✈Mowando

parc national

Wadi Rum

A desert of orange stone and sand so spectacular that Hollywood has been using it for thirty years to embody Mars — and where the night sky, free of light pollution, remains one of the purest in the world.

★ 4.90Pétra et sud

Wadi Rum — nicknamed the Valley of the Moon — is one of the most extraordinary deserts in the world and probably the most accessible of the great cinematic deserts. Listed as UNESCO world heritage in 2011 for its natural landscapes and for its 12,000-year-old petroglyphs, this 720 km² desert in southern Jordan, 60 kilometres north of Aqaba and 100 kilometres south of Petra, is an open-air geological cathedral. Red-orange sandstone cliffs 800 metres high rise abruptly from a fine paprika-coloured sand floor, sculpted by 500 million years of erosion into hallucinated shapes: natural bridges (Burdah Bridge, Um Fruth), arches, wave-shaped dunes (Khazali Canyon, Big Red Dune), decorated caves (Lawrence's House) and sheer rock towers. No other desert in the world combines this chromatic palette (red, orange, ochre, beige), this density of spectacular rock formations and this accessibility from a modern town (1 hour from Aqaba by car).

But Wadi Rum is not just a geological backdrop. It is also the ancestral territory of the Howeitat Bedouins, a tribe that has lived there for centuries and which today provides the tourist welcome via camps scattered across the desert — from simple bivouacs under traditional Bedouin tents to luxury bubble tents with transparent canopies overlooking the starscape. It is also a major site of recent history: T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) led his famous Arab Revolt against the Ottomans here in 1917-1918 alongside Prince Faisal, an experience he recounts in The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (title directly inspired by a rock massif in Wadi Rum). And it is finally one of the most used film locations in the world: Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962), The Mummy Returns (2001), Prometheus (2012), The Martian (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Aladdin (2019), and above all Dune (Denis Villeneuve, 2021 and 2024) which made it the official embodiment of planet Arrakis. Visiting Wadi Rum is walking through landscapes you will recognise without ever having been there.

What we love

  • ✅UNESCO desert 2011 with Martian landscapes, one of the most spectacular in the world
  • ✅Bedouin bivouac under the stars — unequalled starscape (zero light pollution)
  • ✅Movie locations: Lawrence of Arabia, Dune, Star Wars Rogue One, The Martian, Aladdin
  • ✅Multiple activities: Bedouin 4x4, camel trek, Burdah Bridge ascent, Seven Pillars climbing
  • ✅Accessible from Petra (2h) and Aqaba (1h) — perfect combination for a southern Jordan circuit

What to know

  • ❌Uneven camps: some very commercial and crowded, choose carefully (favour recommendations)
  • ❌Frequent sandstorms in spring, sometimes hazy skies
  • ❌Extreme heat from May to September (up to 45 °C), freezing nights in winter
  • ❌Intense tourism in high season: clusters of 4x4 groups crossing on the tracks
When to go
Climate and best seasons.
View →
Budget
Cost of living and tips.
View →
Things to do
Activities and must-sees.
View →

Situation

Où se situe Wadi Rum ?

