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How many days in Wadi Rum? 4 days of jeeps, camels, canyons and desert nights
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Wadi Rum is a protected desert in southern Jordan of red and orange sand, sandstone and granite mountains rising hundreds of metres, and canyons with rock drawings left by people thousands of years ago. It is a UNESCO site for both nature and culture since 2011, and the setting of films from *Lawrence of Arabia* to *The Martian*. Most people stay one night. Give it four days: a jeep day, a hiking day, a slow camel day and a last sunrise, with nights in Bedouin camps under some of the clearest skies in the Middle East.
Short answer
Two days, one night covers a full jeep tour and a desert sunset. Four days lets you hike to Burdah, travel by camel and sleep in a remote camp far from the generators of the bigger camps.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Arrival and a full jeep day
Morning. Arrive at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (entry JD5, included in the Jordan Pass), with the rock wall known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom in front of it, then drive 7 km to Rum Village, where Bedouin guides meet you. Start a jeep tour (about JD 80-120 per jeep for a full day, shared by up to six; check with your camp) at Lawrence's Spring, a small spring on a cliff named after T. E. Lawrence.
Afternoon. Visit Khazali Canyon, a narrow cleft with Thamudic and Nabataean inscriptions and drawings of people and animals, climb the tall red sand dune against a cliff, and walk under the Um Fruth rock bridge, small enough to climb. Lunch is usually cooked by your guide in the shade.
Evening. Watch the sunset from a rock viewpoint, then arrive at your camp. Many camps serve zarb, chicken, lamb and vegetables cooked in an underground pit for about 2-3 hours.
Book directly with a Bedouin-run camp or a licensed guide in Rum Village; tour packages, camp and food are often combined in one price per person.
Day 2: Burdah rock bridge and the high desert
Morning. Start early with a guide for the scramble to the Burdah rock bridge, one of the highest natural arches in the area, about 80 metres above the ground. The route takes about 3-4 hours return over steep rock with some exposure; it is not a technical climb but needs a head for heights. Guides cost about JD 40-80 per group plus the jeep.
Afternoon. Rest in camp in the heat of the day, then drive to Um Ishrin and the Anfashieh inscriptions, with camel carvings on a rock face. Climbers can join a guided half-day on the long sandstone walls of Jebel Rum (about 1,734 metres), climbed since the 1980s.
Evening. Lie on the sand away from the camp lights for stargazing. On moonless nights the Milky Way is clear from horizon to horizon.
From May to September, start any hike by sunrise and finish by about 10:00: the rock and sand reflect heat and there is almost no shade.
Day 3: By camel through Barrah Canyon
Morning. Travel by camel, the slow and quiet way through the desert. Many camps organise half-day or full-day camel treks (about JD 20-30 per hour, or JD 60-100 for a full day with lunch; check current prices) through Barrah Canyon, a long sandy valley between high walls.
Afternoon. Stop for lunch and tea in a shady corner of the canyon, then walk the last stretch on foot. On the way, your guide will explain how Bedouin families still move goats and camels between grazing areas.
Evening. Sleep in a remote camp deeper in the protected area, quieter than the big camps near Rum Village, or under the open sky on mattresses laid on the sand, a traditional option many guides offer.
Long camel rides are hard on the legs and back. Alternate camel and walking every hour, wear long trousers and use the scarves guides offer against the sun.
Day 4: Sunrise, Rum Village and onward
Morning. Take a hot-air balloon at sunrise if the wind allows (roughly JD 150-200 per person; flights only run in calm weather, mostly October to April), or watch the sunrise from a rock near camp. Then return to Rum Village and visit the small Nabataean temple ruins at the edge of the village.
Afternoon. Drive about 1.5-2 hours to Petra, arriving in time for an afternoon walk through the Siq to the Treasury and the evening light. Or drive about 1 hour south to Aqaba and snorkel the Red Sea coral reefs south of the city.
Evening. Stay in Wadi Musa, next to Petra, or in Aqaba. If you are in Petra on a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, Petra by Night opens the Siq lit by candles (about JD 17; check current days).
