Things to Do in Wadi Rum: A Practical Guide from the Desert

There are more things to do in Wadi Rum than most people expect from a desert. You can cross it by jeep or camel, float over it in a hot-air balloon at sunrise, climb its rock bridges, walk its canyons and spend the night under a very dark, clear sky. This is a practical list from people who live here, with what each one involves and how to plan around it.

How activities work in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is a large protected area of sandstone and granite mountains in southern Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011. The sights are spread out across the sand, with no paved roads between them, so most visitors explore with a local Bedouin guide.

At SunCity Camp, jeep tours, camel rides, balloon flights, hikes and stargazing are run by the local Bedouin community, not by the camp. They aren't included in the stay. We help arrange them, and the team confirms prices and times.

Take a jeep tour of the main sights

A 4x4 tour is the most popular thing to do in Wadi Rum, and the easiest way to see a lot in one go. Routes vary by guide and by how long you have, but most include a mix of the stops below. Our jeep tour guide covers routes and timing in more detail.

Lawrence's Spring

Often the first stop on a tour. The spring tour guides call Lawrence's Spring is also known as Ain Abu Aineh. It's named after T. E. Lawrence, who passed through Wadi Rum several times during the Arab Revolt of 1917 and 1918 and wrote about the valley, and a spring here, in Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

Khazali Canyon

A narrow, shaded cleft in the rock. Look closely at the walls: they're covered in old inscriptions and petroglyphs, including Thamudic and Nabataean writing and carvings of people and antelopes. It's a short walk in and out.

The red sand dunes

Wadi Rum's red dunes pile up against the cliffs, and climbing one barefoot is part of almost every visit. The sand is soft and the walk up is harder than it looks, but the view from the top is worth it. This is also where most sandboarding happens.

Um Fruth rock bridge

A natural sandstone arch that you can climb without ropes. The scramble up takes around 10 to 15 minutes over sloping rock, and the top gives you a wide view of the desert. There are no handrails, so wear shoes with grip and take your time.

Burdah rock bridge

Burdah is a much bigger arch, set high on the ridge of Jebel Burdah. Many jeep tours stop to look at it from below. Reaching it means a separate guided hike, covered further down.

Lawrence's House

A small stone ruin traditionally linked to Lawrence, although no one knows for certain that he stayed there. It stands on older Nabataean remains, and it's a good place to stop, look out over the open sand and hear the stories from your guide.

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom

This tall, fluted rock face near the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre takes its name from Lawrence's book. The name was given in the 1980s. Before that the mountain was known as Jabal al-Mazmar. You can see it clearly from the road as you arrive.

Ride a camel across the sand

A camel trek is the oldest way to cross Wadi Rum: slow, swaying and very quiet. Rides range from a short loop to a few hours between sights, and late afternoon, as the light softens, is a good time to go. If you've never ridden before, start with a shorter ride. There's more in our camel ride guide.

Fly in a hot-air balloon at sunrise

Balloon flights in Wadi Rum take off at first light, when the wind is usually calmest. You're collected before dawn and watch the canyons change colour as the sun comes up. Flights depend on the weather and can be cancelled at short notice if the wind picks up, so it helps to plan one early in your stay. Read more in our hot-air balloon guide.

Go hiking and scrambling

Wadi Rum is a serious destination for walkers and climbers, with everything from gentle canyon walks to full-day mountain routes. Trails are not marked, and it's easy to lose your bearings among rock that all looks alike, so go with a local guide.

Jebel Burdah and its rock bridge

The hike to Burdah rock bridge is a popular half-day route. It involves steep sections and scrambling, with some exposure near the top, so you need good shoes, a reasonable level of fitness and a head for heights. Allow a few hours for the round trip.

Jebel Umm ad Dami, Jordan's highest peak

Jebel Umm ad Dami is the highest mountain in Jordan, at about 1,840 metres, and sits roughly 30 km south of Rum village near the Saudi border. The climb is a long day out, best done with a guide and an early start. Jebel Rum, at about 1,734 metres, is the second highest and the tallest in the central part of the valley.

Tips for hiking

• Start early, especially from June to August, when days are often above 35°C.
• Carry more water than you think you'll need.
• Wear shoes with good grip; sandstone can be slippery where it's covered in sand.
• Cover up from the sun with a hat and long sleeves.

Spend a night stargazing

Once the sun goes down, the sky does the rest. Away from town lights, clear desert nights show more stars than most people have ever seen. For the darkest sky, plan around the new moon; a full moon is lovely in its own way but washes out the fainter stars.

You can book a telescope session with RumSky's astronomers, or simply look up. In a Martian Dome, you can watch the stars from bed. Our stargazing guide has more on what to see.

Eat a Zarb dinner

Zarb is the Bedouin underground barbecue. Lamb, chicken and vegetables are slow-cooked for four to six hours in a sand pit. At SunCity it's the signature dinner, served alongside Middle Eastern and international dishes, and dinner is included in every stay. Read about how it's made in our Zarb guide.

Try sandboarding

Sandboarding usually happens on the big red dunes. It's simple: climb up, stand or sit on the board and slide down. There are no lifts, so every run means walking back up through soft sand, which keeps the sessions short. Ask your guide to bring a board if it's on your list.

Photography spots

Wadi Rum is a generous place to photograph. A few things help:

• Golden hour. The hour after sunrise and before sunset turns the sandstone deep orange and red. Midday light is flat and harsh.
• The top of Um Fruth. A person standing on the arch against the open desert is the classic Wadi Rum photo.
• The red dunes. Wind ripples and footprints show best in low side light.
• Khazali Canyon. Soft, shaded light for photographing the inscriptions.
• The night sky. Bring a tripod for long exposures, and plan around the moon.
• People. Always ask before photographing someone, especially Bedouin women and children.

Visit the film locations

Wadi Rum has stood in for other worlds many times. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was filmed here, and it's credited with starting tourism in Jordan. Since then the valley has played Mars in The Martian (2015), the moon Jedha in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), the desert planet Pasaana in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and Arrakis in Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two.

Most filming spots aren't signposted, and much of what you see on screen is simply the open landscape. Tell your guide which films you love, and they can take you through the kind of scenery you'll recognise.

Stop at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre

The visitor centre is the official gateway to the Protected Area, near Rum village, and the starting point for many tours. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom rise just behind it, which makes it a good first photo stop.

If you're staying with us, you don't need to stop there: you can drive or take a taxi straight to the camp in any car, and we send the exact location after you book.

How to fit it all in

One night is enough for a sunset jeep tour, a Zarb dinner and a sky full of stars. Two nights let you add a sunrise balloon flight or a hike without rushing, and leave time for a slow morning. The weather matters too: March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months for being out all day. Our Wadi Rum itinerary has day-by-day plans.

Questions people ask

What is the best thing to do in Wadi Rum?

For a first visit, a jeep tour of the main sights followed by sunset on the dunes and an evening under the stars gives you the best sense of the place. Add a balloon flight or a hike if you have more time.

How many days do you need in Wadi Rum?

One night covers the highlights. Two nights let you add a sunrise activity or a longer hike without rushing.

Do I need a guide in Wadi Rum?

For jeep tours and hikes, yes. There are no marked trails or paved roads between the sights, and local Bedouin guides know the routes.

Can you climb the rock bridges?

Um Fruth is a short scramble that most people with steady footing can manage. Burdah is a longer, steeper guided hike with some exposure near the top.

What is the highest mountain in Jordan?

Jebel Umm ad Dami, at about 1,840 metres, south of Rum village near the Saudi border.

Which films were shot in Wadi Rum?

Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Rogue One, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Dune and Dune: Part Two, among others.

Are activities included in a stay at SunCity?

No. Activities are run by the local Bedouin community and arranged separately. We help set them up, and the team confirms prices and times.

When you're ready, you can book direct on our website, or message the team on WhatsApp to plan your days in the desert.