How to Have the Best Wadi Rum Experience: The Desert, Bedouin Hospitality and Wadi Rum Camp

During my trip to Jordan, one of the things on the top of my bucket list was to fully immerse myself in a Wadi Rum Bedouin experience. It was no short of outstanding! If you’re looking to have the best Wadi Rum experience, I’m going to tell you how.

This included staying overnight in the desert at a Wadi rum camp, visiting the historical landmarks, and of course, experiencing the notable bedouin hospitality I had heard so much about. 

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know, so you can plan your own Wadi Rum full experience. It was one of my highlights during my trip to Jordan, read on and find out why.

How to Have the Best Wadi Rum Experience

In this article, I’ve included the best things to do in Wadi Rum. You can expect to do all of this when you visit. 

I opted for the two-day-one-night Wadi Rum desert camp experience which included a 4×4 Jeep safari around the desert. My only regret was that I wish I had stayed longer!

Top Wadi Rum Things to Do

• Climb a sand dune
• Ride in the open back of a 4×4
• See ancient Nabatean Petroglyphs
• Scramble up Umm Fruth Rock Bridge
• Visit Lawrence of Arabia’s house
• Come face to face with King Abdullah and Lawrence of Arabia
• Watch the rocks glow red at sunset
• Try traditional Bedouin food cooked in the ground
• Drink Sage tea and smoke a shisha under the stars
• Be adventurous and go rock climbing or sandboarding

Is Wadi Rum Worth Visiting?

Yes! Wadi Rum is truly worthy of a spot on your Jordanian bucket list!

This incredible desert in Jordan features fascinating sandstone mountains, ancient petroglyphs, and exciting outdoor activities like hiking and climbing. The natural beauty and cultural richness make it a truly memorable destination for travellers.

For the full Wadi Rum experience, I also recommend staying overnight in a moon capsule or at one of the traditional Beduin camps.

What Does Wadi Rum Mean?

The name Wadi Rum translates to ‘Roman Valley’ although at times, whilst sightseeing around Wadi Rum all you see is a huge expanse of desert as far as the eye can see. It certainly doesn’t feel like a valley at times. 

Who Are the Bedouins?

Bedouins are nomadic Arab people of the desert regions in the Middle East, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring countries. 

Although many of them now have a modern way of life, they still have a strong connection to their rich cultural heritage and close connection to the desert environment they have inhabited for generations.

The best way to experience these traditions and hospitality is at a Bedouin camp.

Wadi Rum Facts and History

If you’re not quite sure what to expect, here are some interesting facts about Wadi Rum to pique your interest. It truly is a fantastic place to visit, and if it wasn’t originally on your Jordan itinerary, it certainly should be!

• Wadi Rum has an area of around 720 square kilometres (280 sq mi) located in the southern part of Jordan. It features some of the most spectacular desert landscapes on earth with cliffs, deep canyons, sand dunes, and rock formations.

• Wadi Rum was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 due to its unique geology, archaeology and ecology.

• Wadi Rum has been inhabited since prehistoric times. You’ll find various archaeological sites in the park dating back to the Nabataeans at around 6BC. Evidence of their civilisation can be seen in rock paintings in the area.

• You’ve heard of Lawrence of Arabia? The 1962 British-made film was based on the life of Officer T. E. Lawrence. Lawrence passed through Wadi Rum several times during his time in the military. There is even a carving to commemorate him, keep reading to see a picture of it!

• The main group of people who reside in the Wadi Rum desert now are the Bedouins. These ‘desert dwellers’ (yes, Bedouin translates to that) throughout history were nomadic tribespeople. Although most modern-day Bedouins will most likely live in a home with all mod-cons, they still have a strong holding on their heritage. You can experience a piece of the Bedouin lifestyle in the guise of a Wadi Rum desert camp.

• Archaeologists have discovered numerous prehistoric inscriptions in rock-cut tombs from the Nabataeans period dating back 2000 years ago at Wadi Rum including carvings depicting human activities like hunting or dancing as well as drawings related to astronomy or mathematics that may be evidence for advanced knowledge among those ancient people living there long ago.

• Additionally, Wadi Rum is home to many unique and rare plants and wildlife that can be seen while exploring the desert.

The Wadi Rum Bedouin Experience – Know Before You Go

Before you plan your stay at Wadi Rum, here are some useful tips and information you might find useful.

Where is Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum is located in southern Jordan, about 60 kilometres east of Petra and approximately 300 kilometres south of Amman, the capital city. It shares borders with Saudi Arabia to the south and south-east, and with Israel to the west.

How to Get To Wadi Rum

Getting to Wadi Rum is relatively straightforward. You have plenty of options coming from other major cities and locations in Jordan. Here are the most popular routes. 

Getting from the Airport in Amman to Wadi Rum

The main airport for Jordan is the Queen Alia International Airport, just outside of the nation’s capital, Amman. Book your transfer from the airport to Amman city centre in advance to skip the line.

Alternatively, if you’re not planning on stopping in Amman, you can book a direct private transfer to Wadi Rum from Queen Alia International Airport. The journey takes about 3 1/2 hours.

Petra to Wadi Rum to Petra

You might want to book a round trip to Wadi Rum from Petra and back again. This is absolutely doable.

The distance from Petra to Wadi Rum is approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles). To get from Petra to Wadi Rum, you can take a taxi or hire a private driver, which usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. 

Alternatively, there are organized tours to Petra and Wadi Rum that offer transportation between the two destinations. Your accommodation in Petra will be able to put you in contact with a driver to do this route. 

Aqaba to Wadi Rum

The distance from Aqaba to Wadi Rum is about 40 kilometres (25 miles).

To travel from Aqaba to Wadi Rum, you can take a taxi or hire a private driver, which usually takes around 1 hour. Just like other trips, there are also organized tours from Aqaba and Wadi Rum available that offer transportation between the two locations.

Getting Around Wadi Rum

There are three methods of transport for Wadi Rum; by foot, by ‘ship of the desert’ aka a camel or by 4×4.

I opted for an organised 4×4 Jeep tour with an overnight stay in the desert.

You could hire a 4×4 of your own and visit the highlights by yourself. However, you need to be confident of where you are going plus trust that the car isn’t going to break down and leave you waiting for an expensive pick-up in the middle of nowhere.

It’s much easier to book onto one of the 4×4 Jeep safaris which will take you to see everything.

Best Wadi Rum Experience – Organised Tours

I highly suggest camping in Wadi Rum for at least a night. This allows you to experience sunset and sunrise in the desert. 

Here are my top choices for the best Wadi Rum Bedouin tour with a camp. 

What to Pack for Wadi Rum

If you’re planning on going Wadi Rum camping as part of your trip to Jordan, then there are some useful things you’ll want to make sure you pack and take with you. 

Here are some tips on what to take to Wadi Rum. 

• You’ll be walking on hot sand as well as scrambling over rocks so make sure you have a breathable and comfortable pair of walking shoes. Also, take a pair of flip-flops or sandals to wear around the camp.

• Take a jacket or shawl for the nighttime, it can get chilly in the desert

• Sand and regular cameras with moving parts DO NOT MIX, the best way to get around this is to use something more robust like an action camera.

• It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the desert is hot and dry. Make sure you take a large refillable water bottle with you to keep hydrated.

• To keep the sand out of your nose when it’s breezy, it’s worthwhile using a multifunctional head scarf. The Beduins will teach you how to tie it into a turban. 

• Finally, when the sun is out, which most likely it will be, make sure you have a good quality pair of sunglasses and a hat to stop you squinting from the glare, and of course, plenty of sunscreens.

You can read my detailed article about what to wear in Jordan, which also includes hints on what not to wear too. It’s also got a handy downloadable and printable checklist for you to use.

Is Jordan Safe?

Jordan is an incredibly safe and friendly country.

However, it’s always important to use common sense, be aware of your surroundings and not flash expensive items about to stay safe. Hiding your valuables in a money belt or scarf with a hidden pocket is a great way to stay discreet.

If you’re out and about for the whole day, it’s worthwhile investing in an anti-theft backpack to keep your items safe.

Finally, don’t forget to take a water purification filter bottle with you so that you can drink safely from any tap water source!

Best Things to Do in Wadi Rum

It’s worthwhile spending at least a night at a Wadi Rum camp and making full use of the opportunity to explore the region. There are a ton of things to see at Wadi Rum as well as various adventurous activities like climbing and dune boarding.

Spending time overnight at one of the Wadi Rum Desert camps also allows you to see the red sandstone rocks illuminated into an even richer red against the setting sun. 

When the sun does go down, it’s a spectacular place for stargazing under the cool and clear desert skies.

So let’s go… read on to find out the full Wadi Rum Camp experience

1. Climb a Sand Dune

You’re in the desert so one thing you can be sure of is that you’ll get to climb at least one sand dune. Expect sand to get everywhere!