Ouvrir la carte en grand sur OpenStreetMap →

Frequently asked questions

How many nights should I spend at Wadi Rum?+
One night minimum is essential to experience the full thing (sunset, Bedouin dinner under the stars, sunrise). Two nights allow you to add a full day of activities (long 4x4, hike to Burdah Bridge, climbing or day trek). Three nights or more are reserved for desert enthusiasts and yoga/retreat lovers. The majority of travellers on a classic Jordanian tour spend a single night, which is enough for a first experience.
How do I choose a camp at Wadi Rum?+
Three criteria: (1) __location__ — prefer camps deep in the protected zone ("deep in the desert") rather than those right next to Rum village (more accessible but without the desert magic); (2) __type of accommodation__ — traditional Bedouin tents with shared bathrooms (rustic authentic, €40-80/night), permanent tents with private bathroom (€60-120/night), or transparent bubble tents to watch the stars from bed (€180-400/night); (3) __service quality__ — English-speaking guides, included meals, activities offered. Good addresses: __Hasan Zawaideh Camp__, __Wadi Rum Magic Camp__, __Bedouin Lifestyle Camp__ (authentic), __Memories Aicha Luxury Camp__, __Sun City Camp__, __Bubble Luxotel Wadi Rum__ (luxury with bubble tents).
What does a Bedouin camp stay usually include?+
Classic ("all-inclusive") packages include: transfer from Rum village, night in tent, traditional zarb dinner (cooked in hot sand), breakfast, unlimited Bedouin tea, and often a half-day 4x4 tour with a local Bedouin guide (3-4h, visit of the major sites: Lawrence's House, Khazali Canyon, Big Red Dune, natural bridges). Count €60-100 per person for this classic formula. Optional activities: sunset camel trek (€15-25), guided climbing (€50-100 for a half-day), 2-3 day trek with bivouacs (€150-300 all-in).
How do I get to Wadi Rum?+
Wadi Rum is 1h from Aqaba (60 km, by the Desert Highway) and 2h from Petra (105 km). Several options: (1) __public minibus__ from Aqaba or Petra (5-10 JOD), inconvenient with limited schedules; (2) __private taxi__ or hotel shuttle (20-30 JOD from Aqaba, 35-50 JOD from Petra); (3) __organised tour__ 2 days / 1 night from your hotel in Petra or Amman (€150-300 all-in); (4) __rental car__ — leave your car in the free Visitor Centre car park at the park entrance, your camp will pick you up. The Visitor Centre is the mandatory entry point (ticket purchase and organisation of transport to the camp).
Does the Jordan Pass cover Wadi Rum?+
Yes, the Jordan Pass (70-80 JOD depending on the version, €85-100) includes entry to the Wadi Rum protected area (5 JOD without pass, €6.50) and to 40 other major sites including Petra and the Amman Citadel. It also includes the Jordan entry visa. Buy online at jordanpass.jo. Without Jordan Pass, park entry costs 5 JOD adult (€6.50). On-site activities (4x4 tours, camps, meals) are not covered by the Jordan Pass and are paid separately.
Are there really cinema landscapes in Wadi Rum?+
Yes, Wadi Rum is one of the most used film locations in the world. Films shot on site: __Lawrence of Arabia__ (David Lean, 1962 — the film that made the desert famous), __The Mummy Returns__ (2001), __Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen__ (2009), __Prometheus__ (Ridley Scott, 2012), __The Martian__ (Ridley Scott, 2015), __Star Wars: Rogue One__ (2016, Jedha scenes), __Aladdin__ (Guy Ritchie, 2019), __Dune Part 1__ (Denis Villeneuve, 2021) and __Dune Part 2__ (2024) — Arrakis landscapes are largely those of Wadi Rum. Several camps now offer "Dune tours" replicating the filming locations.
Do I need specific equipment for Wadi Rum?+
A few essentials: (1) __warm clothes__ for the night even in summer (temperature drops 15-20 °C between day and night in the desert); (2) __warm sleeping bag__ in winter (camps usually provide one, but check quality); (3) __SPF 50+ sunscreen__ and wide-brimmed hat; (4) __keffiyeh or scarf__ to protect from sand during 4x4 tours (sold on site for 2-5 JOD); (5) __closed walking shoes__ (no sandals — burning sand in summer, scorpions at night); (6) __headlamp__ essential at night; (7) __3-4 litres of water per day__ (bottled water is available but expensive in camp).
Is Wadi Rum safe?+
Yes, Wadi Rum is one of the safest destinations in Jordan. The territory is managed by the Howeitat Bedouin tribe which ensures security with a real sense of hospitality — losing an object in the desert often means finding it the next morning at your guide. Crime is non-existent, Bedouin guides perfectly professional and 4x4 tours run in proper conditions (experienced drivers, maintained vehicles). A few precautions: never set off alone into the desert (real risk of disorientation), drink plenty of water, and follow your camp's guidance in case of storms (flash flood risk in the wadis).

Our verdict

Wadi Rum is one of those deserts you remember all your life. The combination of orange-tinted cliffs, the absolute silence once the jeep stops, the unparalleled starscape and the warm Bedouin welcome makes Wadi Rum a unique experience in the world tourism offer. Our advice: spend at least one night in a Bedouin camp (ideally two to fully enjoy the experience), choose your camp carefully (the best are Hasan Zawaideh Camp, Wadi Rum Magic Camp, Bedouin Lifestyle Camp; for luxury, Memories Aicha Luxury Camp and Sun City Camp with transparent bubble tents), book a half-day 4x4 tour with a local Bedouin guide to discover the major sites (Lawrence's House, Khazali Canyon, Big Red Dune, Um Fruth Bridge), and get up at 5am for sunrise — a magical moment when the cliffs shift from pale pink to scarlet red in fifteen minutes. Ideally combine Petra (2 nights) + Wadi Rum (1-2 nights) + Aqaba (1 night) for a perfect southern Jordan circuit.

Nearby

Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel
Best for : October to March
Akureyri
Akureyri
Best for : June to September for daylight, December to April for skiing
Amman
Amman
Best for : March to May and September to November
Annecy
Annecy
Best for : juin à septembre (été), décembre-mars (ski à proximité)
Antalya
Antalya
Best for : May to June and September to October
Aqaba
Aqaba
Best for : March-May and September-November (diving all year)
The Editors
The Editorsauteur principal✓ Verified

"Frais (10°C), tarifs bas, Wadi Rum glacial."

Expert on Wadi Rum · 1 contributions

Reviewed by :Mediterranean Desk — Mowando·Editor

Mowando Letter

Once a month: the right destinations for the right season + the best booking windows.

No spam. One-click unsubscribe. Your data is never shared.