepped away from the lights to watch the stars. The sky felt brighter than anywhere else on our trip. The next morning, we woke early and hiked to a viewpoint overlooking our camp. The quiet sunrise over the red sand made the early wake-up worth it. After breakfast, we continued our journey to Petra.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Wadi Rum offers far more than a quick visit. It rewards those who slow down.
If we had more time in Jordan, we would stay at least one extra night. Our overnight stay and 3-hour tours gave us a perfect introduction, but Wadi Rum offers much more. Beyond 4×4 tours, you can hike, rock climb, try sandboarding, take a sunrise hot air balloon flight, or join a camel trek.
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11 Unmissable Things To Do in Wadi Rum Jordan
1. Take a 4×4 Jeep Tour
If you choose one adventure here, make it this one. Among all the things to do in Wadi Rum in Jordan, a jeep tour with a local Bedouin guide stands out as the absolute highlight. The desert is vast, and the only real way to feel its scale is to drive straight into it.
The moment a local Bedouin driver accelerates across the sand, you understand why travellers call this one of Jordan’s greatest experiences. Your guide drives you deep into endless red sand dunes, narrow canyons, and wide-open valleys that stretch beyond the horizon. You stop often to admire the towering rock formations around you, which look like natural skyscrapers. You also see camels grazing freely and Bedouin camps where locals welcome visitors with sweet tea. These moments add authenticity to the adventure.
The jeep makes it easy to reach places you could never access on foot. With a local guide, you reach Wadi Rum’s most photogenic spots, famous movie scenes, and quiet viewpoints.
Did you know that Wadi Rum was the filming location for the desert planet Pasaana in Star Wars?
GOOD TO KNOW:
- We chose an afternoon tour to avoid the harsh midday light. It was the perfect decision. Driving at speed across the desert felt completely otherworldly – unlike anywhere we have travelled before. As the sunset approached, the landscape changed colours from bright orange to deep red and soft gold. That moment alone made the tour unforgettable.
- Drivers usually follow established loops, covering up to 19 key sites inside the protected area. You can arrange tours at the visitor centre, online, or directly through your camp. Expect simple 4WD trucks with cushioned benches at the back. You sit in the open air, exposed to desert wind, and that’s part of the magic.
What to Expect in Wadi Rum Jordan: An example of a jeep tour truck with cushioned benches at the back.
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2. Climb the iconic Al Ramal Red Sand Dune.
Walk on Mars at Al Ramal
You will see it before you reach it. A bold red slope rises against a towering cliff, glowing under the sun. Visiting Al Ramal Sand Dune ranks among the best things to do in Wadi Rum in Jordan, especially if you want that famous Mars-like moment.
DID YOU KNOW?
Unlike the Sahara’s endless sand seas, this landscape is mostly sandstone mountains and rocky valleys. Sand plays a supporting role, not the main one. Wadi Rum is divided into a ‘Red Desert’ with iron-rich dunes and a ‘White Desert’ with pale rock and sand. Al Ramal belongs to the red side, and its colour comes from high levels of iron oxide in the sand particles.
Located near Jabal Umm Ishrin, this steep dune gained fame as the primary filming location for The Martian (2015). Its bright red colour and dramatic slope made it a perfect stand-in for Mars.
The climb challenges you, but the view from the top rewards every effort. From above, you see a dramatic mix of cliffs, open land, and shifting colours across the landscape. If you want that classic red-sand photo and a true sense of scale, don’t skip Al Ramal.
3. Discover Ancient Petroglyphs
Ancient carvings are one of the unique attractions in Wadi Rum, Jordan, and transform your visit from scenic to meaningful. They reveal a powerful, human side of this landscape, and are one of the reasons why this site earned UNESCO recognition.
Humans lived here for thousands of years, despite harsh conditions, which allowed only small communities to survive. According to Wikipedia, Nabataeans and earlier civilisations carved petroglyphs, inscriptions, and even temple remains into rock facades. National Geographic reports that more than 20,000 petroglyphs and over 12,000 inscriptions document around 12,000 years of human presence here. UNESCO confirms 154 archaeological sites within the protected area, proving long-term habitation and land use. You can find these carvings on boulders, cliff facades, and inside narrow canyons throughout the 74,000-hectare protected area.
