Tip: 4-hour Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

Are you looking for a great way to explore the Wadi Rum desert? Then a jeep tour is the perfect choice! In this article you will find information about the jeep tour we did and booked with the accommodation we stayed at, namely Beyond Wadi Rum Camp.

Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

A jeep tour is one of the many activities offered by the accommodation Beyond Wadi Rum Camp and, in my opinion, the most fun! You are in the back of a pickup, drive through the desert and a guide will show you the main sights of Wadi Rum. The Bedouin tent camp where we stayed offers different jeep tours ranging from 2 to 8 hours. We opted for the 4-hour tour and this one was perfect for us, since we saw the most beautiful sights in 4 hours.

Tip: During the day it can get very hot and it’s smart to bring a cap or a cloth, like a real keffiyeh (Arabic headgear). Not all jeeps have a roof, meaning you can be exposed to the soaring heat all day long.

You can book the tour separately, but also in combination with an overnight stay. We chose this last option, which cost 110 JOD for two people. Don’t want to spend the night in the camp and only do a jeep tour? You pay 70 JOD for two people for a 4-hour jeep tour. This price includes transfers to and from Wadi Rum Village, accompanied by a local Bedouin guide and tea and water. Times for the tour can be discussed in advance with one of the accommodation’s staff. A complete overview of the possibilities and costs can be found here.

Tip: If you book the jeep tour with more people, the price per person will be cheaper.

4-hour Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

The sights we visited during the tour: Lawrence Spring, a large sand dune, Lawrence House, Chicken Rock, Khazali Canyon, Um Fruth Rock Bridge and the Small Arch next to our accommodation. Below you will find information about the sights we visited.

Lawrence Spring

Near the Wadi Rum Village, about 2 kilometers away, you’ll find Lawrence Spring. Next to the Bedouin tent, where you can buy delicious tea and souvenirs, you’ll find a way up, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view over the ruins and the valley! On the top you’ll find the Lawrence Spring and some inscriptions. Near the camp there’s a large group of camels. If you like you can, for a fee, ride camels.

Sand dunes

There are numerous sand dunes in the Wadi Rum desert, one or more of which you’ll visit during the tour. I don’t know the exact name of the sand dune we visited, but this one was very cool! Next to the sand dune you’ll find a rock that you can climb with a view over a part of the valley. On some stretches the climb was a challenge, so keep this in mind and make sure you wear proper shoes.

Khazali Canyon

Khazali Canyon is one of the most famous sights in the Wadi Rum desert. It is 100 meters long and narrow gorge in the Jabal Khazali. The inner walls of the canyons are covered with Nabatean, Islamic and Thamudic inscriptions and petroglyph rocks. The Nabatean drawings consist of camels, horses, mountain goats, people and spirits. The Islamic inscriptions are about God and the prophet Mohammed. All inscriptions are still in good condition, because they are carved outside the sun’s, wind’s, rain’s and people’s reach. Unfortunately, over time water has seriously damaged the lower Thamudic inscriptions.

Um Fruth Rock Bridge

The Um Fruth rock bridge is one of the most photographed places in the Wadi Rum desert. The bridge is about 15 meters high and is a natural phenomenon. To get on top of the bridge, you have to make a bit of climb. There’s a route you can follow. Be careful, because it is quite a steep climb and the rock can be hot on your hands and feet. Once on top, you can enjoy a magnificent view over the desert!

Lawrence House

Lawrence House are the remains of a Nabataean building where Lawrence of Arabia is said to have lived. Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888-1935) was a British officer who fought during the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Turks (1916-1918). Lawrence wrote an autobiographical book about this period with the title ‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’, which was filmed in the sixties by David Lean under the name ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Although there is not much left of the house, Lawrence House is definitely worth a visit. Behind the house there’s another rock, with beautiful views over the valley. The rock is full of piled up stones, perfect for a nice picture!

Chicken Rock

The Chicken Rock is, as the name suggests, a chicken shaped rock. At first you might not see it right away, because you have to see it from a certain spot.

Small Arch

We didn’t have to travel far for this sight, because this natural bridge is situated next to the Beyond Wadi Rum Camp. To get there, you first have to climb a bit, but it’s definitely worth it!

Tip: Climb the arch just before sunset. From here you can enjoy a beautiful sunset!

Beyond Wadi Rum Camp

We chose Beyond Wadi Rum Camp, a small camp run by a Bedouin family. You will find 15 tents to spend the night, one shared tent where you can eat, drink or relax and a (clean) sanitary building. The camp is located next to a large orange rock and a small arch (natural bridge), which is also one of the sights during the jeep tour.