How to Plan Your Epic Wadi Rum Adventure

Wadi Rum, Jordan is a place of epic adventures. I have visited multiple times and want to share my best advice.

Pre-Trip

You need to know the types of accommodations. All can be considered glamping. NOTE: all are tents, and I don’t believe any “sound proofing claims”. But even with that description they vary, WIDELY. Choose wisely.

Tent: A “basic” square tent 12-16sqm (130-170sqft). It most likly will include a private en-suite bathroom, electricity, air conditioning and picture window to enjoy the amazing landscape.
Dome/Bubble: A larger dome tent (32-45sqm (350-484sqft) , with private bathroom, electricity, AC, lounge area, huge wall of windows.
Luxury Bubble: A huge clear plastic inflatable three “room” bubble (130-136sqm (1399sqft)) one bedroom with clear ceiling, one clear living room with sofa, coffee service, mini fridge, and one opaque bathroom bubble, and a entry air-lock vestible to maintain the inflation. It might even have a private whirlpool on the patio!

If budget isn’t an issue, definitely go with the luxury bubble. Laying in bed and seeing the stars overhead is amazing, the photo doesn’t capture the amazement.

Know Your Adventure Options

A word of caution, these activities can add up, quickly, again choose wisely. Not everything has to be done. And trust me you can stargaze for free from anywhere.

- Potentially Free
  - Stargazing

Wadi Rum is a Class 2 (second best/darkest sky) on the Bortle Scale with 300+ clear nights every year. Even with the naked eye you can see stars and the Milky Way. You don’t need to leave your camp to see the stars. You might not even need to leave your bed! I use Sky Map App (Free, Android Only) to check for constellations, meteors, and more. If you don’t have an Android or want to try another app here’s a good list from AstroBackyard.

Star Trails over the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

If you want more, you can arrange an excursion with your camp. Bedouin Night Tour excursions take you to darker locations with no ambient light, except around the campfire they build. I did a basic excursion specifically to see the Perseid Meteor Shower at it’s August peak, 40JOD thru my camp. NOTE: It can be a bit disconcerting driving through the desert in the dark following tire tracks in the sand. It’s also bumpy and if you are riding in the back of Toyota Hilux on a bench, windy and sandy. I did see 20-40 meteors but never enough to capture a photo or video. A typical Perseid meteor travels about 37 miles per second (59 kilometers per second), which equals roughly 133,200 miles per hour (214,365 kilometers per hour).

I made a mistake (it does happen, even to me), the RumSky Adventure cost is about 30JOD. This excursion includes a 20-30 minute indoor presentation, a 30 minute walk pointing out constellations, and 30 minute telescope viewing session.

So, your camp makes it easy to book and schedule excursions but it may not be the best value or best experience.

- - Hiking

You can always go for a walk in the desert! But BE PREPARED! Always bring water, sun block, and hat. In summer GO EARLY. The midday sun can be brutal. I did one sunrise hike up a dune and jabal (a mesa in Jordan). A scrambling climb up the loose sand got me to the top on the 100m dune in time for sunrise. Once at the top, I saw that circling around the jabal to the back side would have been a much easier climb! Sliding down the steep slope on my butt wasn’t as fast as I expected, but I’m glad I didn’t try to walk it!

The Dune

Check my video of sliding down the dune on my butt!

You could book a guided hike. Local Bedouin guides are mandatory or strongly advised due to the lack of marked trails and mobile reception in deep desert areas.

- - Historic Train Ride Reenactment

If you book a JordanPass (recommended!) You can select “Journey Through 1916” train ride for free as an option, but only during your initial booking. If you don’t book as part of the JordanPass the train will cost you 12JOD.

- - Bedouin Dinner

My 2nd camp included a traditional Bedouin zarb dinner. A Zarb pit is metal drum or hole is lined with bricks and hot wood coals buried in the sand. Tiered racks hold marinated chicken, lamb, goat, and root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions. The pit is sealed covered with blankets and heavy sand to lock in the heat, allowing the meat to slow-cook for several hours until it is tender and delicious. Check my video of our Zarb uncovering.

If your camp doesn’t do a zarb dinner, they can arrange one for you. Or book your own.

- Paid Excursions
  - Camel Rides
    
    Colored Camels of Wadi Rum

You could do a 30 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, half-day, night ride, full day or multi-day trek. Costs range from 10-200JOD. 30 minutes gets you the classic “I’m on a camel photo and video”. Camel rides can be fun, but camels can be smelly and bitey. 😉 Full day or multi-day rides often include sand sledding, bedouin meal, hikes, and shisha.

I prefer my camels from a distance.

- - Jeep Rides

Like camel rides, jeep rides have various durations and costs.

- - Sandboarding

Sliding down a dune on a board (kinda like what I did on my butt, but more fun and faster!)

- - Shisha

As a non-smoker, I’m not a shisha, hookah, hubbly-bubbly, nargile, water-pipe fan. I might be in the minority. All camps can offer shisha for 5-10JOD. Flavors range from apple or mint to watermelon to bubblegum and so many more.

- - Hot Air Balloon Flight

It’s probably the most expensive excursion you can book in Wadi Rum 160JOD+. If you want a different perspective of the dunes, jabals and camps of Wadi Rum you can take an early morning balloon ride. Or you might catch a glimpse of one for free. I recommend Cappadocia for the best balloon rides.

Tent Lessons Learned

Traveling in the off-season can mean big discounts. It can also mean big challenges. The first place I booked tried to AGGRESSIVELY push me into upgrades and excursions. My reservation for 30 days was 200JOD. The manager tried to upsell me to 1400JOD! He dropped to 1100JOD but didn’t understand 450% increase wasn’t in my budget.

The second place I tried, refused to confirm because they said it wasn’t financially feasible to open the camp for just one person. I respected their decision and clarity.

The third place I tried, I did stay at for five nights, out of 30. At check-in the manager told me there wouldn’t be AC at night, which I didn’t understand the first night. AC ran on solar but only when the staff turned it on and while direct sun was hitting it, at best 0800-1630, in reality generally 1100-1630. The solar powered electricity (and therefore wifi) only functioned from 0700-2300. Three nights out of five I was the only person at the camp, no other guests or even staff on site. Two days out of five I didn’t get breakfast. One day didn’t have AC until 1400. The same day the water at the camp ran out and I didn’t get breakfast. The manager didn’t respond to my texts or calls for 8 hours. When he finally responded the water truck was already on site to refill the cistern. The manager said it wasn’t worth running things 24×7 for just one guest. I tried to explain I didn’t feel safe as a woman alone in the desert without electricity or communications (the camp was remote and I didn’t have cell service). *MAYBE* it’s better in high season when fully staffed.

It wasn’t all bad, the views were amazing and because there were no other guests, very quiet. A random camel wandered into the camp and sat down to rest (see above)! A desert fox joined me for sunrise one morning. But I definitely would not book again.

Before moving to another location at a higher cost, I asked them to confirm 24×7 electricity, AC, wifi, and water. Comparatively it was great, but my luxury bubble from February still tops them all.

More Planning Tips

Invest in a 3m (10ft) power cord and 200W (minimum) USB multiport charger block. Outlets are rarely where you need them. (Not just in tents!)
Invest in a universal outlet power strip, bonus if it has USB ports. I always need more outlets, and a universal power strip allows you to use your equipment and plug in a local lamp or other gear without needing extra outlet adapters.
Don’t bring a drone, they generally aren’t allowed in Jordan.
Double check all your camera batteries (I had one GoPro battery and one Canon battery get puffy and unusable.) Make sure you dispose or them properly.
Always have at least two batteries per device (see above).
Don’t buy a new camera for this trip, upgrading is ok, IF you know how to use it.
Pack your patience, time moves on a sliding Bedouin scale.
Understand you are in a remote location with limited cellular, internet, transit, and purchase options.
Don’t assume you can drive to your camp. Likely you will park, then get picked up, and transferred to the camp. See photo below.
Search the internet for photo tips and guides for your gear. I learned how to do Startrails (headline image) with my GoPro.
Follow your instincts. If you don’t feel safe, move. Your safety has value beyond on money.