Wadi Rum on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, especially if you share jeeps and stay in a half-board Bedouin camp, which covers your bed, dinner and breakfast. A realistic minimum is about JD 60 a day per person sharing — around JD 25 for a bed, JD 5 for extra food, JD 25 for a shared tour and JD 5 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | JD25 | JD55 | JD120 |
| Food & drink | JD5 | JD10 | JD20 |
| Sights & tickets | JD25 | JD50 | JD90 |
| Local transport | JD5 | JD15 | JD40 |
| Per person, per day | JD60 | JD130 | JD270 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Wadi Rum day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The view of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom from the Visitor Centre
- Walking from Rum Village to Lawrence's Spring
- The small Nabataean temple ruins at the edge of Rum Village
- Sunset from the rocks near your camp
- Stargazing and the Milky Way on moonless nights
- Sage tea and Bedouin coffee, offered free at camps and jeep stops
Cheap eats
- Half-board camp dinner of zarb, salads and rice — included in a JD 25–50 camp stay
- Camp breakfast of flatbread, hummus, labneh, za'atar and eggs — included
- Falafel and hummus in Rum Village or Aqaba — a few dinars
- Maqluba in a family restaurant — about JD 5–10
- Mansaf in Aqaba or Wadi Musa — about JD 7–15
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Bedouin camps near Rum Village, with simple tents and shared bathrooms, at about JD 25–50 per person including dinner and breakfast. Rum Village guesthouses (about JD 40–80) offer rooms with walls and showers.
Getting around cheaply
Minibuses run between Rum Village, Aqaba and Wadi Musa a few times a day, mostly in the morning; ask your camp for current times. Otherwise a taxi from Aqaba costs about JD 25–40 and from Petra about JD 40–60. Many camps include pickup from the Visitor Centre or Rum Village.
A sample budget day
- Morning: camp breakfast (included), then a shared jeep tour to Khazali Canyon and the red dune (about JD 20 per person in a full jeep)
- Lunch: picnic cooked by your guide (often included)
- Afternoon: free walk to Lawrence's Spring or rest in camp
- Evening: free sunset and stargazing, zarb dinner at camp (included)
- Total: about JD 60 including a half-board camp (about JD 25), water and snacks
More ways to save
- Join other guests at your camp to fill a jeep and split the cost.
- Visit in summer or mid-winter for lower camp prices, but hike only at dawn in summer.
- Combine Wadi Rum with Petra on the Jordan Pass to save on entry fees.
- Ask which nights zarb is cooked if it is important to you.
- Book directly with Bedouin-run camps rather than through touts.
- Bring a refillable bottle and buy water in bulk in Rum Village.
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Common questions
Can you visit Wadi Rum on a budget?
Yes. Stay in a half-board Bedouin camp and share jeeps. Plan on about JD 60 a day per person.
How do I get to Wadi Rum cheaply?
Take a morning minibus from Aqaba or Wadi Musa to Rum Village, or share a taxi. Many camps include pickup from the Visitor Centre.
Are meals included at Wadi Rum camps?
Most camps include dinner and breakfast. Confirm what is included, and ask which nights zarb is cooked.