Wadi Rum is Stunning! It’s natural beauty epitomizes the romance of the desert. It’s ancient valleys and its towering sandstone mountains rise out of the sand, resembling the shape of the moon. Wadi Rum is home to several Bedouin tribes who live in camps scattered throughout the area. Mountain Climbers are attracted to Wadi Rum because of its sheer granite and sandstone cliffs. Hikers enjoy the vast empty spaces of Wadi Rum.

This area is probably more well known when the enigmatic, British officer Thomas Edward Lawrence better known as " Lawrence of Arabia" was based here in Wadi Rum during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18. Also the film, Lawrence of Arabia by David Lean was filmed with much of it’s scenes taken here in the valley.

To reach Wadi Rum it is recommended you take your own vehicle, the route to the village of Rum is very difficult using public transportation. The main route to Wadi Rum is reached by branching East off the Desert Highway about five kilometres South of Quweira and 25 kilometres North of Aqaba. From there the road extends about 35 kilometres directly through the desert and ends at Rum. The village of Rum, consists mainly of several hundred Bedouin inhabitants with their goat-hair tents and concrete houses. There is a school and a few small shops. It is also the headquarters of the famous Desert Patrol.

There are several options available to you for venturing out and exploring Wadi Rum. There is the Government Rest House which is located just inside the village, this is the only accommodation available and they also have tents. You can rent a four-wheel-drive jeep with a Bedouin driver for either short or longer day tours. There are also camels available for hire, for either short excursions or for the desert trip to Aqaba.

Wadi Rum is best enjoyed by hiking and camping in it. It you have more time and a real sense for adventure this is the way to go. The vast silence and grandeur of the landscape is best experienced on foot and all you need for hiking in Wadi Rum is plenty of water (at least 2-3 litres per day), some food, good shoes and a sleeping bag. If you chose to go with a four-wheel drive, you would need a map and plenty of fuel to see more of the landscape. The most spectacular hikes that is very popular to undertake is the Rock Bridge of Burdah.

If you are a true adventurer and love to test your skills and endurance, climb Jordan's highest mountain, Jabal Rum. This climb is gruelling and treacherous, it challenges you, only attempt it if you are stout heart and have indomitable will. We recommend you have a Guide for this ten-hour round trip to the summit, and make all arrangements the previous day at the Government Rest House.

All off-road vehicles should exercise care and stay within the tracks and avoid ploughing over the desert vegetation. Do not venture too far away from Rum, and remember to have plenty of drinking water. Enjoy your trip to Wadi Rum!

A Brief History of Wadi Rum.

Wadi Rum has been inhabited for over a thousand years, people have struggled and survived its harsh environment. Rum being close to national borders has been inhabited by farmers, hunters, pastoralists and traders. The famous Nabateans had once occupied Rum, leaving behind several structures from the past including a temple.

The local people gained their notoriety more recently when they joined the Arab Revolt Forces under the leadership of King Faisal. They fought along with “Lawrence of Arabia”, an enigmatic British Officer named Thomas Edward Lawrence, during the Arab Revolt (1917/18) to combat the occupying Turkish and German armies.

Lawrence wrote in his book “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”, many references to Wadi Rum, the desert landscape and mountains, the people also his personal exploits in the region are part of local folklore. Some popular tourist sites are named after him for example “Lawrence’s Spring”.

Almost all the people living throughout Wadi Rum today are of Bedouin origin and, until recently, led nomadic lives, relying on their goat herds. They are ingenious, a sociable people who are mainly responsible for developing Wadi Rum as a popular tourist destination. In recognition of the natural and cultural history of the region as well as the importance of tourism to the local economy, the Jordanian Government declared Wadi Rum a protected area in 1998.

With backing from the World Bank they commissioned the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, a National NGO, to prepare a conservation plan and foster a team of local people to manage the area and take care of it’s environment. This team is now under the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and is pioneering ways to reinstate and protect Rum's sensitive desert habitats from ever-increasing human pressure.

How to get to Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum lies in the South Western corner of Jordan about (58 km), North of the coastal town of Aqaba. It can be reached easily by main roads from Amman (3.5hrs), Aqaba (1hr) and Petra (1.5hrs). Car-hire and Bus Tours can be arranged through Hotels and Travel Agents and Taxis can be negotiated from Aqaba and Petra. Daily Internal air-flights operate between Amman and Aqaba.

About Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is a protected area covering (720sq:km) of dramatic desert wilderness in the South of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of (1700metres) or more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and several conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over a millennium.

Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape. There are many ways to enjoy the attractions of Rum, including jeep tours with a driver, hiking expeditions and by camel. You can stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and gaze at the amazing panoply of stars. You get to see the most incredible sunsets and sunrises when the sun hit’s the horizon and disappears casting shadows across the great desert plains.

Places to stay in Wadi Rum

There are two ways to stay overnight in Wadi Rum, you can go camping in the open or use the facilities of the Bed & Breakfast. Camping in this mountainous desert, under panoply of stars, is an unforgettable experience. You can opt for either "wild campsites", with minimal facilities, or you can take your own tent, or the choice of luxury Bedouin style campsites with all the facilities and entertainment.

Most of these deluxe sites are outside the protected area near the village of( Disi). There is also a permanent campsite in Rum Village with showers, toilets and Restaurants nearby and it is possible to stay in a genuine Bedouin tent in the desert.

There are no hotels in the immediate vicinity of Wadi Rum. The nearest places with a wide selection of Hotels are Aqaba and Petra, which take between one and one-and-half hours to reach by car or bus.

Adventure seekers

Wadi Rum is attracts a steady flow of adventure seekers every year and rising. It offers some of the finest rock climbing in the world. It is a spectacular place for desert trekking and safaris (camels, horses and vehicles). Most adventure tourists stay in and around the protected area from 2 to 12 nights, in small organized groups. Guide services, campsites and logistical support are all available locally, through independent operators. Like all visitors to the protected area, adventurers need to be aware of zoning schemes and other regulations Climbing, for example, is not allowed in every area of Wadi Rum. Emergency services are also very limited.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comment form