Wadi Rum is a desert valley in the south of Jordan, the Valley of the Moon: red sand, sandstone mountains, canyons and rock bridges, under very clear skies. It is also our home. This page gathers everything you need to discover it.
What is Wadi Rum?
“Wadi” means valley in Arabic. Wadi Rum is the largest valley in Jordan, carved into sandstone and granite, about 1 hour from Aqaba and 2 hours from Petra. Bedouin families, most of them from the Zalabieh tribe, have lived here for generations. Read where is Wadi Rum and the Bedouins of Wadi Rum.
The Wadi Rum Protected Area
The desert is a protected area of about 720 km², listed by UNESCO in 2011 as a mixed natural and cultural site: about 25,000 rock carvings and 20,000 inscriptions tell 12,000 years of human history. Entry costs 7 JOD (free with the Jordan Pass). More in Wadi Rum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Wadi Rum Village and Visitor Center.
What to see in the Wadi Rum desert
- Lawrence Spring and Lawrence House
- The red dune
- Khazali Canyon and its carvings
- Little Bridge, Burdah Rock Bridge and Um Fruth
- Mushroom Rock and Abu Khashaba Canyon
All the sites in order on our Wadi Rum map, with photos in places to visit.
What to do: tours and activities
- Wadi Rum jeep tour: half day or full day with a night, from 35 JOD
- 2-day tour and 3-day tour to the wild south
- Rock climbing and treks: Jebel Rum, Burdah, Umm ad Dami
- Zarb cooking workshop and Bedouin night fire
All prices in Wadi Rum tour prices, and more ideas in things to do in Wadi Rum.
Sleeping in the desert
The heart of Wadi Rum is the night: dinner by the fire, silence and stars. Bedouin camp, bivouac in our cave or real beds under the stars: compare our Wadi Rum overnight stays.
When to go
The desert is open all year. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant; winter nights are cold, summer afternoons are hot. See the Wadi Rum weather month by month and the best time to visit.
Getting to Wadi Rum
By car, taxi or bus from Aqaba (1 h), Petra (2 h) or Amman (about 4 h): all routes in how to get to Wadi Rum. Combining both? Read Petra and Wadi Rum tours.
Stories from the desert
- The Bedouins of Wadi Rum
- Bedouin tea
- Wadi Rum animals and the Arabian oryx
- Movies filmed in Wadi Rum
- Lawrence of Arabia in Wadi Rum
- Stargazing in Wadi Rum
- Sandstorms in Wadi Rum
Practical guide
- How many days in Wadi Rum
- What to wear in the desert
- Is Jordan safe to visit?
- Wadi Rum with kids and for couples
- All our FAQ
Discover Wadi Rum with a Bedouin family
Tell us your dates: we suggest the tour that suits you. No deposit, reply within 24 hours, free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
— Eid, your Bedouin guide at Wadi Rum Best Tours