STORIES CARVED IN STONE
The images show camels, horses, ibex, hunting scenes, and also human figures. These images trace the shift from hunter-gatherer life to pastoral and trading societies. Inscriptions appear in Thamudic, Nabataean, and early Arabic Kufic scripts. These writings highlight the development of the alphabet in North Arabia.
Standing in front of these thousands of years old engravings feels humbling. They connect you directly to early human history. The carvings remain in their original setting. Wind and rain slowly fade some details, so look carefully. Some figures appear faint, but that weathering confirms their age and authenticity.
4. Try sandboarding
Adventure does not always need snow.
In Wadi Rum, you trade ice mountains for glowing red dunes and try sandboarding instead. The rolling dunes near Um Ishrin and close to Lawrence’s Spring create perfect natural slopes. Many Bedouin-guided jeep tours stop here and include sandboarding as part of the adventure. So, you can try it without special planning. Most camps and tour operators offer boards for an extra 10-15 JOD per person. Wear closed shoes because the sand can get hot, and expect to find it in your clothes and pockets. That is part of the fun.
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5. Glamping – Staying in a Dome in Wadi Rum
Staying overnight in a dome is easily one of the best things to do in Wadi Rum in Jordan. It completely transforms your visit and explains why this region stands as Jordan’s second most visited attraction.
Accommodation here suits every style and budget. You can choose between traditional Bedouin camps and modern glamping lodges. The traditional camps provide simple canvas tents and shared facilities. They feel authentic, rooted, and deeply connected to local culture. But then come the domes.
An example of a Bedouin tent.
Scattered between towering rock formations, you will find eco-friendly bubble tents and luxury domes that look like something from science fiction. Many include air conditioning, private bathrooms, panoramic glass walls, and terraces with endless views. At night, you lie in bed and watch the Milky Way without stepping outside.
An example of a modern glamping camp.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Choosing a camp can feel overwhelming because many have excellent reviews online. We stayed at Wadi Rum Magic Luxury Camp and cannot recommend it enough. The service felt personal, the dome felt spacious, and the sunrise from our terrace felt unreal.
If you want comfort, privacy, and a sky you will never forget, choose glamping. It’s not just a place to sleep, it’s the highlight.
6. Have a Traditional Bedouin Dinner
Did you know that a traditional Bedouin dinner does not arrive from a kitchen but rises from the earth? Bedouin families have prepared it for centuries, long before modern borders reshaped the Middle East. Dinner here is not just a meal; it’s theatre, heritage, and hospitality, woven together under a sky full of stars.
ZARB
As the sun drops behind the mountains, the camp’s chef begins preparing zarb – a traditional Bedouin barbecue. He digs a deep hole in the sand, lines it with hot coals, and lowers a metal drum packed with lamb, chicken, and locally grown vegetables. He seals it tightly and covers everything with sand. The food cooks slowly for several hours, locking in flavour and tenderness. This cooking method kept tribes fed for generations, especially during the Great Arab Revolt. Food needed to be cooked safely, quietly, and efficiently. Zarb met that need.
When the time comes, everyone gathers. The camp leader digs into the sand and lifts the lid. Steam escapes into the air, and the scents feel unforgettable. Tender meat falls from the bone, and smoky vegetables melt into fragrant rice. Hummus, fresh salad, and warm flatbread complete the feast. We witnessed this unearthing ritual, but we have no photographs. We checked in only minutes before dinner and did not have time to grab our camera from our bubble tent. In truth, that made the moment even more real.
7. Go Stargazing in Wadi Rum
When the sun sets, the real show begins.
Stargazing in Wadi Rum transforms the landscape into one of the finest dark-sky stages in the Middle East. With very low pollution, a high altitude of 900 to 1,000 meters (approximately 3,000–3,300 ft) above sea level, and frequent cloudless nights, visibility remains exceptional. On many nights, you can see the Milky Way with your naked eye. Many desert camps organise guided sessions led by Bedouin hosts. They share ancient stories, point out planets, and explain how their ancestors used the stars to navigate.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Visit between July and September for the clearest conditions. The Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August (NASA) – and this is an exceptional place to watch it. If you visit in the winter (as we did), bring warm layers and lie back to let the universe take its course.
