A visit to the ‘Valley of the Moon’, as Wadi Rum is known, is an absolute must when travelling through Jordan. It’s the best way to bask in nature’s beauty, see star-filled skies that defy imagination and witness the fascinating topographical features of the desert landscape.
Camping at Wadi Rum: a mystical experience
Wadi Rum is in Jordan’s south, about 60km northeast of Aqaba. The protected desert area spans about 183,352 acres.
In the springtime, the desert comes alive with plants and wildflowers, and baby goats and camels expand the Bedouin herds. However, with fewer than three days of rain each year, it’s an ideal place to visit at any time to see the exquisite sunsets, colourful sunrises and clear, starlit skies at night.
Stay overnight at Wadi Rum for a complete experience of this unique location. The accommodation ranges from Bedouin tents to luxury camps. On a Jordan small group tour, everything is arranged in advance.
Wadi Rum, Jordan by Pam Frisari
Wadi Rum’s unique landscapes
Wadi Rum landscape, Jordan by Dennis Bunnik
Visiting Wadi Rum is like stepping into a film set or fairy tale. The red, sweeping sand dunes roll up to towing cliffs, rock mountains, narrow gorges and dramatic cavernous shapes in rock. Throughout this region inscriptions and Stone Age petroglyphs provide evidence of the continuing presence of desert dwellers.
Shaped by eons of years of wind, erosion and tectonic activity, the landscape is awe-inspiring.
History of Wadi Rum
Petroglyphs at Wadi Rum, Jordan by Annelieke Huijgens
Rock formations around Wadi Rum are inscribed in different languages, including Thamudic, Nabataean, Islamic and Arabic. This is evidence of widespread literacy among dwellers on the Arabian peninsula from ancient times.
There are around 25,000 petroglyphs, 20,000 inscriptions and 154 archaeological sites in the region, tracing the evolution of human thought and the early development of the alphabet.
Petroglyphs are rock carvings of figures and symbols, including human figures holding bows and arrows, animals like camels, ibex, and horses, and symbols that trace pastoral, agricultural, and urban activities through time. The symbols also reveal the shift in climate from mildly humid to arid desert.
Who lived at Wadi Rum?
Evidence throughout the area dates human habitation back to 12,000 years ago. In particular, the Thamud people were here from around the eighth century BC. The Thamud people, referred to as ‘Arabs’ in the Quran, are a nomadic tribe with connections to the people who built Petra.
The Nabateans are known for their skill in finding and preserving water, like the Nabatean dam at Wadi Rum. After the Romans annexed Petra in 106 BC, Jordan became part of the Byzantine Empire and Syria became the new centre of trade until the Umayyads took control to establish the first Muslim Empire.
During the Ottoman Empire from 1517, Bedouins living at Wadi Rum were left to themselves. Then in the early 20th century, the Arab Revolt, led by Bedouin tribes, ended Ottoman rule to create Jordan and the Middle East. The Arab revolt stemmed from a coalition of the Hashemites of Jordan, Hussein bin Ali, the Sharif of Mecca and the British to overthrow the unified Arab state.
Wadi Rum in the 20th century
During the Arab revolt in 1917-18, a British officer named T.E Lawrence (known as Lawrence of Arabia) made camp at Wadi Rum and fought against the occupying Turkish and German armies.
T.E Lawrence mentions Wadi Rum in his book ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’. His exploits became part of the local folklore. This British officer was likely less critical to the success of the Arab revolt than the tales portray, however, the saga made Wadi Rum famous.
In the 1990s, Wadi Rum village was built, with tourism beginning in the area in the 1990s.
Wadi Rum today
Wadi Rum landscape, Jordan by Annelieke Huijgens
Wadi Rum has been a protected area since 1997 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. The otherworldly sandstone landscape is reminiscent of Mars's red surface, and many films have been shot here, including Mission to Mars (2000), The Martian (2015) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962) — the list is long!
Today, the people living in Wadi Rum are mostly Bedouin (meaning ‘desert dweller’), with several hundred living in goat-hair tents and the concrete houses of Rum village.
What to see and do at a Wadi Rum camp
Camping at Wadi Rum in a Bedouin camp is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but there’s more to it than just sleeping in a goat-hair tent overnight. Make the time to watch the sunset, set an alarm to catch the sunrise and bask in the natural beauty all around.
During the day there’s plenty to see and do. Here are a few ideas to make the most of Wadi Rum.
Explore the desert in a 4WD
A four-wheel drive is essential for navigating the desert sand and it’s the easiest way to explore the nearby mountains, valleys and archaeological sites. Away from phone reception, this is a chance to truly switch off and enjoy the experience of the grand views at high points, canyons and stone carvings.
4WD tour in Wadi Rum, Jordan by Bailey Bunnik
Ride in a hot air balloon above the desert
The dramatic landscapes of Wadi Rum take on a new perspective from above, in a hot air balloon or light aircraft. Looking down on the rock formations, gorges, dry river beds, and extensive sand dunes is a marvellous experience.
Camp under the stars
Camping in Wadi Rum is an unforgettable experience. After sharing dinner, there’s often music and dancing. Visitors can watch traditional dances unique to the area, participate in frivolity and spend valuable time with the local community.
When it’s time to retire for the evening, look up at the night sky. With little light pollution and a low likelihood of cloud cover, the stars are sublime indeed.
Taste traditional bedouin food
One of the treats of camping at Wadi Rum is dinnertime. A traditional Bedouin barbeque dinner is cooked underground. Meat and vegetables are slow-cooked for three hours or longer. Traditional foods like falafel and hummus accompany the meal, so there’s plenty for vegetarians.
Traditional Bedouin dinner at Wadi Rum, Jordan by Pam Frisari
Experience Wadi Rum’s exquisite beauty with a small group tour
A tour of Jordan is not complete without the wonderful experience of camping at Wadi Rum. A luxury small group tour of Jordan elevates this experience with local wine tasting and a thrilling 4WD tour.
The best way to experience Jordan’s desert scenes and star-studded skies is with a small group of like-minded travellers. Travelling with a small group is an opportunity to make new friends, share unforgettable experiences and take the most beautiful photographs of places on everyone’s bucket list.
Questions about Wadi Rum
Why camp at Wadi Rum?
Wadi Rum is a place of stark beauty away from Jordan's cities. Camping here is an opportunity to experience Bedouin culture. In the evening, stories are told around the fire as the sun sets, and the sunrise brings a gorgeous glow to the red dunes — it’s the experience of a lifetime.
Was Star Wars filmed in Wadi Rum?
Yes, ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ and ‘Rogue One’ were filmed at Wadi Rum, with the desert landscape standing in for the moon of Jedha in ‘Rogue One’.
Is alcohol available at Wadi Rum?
There’s no alcohol provided along with meals or available to buy at Wadi Rum, out of respect for Bedouin culture. Visitors may bring their own to enjoy in the tent, but it’s not recommended to drink in public.