Climbing a sand dune is easier said than done, it’s a great leg workout because every step you take, your foot sinks in and you seem to slide back down the dune. It’s slow progress. But so worth it when you get to the top for the awesome views.

The sandstone rocks, on the other hand, are super easy to climb due to the gritty surface giving your shoes some decent traction. Just watch out for your knees and elbows, I was covered in scuffs and grazes after enthusiastically climbing the rocks.

2. Ride in the Open Back of a 4×4

A Jeep tour in Wadi Rum is the best way to see a lot of stuff in a short space of time. 

In the jeep, opt to sit in the back for at least part of the journey. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of the warm desert air blowing through your hair. I did the whole journey sitting on the back, it gives you the best views but all the most matted and dustiest locks ever!

Let someone else do the driving, so you can sit back and enjoy the Wadi Rum desert. You can book tours through your Bedouin Wadi Rum camp or if you prefer to book in advance, then check out this option for a 4×4 day tour of Wadi Rum.

3. See Ancient Nabatean Petroglyphs

You can find the ancient Wadi Rum petroglyphs carved into the rockface of Jabal Anfishiyyeh. Symbols such as camels and people are etched into the rock.

I asked our guide what the difference was between a petroglyph and a hieroglyph; He said a petroglyph is basically a picture telling a story, like a modern-day comic strip. And that a hieroglyph is actual writing or a language.

You can view the petroglyphs from the ground, but to take a closer look there is a climbable boulder which takes you up to the same level as them.

4. Test Your Nerves at Umm Fruth Rock Bridge

Sandstone is super soft, as far as rocks go. And because of the soft rock in the Wadi Rum desert, you’ll find tons of amazing rock formations. Natural bridges like the Umm Furth rock bridge have been cut out through millennia of corrosion.

Umm Fruth rock bridge is relatively easy to climb up to the platform, although probably not recommended if you have a fear of heights. Like most stuff in Jordan, there’s a bit of a disregard for health and safety rules. Just don’t fall is my advice.

During the late afternoon as the sun begins to set, it casts some great shadows as well as being at the correct angle for some amazing sunbeam photos of the arch. A certain highlight of my time in Wadi Rum.

5. Visit Lawrence of Arabia’s House

This is the location of the actual house used in the 1962 British film, Lawrence of Arabia. Although it’s in a bit of a dishevelled state, it was still great to be able to see a bit of the original film set.

If you go behind the house, you’ll find a climbable route up to a plateau. Up here you’ll find a ton of cairns where people have left their mark over the years. They are everywhere!

Heading up a bit further to the top of the mound you’ll be rewarded with a great vantage point for a fantastic panoramic shot of the surrounding desert. It’s immense and crazy to think we’re still only at the edge of Wadi Rum Park!

6. Come Face to Face With King Abdullah and Lawrence of Arabia

To commemorate, both King Abdullah and Lawrence of Arabia, their heads have been carved into the sandstone. It’s not exactly Mt Rushmore though!

The heads are actually smaller than life size and even though I’m not 100% convinced of the likeliness of either of them, it’s still pretty cool to see these faces carved into the rock of Wadi Rum.

7. Watch the Rocks Glow Red at Sunset

The setting sun at ‘golden hour’ makes the already red rocks glow even more intensely. The whole landscape looks absolutely stunning.

It’s at this time of day when you will see lots of the Bedouins herding their camels back to camp. Until my trip to Wadi Rum, I’d never seen a camel up close. At first impressions, they stink. 

Despite the smell, they do have enviable long eyelashes. They’ve also got a constant duck-lip-pout about them; enough to give the Kardashians a run for their money.

8. Try Traditional Bedouin Food Cooked in the Ground

If you’re staying overnight at any of the Wadi Rum camps, you’ll get to experience Bedouin hospitality – they won’t let you go hungry! 

To cook their food, the Bedouins dig a cylindrical shaped pit into the sand. At the bottom of the pit is a fire with coals. The food is placed onto a grill, lowered into the pit and then covered with matting before being left for several hours to cook.

Everything from the meats, the vegetables and bread were cooked in this way. I’m a vegetarian, so opted out of the meat, but the vegetables were delicious and made for a hearty and healthy meal which we ate, sitting around a campfire.

All this is then washed down with copious amounts of sweet sage tea.

9. Drink Sage Tea and Smoke a Shisha Under the Stars

Because you’re miles from a city, Wadi Rum at night is a great place for watching the stars. 