8. Hot Air Ballooning
Set your alarm early; the real magic begins before sunrise.
You have seen the landscape from a jeep. Now imagine floating above it in total silence. Hot air ballooning in Wadi Rum gives you a front-row seat to one of the most dramatic sunrises in Jordan and the Middle East. As the balloon slowly climbs, red cliffs, winding canyons, and vast open valleys stretch in every direction.
The experience starts early, just before sunrise, when winds remain steady and safe. Flights usually last around 45-60 minutes and give you wide, uninterrupted views across rolling sand and towering formations. During your flight, you drift over rock arches, rolling dunes, and wide valleys that make this UNESCO-listed area famous for natural beauty and geological drama. Experienced pilots use modern equipment and follow strict safety checks before take-off. Prices range from 150 to 250 JOD per adult, often including jeep transfers, a light breakfast, and a certificate.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Safety comes first – operators monitor the weather carefully. If conditions don’t allow a safe ride, they either reschedule or refund in full. It may be a premium experience, but the memory lasts forever.
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9. Camel Tours in Wadi Rum
Trade speed for tradition.
Camel tours in Wadi Rum offer the most authentic way to travel across the Valley of the Moon in Jordan, just as Bedouin families did for centuries. If camels did not exist, traditional Bedouin life would have been impossible. For generations, these animals carried families, goods, and stories across vast open land. These powerful animals can drink up to 57 litres (15 gallons) of water in one go. This allows them to survive for days without more.
Your guide leads the caravan at a gentle pace, often tying camels together for safety and comfort. Tours range from short 1-2 hour sunrise or sunset rides to full-day or multi-day treks. Expect a gentle rhythm, wide views, and maybe a little soreness. That is exactly why it feels real.
DID YOU KNOW?
Some camels here even train for traditional Bedouin racing, a respected local sport across the Middle East.
10. Hiking
Lace up your boots and earn your views.
Hiking in Wadi Rum offers some of the most striking scenery in the Middle East. Unlike many national parks, you will not find many marked trails. You explore narrow ravines and canyons like Khazali Canyon, climb high sandstone ridges, and high peaks with real freedom. Short, simple walks without a guide begin close to Wadi Rum village. But if you plan to climb the famous Burdah Rock Bridge (moderate difficulty), explore Rakhabat Canyon, or summit Jabal Umm ad Dami, you need to hire a Bedouin guide. They know the terrain and keep you safe. Even for simple walks, you must register at the Visitor Centre before you start.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Come in spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November) for the best temperatures. Wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water, and protect yourself from the sun.
11. Hejaz Railway Train
An old steam train in the middle of the sand feels almost unreal. Yet there it stands – a restored locomotive from another era, waiting under vast open skies. Visiting the Hejaz Railway stop ranks among the most unique things to do in Wadi Rum in Jordan because it connects dramatic scenery with the birth of the modern Middle East.
SHORT HISTORY OF THE GREAT ARAB REVOLT:
The railway began as an Ottoman project in the early 20th century. It once stretched from Damascus (in modern-day Syria) to Medina (in modern-day Saudi Arabia), linking distant provinces across the region. According to Wikipedia, the completed section of the railway was approximately 1,300 km. It replaced the hazardous 40-day camel caravan journey and also reduced travel time to about 5 days. When the First World War erupted in 1914, the line became a strategic military lifeline. In 1916, Sharif Hussein bin Ali agreed to join the Allies in exchange for promises of Arab independence. His son, Prince Faisal, led Arab fighters alongside T.E. Lawrence.
Arab fighters used guerrilla tactics. They repeatedly sabotaged railway tracks and caused trains to cut Ottoman supply lines. These actions weakened Turkish communication and also helped end Ottoman rule in the region. Soon after, new political borders shaped Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
JOURNEY THROUGH 1916
Today, a restored locomotive stands at the historic stop. You can walk around the train, examine the metalwork, see inside the carriages and imagine soldiers guarding supplies. On a selected day, the Jordan Heritage Revival Company stages a live re-enactment called ‘Journey Through 1916’. Actors in period dress ride camels and horses, fire blanks, and recreate attacks on the moving train.
