Wadi Rum desert is located south of Jordan near the border with Saudi Arabia. The desert with its red sand, its huge rocks and prehistoric traces of civilizations have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. No trip to Jordan is complete without at least one overnight stay in the Wadi Rum desert.
How to get to the Wadi Rum desert
From the airport of Aqaba, the Wadi Rum desert is 77 kilometers away, which means you will be there in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. If land in Amman it will take you a few more hours, as the distance between them is 323 kilometers. In other words, you will need about 4 hours. Wherever you come from, you will leave your rental car in the Wadi Rum visitor center parking lot. There will be a formal passport control and then you will be lost in the vastness of the desert, in the company of the manager of the accommodation who will come to pick you up.
Really, you’ll be impressed with how well locals know the desert, like the back of their palm. It all looks the same, a mess of endless red sand and rocks, but to them it’s their home and they can take you everywhere with their eyes closed.
Where to stay in Wadi Rum
The Wadi Rum desert is filled with a variety of accommodation options. There are accommodations to suit all budgets and tastes. You can either stay in traditional camps, with prefabricated houses and private bathrooms, or in bubble tent to enjoy the incredible beauty of the desert.
We chose to stay at Hussein’s family business camps. To be more specific, in precast houses, quite spacious with a private bathroom, all meals included in the price, which have nothing to envy from a few-star hotel. If you also want to stay overnight and receive the authentic hospitality of Hussein’s family, contact us here.
Useful tips about water & alcohol
As for water, don’t risk drinking from the tap. At Hussein’s accommodation they will offer you free bottled water in small packages. But if you tend to drink a lot of water, it’s a good idea to bring your own.
If you need alcohol during your stay in the desert, you will need to have it before you get there. Either from the duty free of the airport, or from a market in the city where you will probably stay on your first night. Drinking alcohol is prohibited for them, but tourists can, of course, enjoy this favorite habit, as long as they have been prepared.
Is it safe to stay in the desert?
Wadi Rum desert is not dangerous. You will not feel threatened, not even the slightest fear. The locals are very simple, warm and welcome, you will feel it immediately. They really love the desert and feel the need to please you by doing whatever is necessary. Of course, the rooms are private, you have your own key and anything you need you can contact the person in charge who is there for you 24 hours a day. If you also wish to spend the night, either in a traditional camp or in Bubble tents and experience the authentic hospitality of the Hussein’s family, contact us here.
What experiences will you live in the Wadi Rum desert?
We personally chose to stay in the desert for 2 nights and would stay there even more if given the chance. Wadi Rum desert offers you the opportunity to experience 6 experiences that will be unforgettable:
#1 Walking trails
You will follow walking routes in the desert. Wadi Rum desert has many rocks of different sizes that you can easily use as a sign so you don’t get lost. Warning! Distances from one rock to another seem close, but they are not at all!
#2 Jeep safari in Wadi Rum desert
During our stay in the Wadi Rum desert we chose to live the experience of a Jeep safari and we highly recommend it. So we jumped in, all four of us, in the farmer’s cart and enjoyed a 4 hour ride in the desert, with some stops of course. In these 4 hours we visited some desert attractions, because Wadi Rum desert also has attractions! We visited an “authentic” Bedouin who lives alone in a makeshift tent, talked to him, learned about life in the desert and their family camels. The funniest part of the ride was the countless times we climbed and descended the rural high dunes, making our hearts skip a beat like those of small children.
#3 Camel ride
It goes without saying that in the Wadi Rum desert you will have the opportunity to ride a camel, take a short ride and enjoy the wonderful sunset at the end of the ride. The sunset in Wadi Rum is one of the most magical you will ever see in your life. So don’t miss the time when the sun sets.
Important info: You can plan the above activities with the manager of the accommodation where you will choose to stay.
#4 Enjoy their traditional meal
On the 1st night of our stay at Hussein’s camps we were invited to gather around a hill they had created in the sand so we could all dig up our meal! It was a unique and impressive experience! Their traditional meal consists of chicken, grilled vegetables and basmati rice. They bury it in the desert sand, placed in a special container and thus it is simmered from morning until the evening. The moment it surfaces and steams is incredible. The meal was delicious and delightful.
#5 Dance their traditional dance
Afterwards, we all gathered in the dining room to enjoy a wonderful traditional meal, which was simmered in the desert sand. After we had lunch, Hussein’s family showed us their traditional dance and of course we followed. Our joy was indescribable, their hospitality so authentic!
#6 Find your peace
If you have more than 2 days in the Wadi Rum desert, try not to do anything. It will be one of the few opportunities you will have to rest, to clear your mind! And that’s because the desert is an immense force of absolute silence! There is no car noise, no city noise pollution. Even the few vehicles that you will see crossing the desert, you will just see them go by, you will not hear them, they will not disturb your peace. The desert has the property of being soundproof, so you will find that vehicles, people and their activities are just pawns on a quiet chessboard. Your ears will be buzzing the first few days, as they are used to the hustle and bustle of your own everyday life. They are not used to hearing nothing. Soon they will get used to it. Then your mind will rest and your unnecessary thoughts will go away. You will definately enjoy!
You are in the Wadi Rum desert, experience the magic of the vast desert, live in the present, because such moments will not come easily again.
Are you ready for such a powerful experience?
Read also: Discovering Jordan: From Aqaba to Petra and Wadi Rum