The evenings can be chilly in the desert, so be sure to have something warm if you’re not sitting around the campfire. If you’re planning on doing any Wadi Rum stargazing make sure you have a jumper.

The traditional sweet sage tea makes for a well-earned treat at the end of the day. I seemed to have a bottomless cup of it, not that I was complaining, which was down to the hospitality of the Bedouin hosts who wouldn’t let your cup run dry.

You can opt to share a shisha with the other guests and the hosts. 

I loved the sweet apple flavour, taking puffs on the warm sweet smoke between sipping on sage tea all whilst relaxing in the gentle breeze watching the stars. Stargazing in Wadi Rum is the perfect way to soothe you to sleep in the desert. 

10. Be Adventurous and Go Rock Climbing, Hiking or Sandboarding

Feeling adventurous? You’ll love the adventure activities at Wadi Rum – climbing, sandboarding and hiking, it has it all!

This stunning desert has so much to offer for adrenalin junkies.

Climb up towering sandstone cliffs, for the most outstanding views from the top. Hike through its valleys and canyons, spot ancient rock art along the way and immerse yourself in the beauty and history of the desert.

That’s not all, you’ll also find places to sandboard down the smooth dunes – word of warning – sand will get EVERYWHERE! You’ll be finding grains of sand for days after you leave the desert if you opt for this.

Note on Riding Camels; the ‘Ships of the Desert’

I’m always dubious and conscious about ‘animal attractions’ as part of tourism.

However, the camel has been a major part of the Bedouin culture for centuries, these uniquely adapted creatures were used to transport goods and people across the desert before 4×4 which is more commonly used now. However, the camel is still a massive part of their heritage. 

The Bedouin people not only used the camel for transportation but also their milk, wool and even meat!

I’m introduced to a 10-year-old big boy, with enviable eyelashes. He was a barrel of a creature and I don’t think I could have spread my legs much wider to sit on him! When he stood up, it was a long way to fall.

Their massive hoofs and long gait made walking on sand look easy compared to the 4 legged scramble up the dunes I was doing yesterday. Their natural swagger and the early morning sun make it a relaxing journey.

But a wonderful lasting memory of my brief time in the desert.

What to Expect From Bedouin Hospitality

When you stay with Bedouin hosts you can expect excellent service and attention to detail. At a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, you won’t go hungry or thirsty. 

At your camp, you’ll also be able to book any extra excursions if you want to be spontaneous. 

What to Expect at a Wadi Rum Camp?

At a Wadi Rum camp, you can expect a charmingly rustic experience through to high-end moon capsules.

The traditional accommodation typically comprises canvas tents, providing basic but comfortable rooms with comfortable beds. While the facilities may be simple, the real allure lies in the beautiful surroundings. 

Whichever option you go for, you’ll get treated to Bedouin hospitality with delicious on-site meals, and with the option to gather around a campfire under the starry night sky – sharing sage tea and shishas.

For an authentic experience, here are some of the best Wadi Rum camps. 

Overall Best Bedouin Camp Wadi Rum: Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

This camp is nestled in the heart of the desert, surrounded by stunning mountain views and beautiful scenery.

The accommodation options at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp are bubble capsules and yurt tents decorated with traditional furniture, textiles and fittings. The onsite restaurant serves traditional food as well as being able to cater for a range of dietary needs.

The Capsules offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and feature air conditioning to keep them at a comfortable temperature.

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Wadi Rum Full Experience – FAQs

I’ve covered a lot of details bout how to have the best Wadi Rum experience. This final section has answers to any other questions you might have about planning your visit. 

Ready to Have the Best Wadi Rum Experience?

I loved my time in the Wadi Rum desert, my only regret is that I didn’t spend nearly long enough – as a fan of adrenalin sports – there would have been enough to keep me occupied for a week here!

If you’re looking for the best Wadi Rum full experience, I hope this article has given you plenty of insight. Immpersng yourself in a Wadi Rum camp that offers authentic Bedouin hospitality is an experience I highly recommend.

However you choose to explore the desert, whether it’s just on a day trip or a single-night stay – you won’t regret it!

Looking for more ideas for your Jordan itinerary, then check out these other great articles… 

• 10 Days in Jordan Travel Guide
• 26 Reasons To Visit Petra
• What To Wear in Jordan
• Ruins of Jerash, Jordan
• The Best Things to Do in Amman

If you’re travelling with a family, then this article about Wadi Rum with kids might be useful.