This isn’t just a photo stop, but living history. It explains how rail tracks across this landscape influenced global politics. For everyone who values meaning as much as scenery, the Hejaz Railway is an unmissable attraction.
How Many Days In Wadi Rum?
Stay longer, and the landscape begins to change you.
How long should you stay? The honest answer is that time shapes your experience here. If you only want a quick look at the famous red landscape, a half-day tour works. Many tourists visit on a day trip from Amman and combine it with Petra on a packed itinerary. One full day allows you to explore major sights, sunset views, and experience a Bedouin camp overnight. That already feels special. However, if you want adventure, rest, and meaningful experiences, stay at least two days. Add hiking, camel rides, and stargazing without watching the clock. The longer you stay, the more powerful the experience becomes.
Best Time To Visit Wadi Rum, Jordan
When should you visit? The answer depends on how you handle heat, cold, and crowds. Choosing the right season shapes your entire experience. Every time of year offers something different, but weather conditions vary sharply.
SPRING:
From March to May, daytime temperatures range between 20-25°C. Nights feel cool but pleasant and are perfect for sitting outside after dinner. This balance makes hiking, jeep tours, and stargazing far more enjoyable. Even wildflowers sometimes bloom across the landscape. However, spring can also bring short rain showers or sandstorms, so pack layers and prepare for changing skies. Early spring feels quieter than late April and May, when visitor numbers increase.
AUTUMN:
Autumn, from September to November, offers equally comfortable temperatures. After the extreme heat of summer fades, exploring during the day feels easier. October stands out as an ideal month, with stable weather and bright skies. By late November, nights get colder, crowds thin out, and light rainfall may appear. Bring a jumper or light jacket for evenings.
WINTER:
Winter, from December to February, surprises many travellers. Days remain mild, between 8-20°C, but nights can drop to 4°C or lower. Cold winds sweep across open valleys and increase the chill factor. We travelled during winter and loved the calm setting, yet proper layers proved essential in February. January and February offer the fewest crowds and also often the lowest accommodation prices.
SUMMER:
Summer, from June to August, brings intense heat. Temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and sometimes climb higher in the afternoon. Outdoor activities require careful planning. Start early in the morning or wait until late afternoon. Wear loose, breathable clothing, protect your skin, and drink plenty of water. Fewer visitors arrive during this period, so popular sites feel quieter. Nights cool down to around 20-25°C. From mid-July until the end of August, the Perseid Meteor Shower lights up the sky (NASA). With almost no light pollution, viewing conditions are excellent for stargazing.
Essential Tips Before You Go to Wadi Rum, Jordan
These 20 practical tips will help you avoid common mistakes, respect local culture, and enjoy Wadi Rum in 2026.
- Buy the Jordan Pass before you arrive. It includes entry to more than 40 sites, including Petra and Wadi Rum. Not only does it save you time, but it also saves you money.
- Book a camp inside the protected area, not in Diseh village outside the reserve. Check the location of the camp carefully on maps to have the full experience.
- Use trusted platforms such as Booking.com or Airbnb to avoid scams.
- Park at the Visitor Centre (free, unguarded parking) or Rum Village. Don’t drive into the desert yourself, as it requires a licensed 4×4 vehicle with special permission.
- Arrange your 4×4 transfer in advance. Camps organise pick-up from the meeting point.
- Stay at least one night. Two nights allow a slower, richer experience.
- Withdraw cash at the Visitor Centre ATM – it’s your last chance.
- Hire a local Bedouin guide. Guided tours are safer and far more informative. Tip your guide if they offer a great experience.
- Choose bench seating in the back of the jeep for the full desert experience.
- Avoid walking between 11 am and 3 pm in hot months. Rest instead and plan all your activities for the morning or late afternoon.
- Expect sand everywhere. It will enter shoes, bags, and pockets.
- Plan toilet breaks wisely. There are no facilities during tours.
- Pack layers. Temperatures drop sharply after sunset, especially in the winter months.
- Bring a headlamp for moving around camp at night.
- Use your right hand for eating and accepting tea.
- Carry enough water. Dehydration happens quickly in desert climates.
- Protect your electronics from sand.
- Slow down; disconnect from your phone and enjoy silence.
Now you know all about the best things to do in Wadi Rum, Jordan!
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