Wadi Rum Desert Guide 2026: Jeep Tours, Camps & Tips | Jordan

By Emma · Updated 20 October 2026 · 2 min read

TL;DR

Stay at least one night in a desert camp for sunset and stars
Tours inside the protected area are run by local Bedouin guides
Spring and autumn have the most comfortable temperatures
It is about 90 minutes from Petra and an hour from Aqaba

Type: Nature
Where: Jordan
Time needed: 1 night, or a half-day jeep tour
Admission: about JD 5 protected area fee (2026), included in the Jordan Pass; tours and camps extra, check before you go

Wadi Rum is a vast protected desert of red sand and sheer sandstone and granite mountains in southern Jordan. T.E. Lawrence passed through during the Arab Revolt and described it as "vast, echoing and God-like", and its Mars-like scenery has since appeared in many films. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, valued both for its landscapes and for rock carvings left over thousands of years, and it pairs perfectly with Petra, 90 minutes away.

What you'll see

Most visitors explore by 4x4 with a Bedouin driver, stopping at a series of classic sights: the red dunes, Lawrence's Spring, the narrow Khazali Canyon with its ancient inscriptions, and natural rock bridges such as Um Fruth and Burdah. Between them, the scale of the empty desert is the real attraction. Sunset from a high rock, followed by a sky full of stars, is the highlight of any stay.

Visiting

Entry: a protected-area fee of about JD 5 is paid at the visitor centre, or covered by the Jordan Pass (2026).
Tours: jeep tours range from two hours to a full day; camel rides, hikes and scrambles up Jebel Burdah are also possible. Book with a licensed camp or guide from Wadi Rum village.
Camps: from simple Bedouin tents to "bubble" domes with private bathrooms. Most prices include dinner, often zarb (meat and vegetables cooked under the sand), and breakfast.
Hot-air balloons: offered seasonally for sunrise flights over the desert.
Bring: sunglasses, a hat and sun cream, plus warm layers: nights can be cold, especially from November to March.
When to go: March to May and September to November are best. Summer days are very hot.

Getting there

The Wadi Rum visitor centre is just off the Desert Highway, about an hour north-east of Aqaba and around 90 minutes south of Petra. If you drive, leave your car at the visitor centre or in Wadi Rum village, as camps will collect you; ordinary cars shouldn't go into the sand. Taxis run from Aqaba and Wadi Musa, and some camps arrange transfers.

Where is Wadi Rum?

Open in OpenStreetMap · 29.63950, 35.43440

Frequently asked questions

Is one night in Wadi Rum enough?

For most visitors, yes. Arrive by early afternoon for a jeep tour and sunset, then spend the night in camp. A second night suits hikers and climbers.

Can you visit Wadi Rum as a day trip?

Yes, from Aqaba or Petra, but you miss the best of it: sunset, a campfire dinner and the stars. If time allows, stay overnight.

Do you need a guide in Wadi Rum?

Yes for driving inside the protected area, where tours are run by local Bedouin operators. It is easy to get lost, and the sand is unsuitable for hire cars.

Written by

Emma City breaks & deals editor

Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.