Wadi Rum

The "Valley of the Moon": a red desert of sandstone mountains, with jeep tours through canyons and rock bridges and nights in Bedouin camps under the Milky Way.

Wadi Rum lies in Aqaba Governorate in southern Jordan. It is a desert of sandstone and granite covering about 720 square kilometers, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 for both natural and cultural value. Sandstone mountains hundreds of meters high rise from red sands, with canyons, natural stone arches and rock carvings everywhere. Its landscape is so otherworldly that it is often called the "Valley of the Moon," and films such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian and Dune were shot here.

How to visit: buy a ticket at the visitor center (JD 5, free with the Jordan Pass), then transfer to a Bedouin jeep to enter the protected area. The 2–3 hour short tour covers Lawrence's Spring, the red dunes, Khazali Canyon, the Little Rock Bridge and Lawrence's House; the full-day tour adds Mushroom Rock, Umm Fruth and Burdah rock bridges, Barrah Canyon and more. You can also ride camels, hike, climb or take a hot-air balloon, but the classic experience is to spend a night in a camp for sunset and stars.

Getting there: about 1 hour by car from Aqaba and about 1.5–2 hours from Petra, by minibus or chartered car; most camps offer pick-up. Suggested stay: 1–2 days.

Climate: Mar–May and Sep–Nov are the most comfortable; summer days often exceed 35°C, and winter nights approach freezing. Use sun protection, drink plenty of water, and always go into the desert with a licensed guide.

Top sights

• Wadi Rum – A 'Valley of the Moon' of red sand and sandstone mountains, with Bedouin camps, jeep tours and a sky full of stars. It is a filming locatio…
• Wadi Rum Village & Bedouin Camps – The only Bedouin village within the protected area. Camps serve zarb, a dish cooked underground, and the night sky shows the Milky Way.
• Wadi Rum Station (Hejaz Railway) – A desert station on the southern stretch of the Hejaz Railway from the early 20th century, with an old steam locomotive on display. Lawrenc…
• Seven Pillars of Wisdom – Seven vertical rock pillars directly opposite the Wadi Rum Visitor Center, named after T. E. Lawrence's memoir "Seven Pillars of Wisdom." I…
• Red Sand Dune – A tall red sand dune leaning against a rock mountain. You can climb barefoot to the top for a view over the red valleys, and sandboarding i…
• Lawrence's Spring – A spring on the rock face on the west side of Jabal Rum. Legend says "Lawrence of Arabia" once watered his horses and rested here, and ther…
• Khazali Canyon – The most famous narrow gorge in Wadi Rum, with rock walls covered in Nabataean and Thamudic rock art and inscriptions showing people, camel…
• Burdah Rock Bridge – A natural stone arch about 80 meters up on Jabal Burdah. The climb takes 1 to 2 hours and is the most thrilling half-day route in Wadi Rum.
• Umm Fruth Rock Bridge – The easiest natural stone arch to climb in Wadi Rum, about 15 meters high. It is a must-stop photo spot on jeep tours.
• Jabal Umm ad Dami – The highest peak in Jordan, at about 1,854 meters. From the summit, you can see both the Red Sea and the desert of Saudi Arabia.
• Lawrence's House (Al-Qsair) – The ruins of a Nabataean stone house on a red sand dune, where Lawrence is said to have stored supplies. The views around it are wide open.
• Anfashieh Inscriptions – Thamudic and Nabataean rock carvings on sandstone walls, showing camel caravans and people. They are a witness to the ancient desert trade…
• Mushroom Rock – A mushroom-shaped sandstone formation, carved by wind erosion, standing alone in the open sand. Narrow at the base and wide at the top, it…
• Jabal Rum – A giant sandstone mountain west of Rum Village, the second-highest peak in Jordan and a classic route for climbing and hiking.
• Little Rock Bridge – A small natural stone arch a few meters high. Climbing to the top for a photo takes only a few minutes, and it is a regular stop on jeep to…
• Wadi Rum Visitor Center – The only entrance to the Wadi Rum reserve. Buy tickets here and transfer to camp jeeps. It faces the rock formation known as Seven Pillars…
• Nabataean Temple of Rum – The ruins of a 1st-century Nabataean temple on the edge of Rum Village, dedicated to the goddess Allat. It is within walking distance.
• Barrah Canyon – A wide sandstone canyon about 5 kilometers long, with tall red walls on both sides. It is ideal for camel rides or hiking through.
• Siq Um Al Tawaqi (Lawrence carving) – Carvings on the canyon walls of Lawrence and Arab revolt leaders. It is a common stop on full-day jeep routes.

Where to eat

• Sun City Camp Restaurant – A domed restaurant at a desert camp where dinner guests can watch zarb, a Bedouin dish slow-cooked underground, being u…
• Rum Castle Restaurant – A casual eatery often recommended in the village of Wadi Rum, serving falafel and chicken dishes quickly, ideal before…
• FoodEx Wadi Rum Restaurant – A lunch stop before the desert in Wadi Rum, known for its 12-dinar buffet, with burgers and shawarma also on the menu.

Itineraries

• Classic Jordan: North to South – Travel south from Amman to the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Red Sea—the standard route for first-time visitors.
• Petra & Wadi Rum Express – A short holiday itinerary heading straight to Petra upon landing, spending a night in a desert camp, and wrapping up in…
• In-Depth Jordan Self-Drive Grand Loop – Rent a car to explore northern ancient cities, desert castles, the King's Highway, Dana, Petra, and the Red Sea.
• Israel and Jordan: Tel Aviv to Amman – Cross from the Mediterranean through the Holy City and the Red Sea, then explore Petra, Wadi Rum, and Amman.
• Sinai Crossing to Petra, Jordan – Explore Dahab and Mount Sinai, cross the Gulf of Aqaba from Nuweiba, and connect to Wadi Rum, Petra, and Amman.