Buy the Jordan Pass before you travel: it includes the Jordan visa fee (if you stay at least three nights) and entry to Wadi Rum and Petra, and usually pays for itself once you add the visa fee and one day in Petra.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, arrive by noon, do a half-day jeep tour with sunset, sleep in camp and do a morning camel ride or short hike before leaving. You lose Burdah and the remote camp.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to the summit of Jebel Umm ad Dami, at about 1,854 metres the highest point in Jordan, near the Saudi border; multi-day treks with camels from Wadi Rum towards Petra; or two full days in Petra itself, which needs at least that.
Where to stay in Wadi Rum
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Bedouin camps near Rum Village | Simple tents with shared bathrooms; dinner and breakfast included. | JD 25-50 |
| Mid-range | Camps deeper in the protected area | Quieter nights and darker skies, with the jeep tour starting at your door. | JD 60-110 |
| Mid-range | Rum Village guesthouses | Rooms with walls and showers, easy start for hikes. | JD 40-80 |
| Comfort | 'Bubble' and dome camps | Clear domes with beds and private bathrooms, for watching stars from bed. | JD 120-300 |
Getting around
Everything inside the protected area is by 4x4, camel or on foot with a local guide; private cars are not allowed beyond Rum Village. Aqaba is about 60-70 km away (about 1 hour; a taxi costs about JD 25-40). Petra (Wadi Musa) is about 110 km away (1.5-2 hours), and a taxi or arranged transfer costs about JD 40-60. From Amman, the drive takes about 4 hours on the Desert Highway. Minibuses run between Rum Village, Aqaba and Wadi Musa a few times a day, mostly in the morning; ask your camp for current times. Many camps include pickup from the Visitor Centre.
What to eat in Wadi Rum
Food in Wadi Rum is camp food, simple and generous. Zarb, meat and vegetables cooked underground, is the speciality of the evening. Breakfast brings flatbread, hummus, labneh, olives, za'atar, cheese and eggs. Lunch on tours is usually tomatoes, cucumber, tuna, hummus and bread with sweet sage tea brewed on a fire. Bring snacks and plenty of water: shops in Rum Village are small. If you eat in Aqaba or Wadi Musa, try mansaf, lamb in fermented yoghurt sauce with rice, Jordan's national dish (about JD 8-15).
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November are best: days of 20-30°C and cool nights. Winter (December to February) has mild days of about 12-18°C but cold nights near freezing; bring warm layers. Summer (June to August) reaches 35-40°C at midday; hike only at dawn. Ramadan changes some services; most camps still serve guests.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | JD 25 | JD 55 | JD 120 |
| Food & drink | JD 5 | JD 10 | JD 20 |
| Sights & tickets | JD 25 | JD 50 | JD 90 |
| Local transport | JD 5 | JD 15 | JD 40 |
| Total per person, per day | about JD 60 | about JD 130 | about JD 270 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Jordanian dinars (JD, about US$1.41 each); camp prices usually include dinner and breakfast, and the sights line covers shared jeep, guide or camel days. The Visitor Centre fee is JD5, free with the Jordan Pass.
Before you go
Common questions
Is one night in Wadi Rum enough?
It is the minimum, with a half-day jeep tour, a sunset and a night under the stars. Two or three nights let you hike, ride camels and stay in a remote camp, where you see the desert without other groups. Most people who stay longer say the slow days are the best part.
Which camp should I choose?
Bedouin-run camps near Rum Village are cheapest and easy to reach, but they can be busy and lit up. Camps deeper in the protected area are quieter, with better skies. Dome or 'Martian' camps offer comfort and views but less contact with the desert. Read recent reviews and check what is included.
Can I visit Wadi Rum without a tour?
You can walk from Rum Village to nearby sites like Lawrence's Spring, but most of the protected area is only reachable by 4x4 with a local driver. Guides are Bedouin from the local communities, and hiring them is how most income from tourism reaches them. A guide also knows the routes, which are not marked.
Is Wadi Rum safe?
Yes, for travellers who follow their guides. The main risks are heat, dehydration and falls while scrambling. Drink at least 3 litres of water a day in warm months, wear a hat and sturdy shoes, and do not attempt rock routes like Burdah without a guide. Nights can be cold, even after hot days.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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