Where to stay in Wadi Rum — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Wadi Rum — better known as the Valley of the Moon — is a vast red-sand desert in southern Jordan, about 60km east of Aqaba. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011 and the largest wadi (valley) in Jordan, its towering sandstone and granite cliffs rising from rust-colored sand look so otherworldly that Ridley Scott shot The Martian here, doubling it for Mars. But the real reason people come is to sleep in a Bedouin camp under the stars. With almost zero light pollution, a single night in Wadi Rum delivers the kind of Milky Way most travelers have never seen — followed by a sunrise that turns the whole desert gold.
Why stay in Wadi Rum
Some of the darkest skies on Earth
Near-zero light pollution makes Wadi Rum one of the world's great stargazing spots. On a clear night the Milky Way arcs across the sky in plain view from your camp.
A landscape that looks like Mars
Red sand against soaring sandstone and granite cliffs — so convincing that Ridley Scott filmed The Martian here, barely altering the footage in post.
Real Bedouin hospitality
Stay in a camp run by local Bedouin, sip sweet sage tea around the fire, hear desert stories, and eat dinner cooked in an underground sand oven.
Adventure for every pace
4x4 jeep safaris, rock scrambling, sandboarding, camel treks, and even hot-air balloon flights — all packable into a single overnight trip.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Wadi Rum
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
Wadi Rum VillageThe hub, about 7km from the Visitor Centre. Shops, simple guesthouses, and the starting point for most tours.
Coming soonThe Protected AreaBedouin camps scattered deep in the UNESCO desert — silent, no town glow, the best choice for serious stargazing.
Coming soonDisiJust outside the protected area to the north, where larger camps and hot-air ballooning are permitted. Popular with Jordanians.
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Wadi Rum
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
We're rolling out Wadi Rum stay reviews — meanwhile search Wadi Rum hotels across all 3 sites now
Local dishes to try in Wadi Rum
- 1🔥
Zarb
The Bedouin underground barbecue: marinated lamb or chicken and vegetables on tiered racks, buried in a sand pit over hot coals and slow-cooked until meltingly tender. The classic camp dinner.
📍 Signature dish - 2🍛
Mansaf
Jordan's national dish — lamb simmered in a tangy fermented-yogurt sauce (jameed), served over rice and shrak bread and topped with toasted nuts. Traditionally eaten communally.
📍 National dish - 3🍚
Maqluba
Rice layered with meat and vegetables, then flipped onto the platter into a dome at serving time. A showpiece dish many camps prepare for guests.
📍 Upside-down rice - 4🫖
Bedouin tea
Sweet black tea brewed with sage or mint, served constantly as the heart of Bedouin hospitality. Best sipped around the fire after dark.
📍 Drink - 5🥙
Falafel & hummus
Crisp fried chickpea fritters and silky hummus drizzled with olive oil, scooped up with warm pita. A staple breakfast and snack across Jordan.
📍 Breakfast/snack - 6🫓
Shrak / khubz
Paper-thin flatbread baked on a domed metal griddle at camp. Tear it to dip in olive oil and za'atar, or use it as an edible spoon — best fresh and warm.
📍 Flatbread
- 1🏛️
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
A pillar-like rock formation near the entrance, named after T.E. Lawrence's memoir. Usually the first photo stop on any tour.
📍 Landmark - 2💧
Lawrence Spring
A hillside spring where Lawrence of Arabia is said to have rested. A short scramble up rewards you with sweeping desert views and a splash of green.
📍 Historic - 3🪨
Khazali Canyon
A narrow walkable gorge whose walls hold ancient Nabataean petroglyphs and inscriptions. Cool and shaded even when the desert outside is baking.
📍 Slot canyon - 4🌉
Burdah Rock Bridge
The highest natural rock arch in Wadi Rum. Adventurous visitors can scramble up to stand on the bridge for jaw-dropping panoramas.
📍 Natural arch - 5🪨
Um Fruth Rock Bridge
A lower, easier-to-climb natural bridge — perfect for that classic standing-on-the-arch photo without the serious exposure. A jeep-tour favorite.
📍 Low arch - 6🏜️
Red Sand Dune
A vivid red dune you can hike up for the view or run back down. A top sandboarding and golden-hour photo spot as the late sun deepens the color.
📍 Sand dune - 7⭐
Sunset viewpoint + stargazing
Catch the sun dropping behind the cliffs, then head back to camp for the stars. For many travelers this is the single best part of the trip.
📍 Highlight - 8⛰️
Jebel Umm ad Dami
Jordan's highest peak at 1,854m. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Saudi border — a rewarding climb for keen hikers.
📍 Hiking
Things to do in Wadi Rum
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3 Wadi Rum hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 9.8Upper-mid
★ 9.3Upper-mid
★ 9.2Upper-midโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในWadi Rum
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🚆 Getting around Wadi Rum
JETT bus from Aqaba
A daily JETT bus leaves Aqaba in the morning (around 8:00) and reaches the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre by about 9:30. Tickets cost roughly 15 JOD per person.
Rum Bus from Petra (Wadi Musa)
The Rum Bus departs Petra early (around 6:00-6:30) and arrives at Wadi Rum Village by about 8:30-9:00. Tickets are roughly 7-10 JOD; the ride takes about 2 hours.
Taxi / private transfer
From Aqaba (1 hr) about 25-35 JOD; from Petra (2 hrs) about 45 JOD. Best value for groups of 2-4 and far more flexible on timing than the buses.
4x4 only inside the desert
You can't self-drive the protected area — exploring is done in the Bedouin camps' and guides' 4x4 pickups. Half-day and full-day jeep tours come with a driver.
Entry fee & Jordan Pass
Pay the entrance fee at the Visitor Centre (around 5 JOD per person). A Jordan Pass already covers Wadi Rum, Petra, and 40+ other sites — great value if you're touring the country.
Where to go next near Wadi Rum
AmmanWhere to stay in Amman, Jordan's hilltop capital — which neighborhood suits you, plus the top sights, real local food, and how to get in from Queen Alia Airport.
See this city's guide →
PetraAn ancient city carved into the cliffs — the Treasury, the Siq and the Monastery, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
See this city's guide →
Dead SeaThe lowest point on Earth, where you float on hypersaline water, coat in mineral mud, and unwind at lakeside spa resorts on Jordan's shore.
See this city's guide →
AqabaJordan's Red Sea port — shore diving over coral, a Mamluk fort, and the gateway to Wadi Rum
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Wadi Rum
Should I stay overnight, or is a day trip enough?+
Stay at least one full night. The real magic is sunset and sleeping under the desert stars — a day trip misses the best of Wadi Rum entirely. Camps range from budget Bedouin tents to luxe transparent 'bubble' domes where you can watch the stars from bed.
When is the best time to visit?+
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are ideal, with daytime temps around 20-30°C. Summer (June-August) can hit 38-45°C, while winter days are mild but nights drop near freezing. Pack a warm layer in any season.
Can I explore the desert on my own?+
No — inside the protected area you must go with a local Bedouin guide in their 4x4. Most visitors book a tour-plus-accommodation package directly with a camp, which bundles the jeep, guide, and meals. It's simpler and far safer.
Ready to book your Wadi Rum stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking