The best Wadi Rum Jeep tours & full guide

Everything you need to know about Wadi Rum, the best Wadi Rum Jeep tours, best sights and places to see. Mars on Earth Jordan is honestly incredible! You’ll remember it for years to come.

Wadi Rum has the most spectacular, jaw dropping landscapes that will leave you feeling small. Huge gigantic rock mountains emerge out of sand dunes. You’ll find sands in every colour; red, white and even a greyish black, and there’s a spot in the desert where all the sands meet, it’s something quite spectacular.

You will have fun looking at the different and unusual rock formations: chicken rock, mushroom rock, camel eye and more! And there’s nothing quite like a camel ride at sunset.

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Quick links for Wadi Rum Jeep tours

You may also want to read more about my other pages on Jordan, including The Dead Sea, Petra, Amman and a 1 and 2 week itinerary.

You might find some of my other recent posts on Jordan useful:

• Inside Petra Jordan
• Amman, Jordan’s capital citySwimming in the Dead Sea
• Wadi Rum
• 7 day Jordan itinerary

About Wadi Rum Desert

If you’re in Jordan, you must stop by Wadi Rum a UNESCO world heritage site. Take one step into this desert and you’ll understand why it’s called Mars on Earth, and you can see why it was the chosen site for the filming of the movie The Martian. Stay in Bedouin camps for an authentic experience of Bedouin culture.

This is located in the deep south of Jordan on the border of Saudi Arabia. It has some incredible landscapes, mountains that jut impressively out of the sand dunes with vast desert spaces in between, and let’s not forget the ancient carvings to be found down lush red canyons.

Which Wadi Rum Jeep tours are best?

There are plenty of Wadi Rum jeep tours, but which is the best? It can be quite hard to pick one, there are plenty which are incredible. I did a few different tours with different camps and there’s two ways to book;

Book with the hotel direct and then book a tour through the hotel

Or book onto a tour (which includes both hotel and tour)

Keep reading below, or skip ahead to the section on tours to Wadi Rum!

The Bedouins of Wadi Rum Jordan

The Bedouins are nomadic Arabic tribes that live in the desert. They come across as very gentle, very relaxed people, and I feel the same amount of calm as I do in a yoga class. They know everything about the desert, and I mean everything. I asked Abdullah, our guide, whether he would ever get lost out here and he just laughed softly and shook his head.

I asked him how he always knows where he is? He tells me he knows every jutting rock of the landscape, and I test him, being the immature person that I am, by pointing at random mountains and asking what they’re called. He can name every. single. rock. on our journey home.

Abdullah is a 22 year old, who seems a little shy but is kind and smiles a lot. 22 seems young, but he’s been driving in the desert since he was 12. It’s normal for 11 and 12 year olds to start driving jeeps in the desert out of necessity; they need to help their parents round up camels and grab supplies.

I can imagine a lot of people loving the Arabic guides, I’ve definitely seen lots of TikTok videos of women swooning in the comment section and it’s not hard to see why. This amuses me as the comment section and the real life Bedouins seem in stark contrast to each other.

How long do you need in Wadi Rum?

We stayed for 4 days and did 2 different tours, but I think you need a max of 2-3 days, depending on what tours you choose to do. Most tours will give you a 2-3 day itinerary.

You have the option of doing a day jeep tour or a night jeep tour, just take your pick!

Things to do in Wadi Rum & what you’ll see on a tour

Jeep tours are the most popular way to explore Wadi Rum; it’s quite fun sitting in the back of the jeep watching the world go by, but you will be expected to climb in and out of the back. I have the build of a lanky spider so I had no problem with this but I do wonder how my shorter friends would fare with this as they don’t open the back door.

You will go on multiple jeep tours throughout your stay; an hour jeep tour is the maximum amount of time you’d spend in the back. Our guide took us through the most iconic sites in the desert, such as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Khazali Canyon, and Um Frouth Rock Bridge. You can book a jeep tour with a local guide or a tour company, and you can choose a half day or full day tour, or even a 2-3 day tour.

We did a 2 day tour. When you arrive, you usually check in at Wadi Rum Village, your tour will pick you up, then you spend one day hiking and seeing the local sights; usually hiking up a mountain to see a water source, then visiting a sand dune.

