Wadi Rum
Sandstone massifs rising from red sand on the Saudi border, antelopes scratched into canyon walls, the summit of Jordan, and the dunes that stood in for Arrakis.
- Arrival
- King Hussein International, Aqaba · AQJ
- To the desert
- About 60 km east of Aqaba
- Private jets
- JPJets terminal at Aqaba (AQJ)
- Best time
- March to May · October to November
The city
The Valley of the Moon.
Wadi Rum covers some 720 square kilometres of southern Jordan, close to the Saudi frontier, the largest valley in the kingdom. The Zalabieh Bedouin live here, and the reserve has no shops or restaurants inside it: visitors set out by four-wheel drive, on camels or on foot, and sleep in camps. T. E. Lawrence crossed it during the Arab Revolt, and David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia on location; Dune and The Martian came later. UNESCO listed it in 2011 for both its nature and its history.
The desert is kindest in spring and autumn, when afternoons are 20 to 30 °C. July and August reach 34 °C, while December to February bring days in the mid-teens. Rain is rare in any month.
- Jabal Umm ad Dami The highest point in Jordan, about 1,840 metres, with Jabal Rum second at 1,734.
- Khazali Canyon A narrow cleft whose walls carry Thamudic figures of people and antelopes.
- Nabataean temple Ruins uncovered in 1933, their excavation finished by a French team in 1997.
Arriving
Down to the Red Sea, then inland.
The nearest runway is King Hussein International, on the northern edge of Aqaba. From there the desert lies about sixty kilometres to the east; we arrange the four-by-four or the car once the flight is set.
- Beirut 1 h 00
- Riyadh 1 h 55
- Barcelona 4 h 35
- Amsterdam 4 h 55
- Beijing 9 h 40 long-range jet
When to go
March to May, and October to November.
The desert is hot and almost rainless. March to May and October to November are the months for walking and climbing; high summer touches 34 °C, and winter days drop to around 14 °C.
- 14° J 8
- 16° F 9
- 20° M 9
- 25° A 6
- 30° M 4
- 33° J 0
- 34° J 1
- 34° A 1
- 32° S 0
- 27° O 5
- 21° N 6
- 16° D 9
Where to stay
On the Gulf of Aqaba, sixty kilometres west.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
-
Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Two hundred rooms and suites in the town centre, every one facing the Red Sea, with a private sandy beach below.
-
Bratus Hotel Thirty-four rooms in wood and forest green on Prince Hasan Street, within walking distance of the beach, with a MICHELIN Key.
Where to dine
Where to book in Aqaba.
No MICHELIN Guide covers Jordan, and the desert camps serve simple set meals. These are top-priced hotel restaurants in Aqaba, about 60 km away, rated by Tripadvisor.
- Red Restaurant and Lounge Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 Steaks and seafood $$$$ Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla, about 60 km
- The Lebanese Restaurant Rated 4.7 on Tripadvisor Lebanese $$$$ InterContinental Aqaba, about 60 km
Elsewhere in Jordan
More reasons to come.
Flying to Wadi Rum?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.