DESERT EXPERIENCE

With its red and white sand and strangely shaped mountains Wadi Rum is nothing like the large yellow sand area that people imagine when they think of a desert. Wadi Rum is different.

Many years ago, the Wadi Rum area was sea and the water, the wind and the sand shaped the mountains in a way that is unique. 

For thousands of years people lived here under difficult circumstances. The Nabateans once stayed in Rum and left a temple close to the village and many old inscriptions in various mountains in the desert.

Almost all the people living in the Wadi Rum area are Bedouin, and most of them are from the Zelabea tribe. These days most of the Bedouin live in Rum Village, the only village inside the protected area of Wadi Rum, but some still live in the desert permanently.

Wadi Rum is about 30 kilometres from the main road. There are no hotels, banks, ATM machines, ... There are some small shops and only one restaurant. After all, it's the last village before the desert and the road stops there !

Busses come to Wadi Rum from Aqaba; there is one at 1 pm and sometimes another before. One bus a day comes from Petra, and returns there soon afterwards. It leaves Petra at about 6.30 am and arrives here at about 8 am. If we know you are coming we will pick you up from the bus stop at the Visitor Centre.

Busses leave Wadi Rum in the mornings for Aqaba at about 7 am and for Petra at about 8.30 am. We will make sure you get to Rum Village in time to catch your bus. Except for the bus to Petra the other busses do not drive on Fridays!

There are no other busses. If you leave later in the day we can usually arrange a taxi for you or take you 30 kilometres to the Desert Highway where there is a bus stop. 

Some examples for taxi prices:

Our standard jeep tour normally starts at about 9.30 am. The timing for the other tours is flexible, and we can start later or finish earlier to fit in with whatever your plans are.

Water will be provided by us. In Wadi Rum we have an aquifer, which means that the ground holds water. This water is very pure and excellent for drinking. In any case, we also provide bottled mineral water. 

Not included in our price is the 2JD entrance fee to Wadi Rum, to be paid at the Visitor Centre.

There is a toilet in Sabbah’s camp. But out in the desert…..you will have to go behind a rock! Please be sure that all wastes are buried! Burn the toilet paper that you use and cover any “evidence” with sand.

Please keep the desert clean and never leave any rubbish behind.

Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to freely move when you walk, ride a camel or climb. Trekking sandals are good but for scrambling and climbing you need hiking shoes. Make sure you protect yourself against the sun.

Contact us if you have any more questions, we will be happy to answer all of them!