4-hour tour in the Wadi Rum Desert. The best place to visit after your trip to Petra.
If I were to pick one of my favorite travel destinations of all time, it would be Wadi Rum. From the overall experience, how safe I felt, how kind the locals were, the food in the surrounding area, to the immensely beautiful desert landscape, Wadi Rum MUST be on your bucket list and you will learn below why! Since close by, Wadi Rum is one of those places you visit before or after visiting other popular sites in Jordan such as Petra (one of the world's wonders) the red sea, the dead sea, and more.
In my case, I went to Petra early in the morning around 7 am spent half the day there and had our driver bring us to Wadi Rum at a perfect time to enjoy a 4-hour tour and catch the sunset. Catching the sunset while laying on a carpet and drinking tea in this desert was one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had. Sold yet?
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Why visit Wadi Rum?
Wadi Rum, also known as Valley of the Moon, is a breathtaking desert landscape located in southern Jordan that will cover all your desert dreams all at once. The scenery is otherworldly, with sand cliffs, MASSIVE rock formations, and a panoramic desert view that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Wadi Rum's vast desert makes it perfect for activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and camping. A super cool experience here is staying in traditional Bedouin campsites and participating in cultural activities, such as desert safaris, camel rides, and stargazing. With its stunning scenery, cultural experiences, and outdoor adventures. Wadi rum can be romantic, exhilarating, peaceful, mind-blowing, relaxing, joyful, and emotional(because of all its beauty) all at once. Why not go and find out?
Interesting facts:
It is almost as big as New York City
This desert has thousands of ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings of humans and animals), inscriptions written in Thamudic, Nabataean (Builders of Petra), Islamic, and Arabic, and also hundreds of archaeological sites. Meaning the early development of the alphabet can be traced here as well as the evolution of human thought as early as 12,000 years ago.
The Thamud people, also referred to as Arabs in the Quran, were a nomadic tribe related to the Nabateans, who lived here around the 8th century BC.
Many popular movies were filmed here: Lawrence of Arabia, Dune, Star Wars, Aladdin, The Martian, etc.
Lawrence of Arabia, an Oscar-winning movie was the first to showcase the beauty of the desert to the western world. It is about Thomas Edward Lawrence a British army lieutenant, who pushed for an arab revolt against the Ottoman empire(Turks) in WW1.
Transportation
We booked a trip that included a visit to both Petra and Wadi Rum. After our amazing trip to Petra, our driver brought us to Wadi Rum which was about a 1-hour ride from Petra. Our driver, Hassan (+962 795709903) drove us to all destinations from our hotel (in Amman) in a super comfortable sedan. We were then picked up at the entrance of the desert by a local Bedouin guide which we called Lawrence, for our jeep ride through the desert. He was the best.
When in Wadi Rum, you have options for getting around. For those who prefer a more adventurous mode of transport, quad bikes and dune buggies are also available for hire. Additionally, visitors can choose to take a guided tour of Wadi Rum, which often includes transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Whether you're looking for a traditional or more adventurous mode of transportation, Wadi Rum has something to offer everyone.
Tour
The tour lasted 4 hours. We stopped at 4 places. Here they are:
1. Ship Rock - The first place where we stopped, was a beautiful big rock standing alone in the vast desert, it looked like a ship. There was not a single person there, just us, so it felt surreal. I couldn't find any reference on Google about it, so I think it was a random pick by the driver. Specially picked for me of course.
2. Umm Forth Arch - The Umm Forth Arch is a stunning natural rock formation located in the Wadi Rum desert. It's one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area, and for good reason. The arch is a magnificent sight to behold, and many visitors enjoy taking photos with it as a backdrop. You can also find Bedouin people with camels here, offering short rides to take you on a walk to the arch. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
Camel Ride Cost: Around 22 USD
3. 7 Pillars of Wisdom - The 7 Pillars of Wisdom is a rock formation located in the Wadi Rum desert, and it is named after the book by T.E. Lawrence, an officer who fought alongside Arab forces during World War I. The seven pillars are tall rock formations that rise out of the desert, creating a dramatic and breathtaking sight. It is believed that Lawrence himself named the formation, and visitors to the Wadi Rum desert often make a point to stop and see the 7 Pillars of Wisdom. Standing in front of the formation I was encouraged to yell "Yallah, Yallah Habibi!" and hear my echo into the desert. Was fun!
4. Bedouin Tea at Sunset - One of my favorite parts. As the sun was slowly starting to go down. We stopped by a rock and Lawrence, the driver, laid a carpet for us to sit on, made a fire, and made us delicious Bedouin tea. We drank while we watched the sunset and chatted about him and his family living as a Bedouin. Was a moment I will always remember and cherish.
Takeaway
JUST go. It's an experience you will be happy you added to your bucket of memories - the stunning scenery, the unique culture, and the warm hospitality of the locals make Wadi Rum a truly special place.
What I would've done differently
Overnight Stay - Luxury bubble dome at Sun City Camp. Or book at a Traditional Bedouin camp for an authentic experience.
Star gazing - Sleeping under the stars at a Wadi Rum star gazing camp.
Sand surfing or rock climbing with a Bedouin guide.
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon - have to be there super early.
Planning on going to Jordan? Been to Wadi Rum already? I would love to know your experience and what you did differently, or if you have any questions please let me know in the comments!
Until the next trip, adios! <3
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