1. Canyon hiking – Hiking through deep red canyons is a must in Wadi Rum, there are plenty of them. The most popular canyon to hike through is the Siq Um Tawaqi, which has twisting passages, and beautiful colouring.
2. Visit the Lawrence of Arabia House – The famous British soldier and writer T.E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, was stationed in Wadi Rum during the Arab Revolt of 1916. You can visit the house where he lived during his time in the desert, which is now just a crumbling ruin, but you can climb up part of the mountain to see hundreds of stacks of rocks, a nice memento to the location.
3. Camel Riding – generally, I am super wary of animals used in tourism. My concern is that animals are exploited and treated badly. However, looking at the way the Bedouins treat their camels, I felt super comfortable. The camels roamed free around the desert a lot of the time, and make up an important part of the desert lifestyle. Income from tourism helps maintain and feed the animals, as well as supplement the local people’s way of life. The camels I encountered looked well cared for and healthy. Camel riding is quite simply, fun! Although I did spend half the time wondering if I might get spit on. You can book 30 minutes or an hour camel ride.
4. See Ancient Carvings – over 25,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings) have been round in Wadi Rum and our guide showed us a few. We saw ancient carvings of old texts, hunting and pictures of animals.
5. Famous shaped rocks – there are loads of famously shaped rocks that for some reason had me laughing all the time. Mushroom rock. Camel’s Eye. Cow or chicken rock (questionable).
6. Climb Stone Arches – we were taken to at least 3 stone arches, the most famous arch to climb is Burdah Rock Bridge, which is 35 meters tall. I didn’t climb this one as I had come down with full flu by the end of the day and was about to die but Mike climbed the arch successfully. There’s also the little rock bridge which you can climb too!

Best Wadi Rum Jeep Tours

There are only 13 fully permitted and licensed camps in Wadi Rum and you must stay in a Bedouin camp for an authentic experience! There are plenty of hotels and camps just outside the Wadi Rum zone, and frankly, you will still get the same experience at a cheaper price.

One of the places we stayed at was Rum Stars Camp was voted Best Camp in Wadi Rum by Lonely Planet, thanks to it’s authentic Bedouin culture (read more below).

Want to know about pricing? Have a look at the next paragraph below.

Each ‘camp’ will run their own tours. There are luxury camps to stay in as well, but I really wanted to get in the thick of what it’s like to stay out in the desert overnight.

Whilst I use the word ‘camp’, I want to make it clear you aren’t lying on the sand at night. We had our own personal building (hut? villa?) made of brick, with private bathrooms and A/C units.

Wadi Rum Jeep Tours Price

We stayed in 2 different camps in Wadi Rum for 2 nights each.

There’s TWO ways to book a tour in Wadi Rum:

• Book a hotel, and then book a 4×4 tour once you’re there
• Book a tour that covers everything, including the hotel, excursions, tour guides, etc.

Rum Stars Camp

The prices vary quite a lot, but at Rum Stars Camp prices start from 90 JOD (103 GBP and $126 USD) which includes accomodation and the tour.

Rum Stars Camp was voted Best Camp in Wadi Rum by Lonely Planet, thanks to it’s authentic Bedouin culture.

It is run by 5 brothers who can trace their family back for 17 generations. Our guide Abdullah is a 22 year old, who seems a little quiet but is kind and smiles a lot. The Rum stars camp made us feel very welcome by the fire, serving us tea also cooked traditional Bedouin food that had been cooked for several hours under the sand. The food was delicious.

You can choose a half day tour, full day tour, 2 day tour or 3 day tour with Rum Stars. We did the Jebel Al Hash 2 day, 2 night tour. It was great.

Luxury options

If you’re looking for a luxury experience, have a look at some of these incredible bubble tents, prices start from 100 JOD upwards per night.

Rum Sunrise Luxury Camp

Harmony Luxury Camps

Budget options

There are other camps that are much cheaper, with accommodation starting from £35 per night, and then the Wadi Rum jeep tours cost extra. But bear in mind, you’re in the middle of the desert with very limited WiFi and not much else to do, but the Wadi Rum Jeep tours 4 hours, so your only option is to do some more tours! To be honest, it’ll probably be a Wadi Rum 4×4 tour that ends up costing a similar amount than if you booked the tour outright.

Is Wadi Rum Safe?

I found Wadi Rum to be one of the most relaxing places in Jordan. I felt super comfortable in the presence of the local Bedouin people. The Bedouins are known for their hospitality and kindness towards visitors.

They are always willing to share their culture and way of life with visitors, and make sure that they feel at home in the desert.

