Wadi Rum is Jordan’s great desert, a protected area of red sand, towering sandstone and granite mountains, natural arches and Bedouin camps, inscribed by UNESCO for its landscape and its culture. It is about four hours south of Amman by road, which is why most visitors combine it with Petra or fly to Aqaba first. This bookable safari starts at the Wadi Rum Rest House in Wadi Rum Village and runs for about twenty hours. A guide who speaks English and Arabic takes you by vehicle to the main sights, sandboarding on the dunes is part of the day, and a full meal and Bedouin tea and coffee are included. You then spend the night in a desert camp under a sky with very little light pollution. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your transfer to the village.
How it works
The experience is run in small groups of up to eight people and starts at the village rest house, where you leave your own vehicle or meet a driver. It includes overnight accommodation, transport to the main sites, a full meal, sandboarding, bottled water and Bedouin tea and coffee. The booking page offers free cancellation until two days before the visit, though you should check the current terms.
Getting there from Amman
The drive is around four hours each way, so a one-day round trip is exhausting. A better plan is to take a private driver or the bus south, spend the night in camp, and continue to Petra or Aqaba the next day. If you are on a short trip, a combined Petra and Wadi Rum day from Amman is possible but very long.
What to pack
Nights from November to March are cold, so bring layers and a hat, and in summer the days are hot and dry. Wear closed shoes for sand, carry a scarf for wind and dust, and bring a flashlight. The stars, the silence and the colors at sunrise are the real prize, so build in the overnight rather than rushing back.
What to expect
The experience
A guided jeep safari with sandboarding, a full meal and an overnight stay in a desert camp.
Best time
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant; winter nights are cold and summer days are very hot.
How long
About twenty hours, from the village rest house.
Tips
Arrange your own transfer to Wadi Rum Village, pack layers, wear closed shoes and bring a flashlight.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Travelers who want a night in the desert and a classic Jordan landscape.
- Families
- Older children and teens will love the dunes and the camp; very young ones may find it long.
- Couples
- The stars and the quiet make it one of the most romantic nights in Jordan.
- Pair with
- Petra on the way south from Amman.
- Time needed
- Overnight.
Good questions
How far is Wadi Rum from Amman?+
About four hours by road each way. Most visitors combine it with Petra or an Aqaba stay rather than doing it as a single day.
Is hotel pickup included?+
No, the experience starts at the Wadi Rum Rest House in Wadi Rum Village. Arrange a driver or bus to get there.
What is included in the safari?+
A guide, vehicle transport to the main sights, a full meal, sandboarding, water, Bedouin tea and coffee and an overnight stay. Check the booking page for the full list.
Is it cold at night?+
From November to March nights are cold, sometimes near freezing. Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves.
Is Wadi Rum a UNESCO site?+
Yes, it is inscribed for its desert landscape and its Bedouin cultural heritage. The protected area covers a large expanse of red sand and rock.