What to wear in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Remember the desert gets hot, but at night the temperature can drop significantly:

1. Loose and comfortable clothing – trust me, you want some breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
2. Trainers and sandals – Trainers (or hiking shoes) are best for climbing up the mountains and rock formations, and sandals can be worn around the campsite.
3. Layers for Cooler Nights – don’t forget that after sunset, the temperature drops! Bring a few layers of clothing to keep you warm during the cooler evenings.Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and chest and thighs – don’t forget that although Jordan is liberal, it is a conservative country.
4. Sun Protection – take a hat, sunglasses, and apply sun cream regularly. The sun can be quite intense, and it’s easy to get sunburned quickly.

The Weather in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is hot and dry and the weather varies with the season. Temperatures can range from very hot during the summer to chilly in the winter. Here is an overview of the weather in Wadi Rum throughout the year:

1. Summer (June to August): Expect extremely hot temperatures with average highs of 40°C (104°F) during the day and average lows of 22°C (72°F) at night. The heat can be intense, so it’s important to take precautions and stay hydrated.
2. Autumn (September to November): Autumn is a pleasant time to visit Wadi Rum, with temperatures ranging from 27°C (81°F) during the day to 12°C (54°F) at night. The weather is generally dry and sunny during this time, making it a good time to explore the desert.
3. Winter (December to February): Winters in Wadi Rum are generally cool and dry, with temperatures ranging from 15°C (59°F) during the day to 3°C (37°F) at night. We went in January and the temperature during the day was around 20-25 degrees. It got super chilly at night though so don’t forget a jumper!
4. Spring (March to May): Spring temperatures range from 24°C (75°F) during the day to 10°C (50°F) at night. The weather is generally mild and sunny, making it a good time of year to go hiking.

There are plenty of tours that run to Wadi Rum from Amman (or from other destinations like The Dead Sea, Aqaba to Petra); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide

Wadi Rum Weather: best time to visit Jordan

The best time to spend a week in Jordan is definitely in the cooler months, Spring and Autumn are fairly warm whilst the winter season can be a little chillier at night. We went in winter, in January, and found that many of the days were 20°C during the day, which is still pleasant. At night, it can be a little colder, but when you’re tucked away inside, this wasn’t exactly a problem. In the summer, you’ll find quieter crowds but expect it to be very hot!

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in January:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 8-13°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 15-20°C
• Average Rainy Days: 8-10 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 10-11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in February:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 9-15°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 16-21°C
• Average Rainy Days: 7-9 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:30 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in March:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 11-17°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 19-24°C
• Average Rainy Days: 6-8 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:45 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in April:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 14-21°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 22-28°C
• Average Rainy Days: 3-6 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 13 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in May:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 18-25°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 26-32°C
• Average Rainy Days: 1-3 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:15 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in June:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 21-29°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 29-36°C
• Average Rainy Days: Minimal to none
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in July:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 23-32°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 31-38°C
• Average Rainy Days: Rare
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 14 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:45 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in August:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 23-33°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 32-39°C
• Average Rainy Days: Uncommon
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 13 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 5:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:30 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in September:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 21-31°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 29-36°C
• Average Rainy Days: Rare
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 12 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:00 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 6:00 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in October:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 16-26°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 26-33°C
• Average Rainy Days: 1-2 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 11 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:15 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:30 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in November:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 11-19°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 20-27°C
• Average Rainy Days: 3-4 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 10 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:30 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:15 PM

Wadi Rum Jeep tours Weather Jordan in December:

• Average Temperature (Celsius):
  • Northern and Central Jordan: 8-14°C
  • Southern Jordan (e.g., Petra and Aqaba): 16-22°C
• Average Rainy Days: 6-8 days
• Average Daylight Hours: Approximately 10 hours
• Sunrise Time: Around 6:45 AM
• Sunset Time: Around 5:00 PM

There are plenty of tours that run to Wadi Rum (and include other destinations like Petra, Aqaba, the Dead Sea, Jerash or even Amman); I always compare tour prices on both Viator and Get Your Guide.

That’s it! I hope you found this travel guide useful and enjoy your visit safely. I loved my time here and the itinerary for Jordan, and I hope you do too. If you found this useful, drop me a message and let me know how you got on, I love to hear from you!

You might find some of my other recent posts on Jordan useful:

• Inside Petra Jordan
• Amman, Jordan’s capital city
• Swimming in the Dead Sea
• Wadi Rum
• 7 day Jordan itinerary

Full disclosure! Some of the links here are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission from every booking made. This is at no extra cost to you. It helps keep me writing and sharing my travel guides free of charge to you 🙂 Thank you for your support! Read our affiliate disclaimer here.