About Wadi Rum Desert

Wadi Rum Desert is a stunning valley situated in the heart of Jordan, boasting spectacular rocky landscapes and an ancient and fascinating history that spans back thousands of years. Wadi Rum Desert budget travel offers a glimpse into a breathtaking arid landscape with many wondrous attractions.

Wadi Rum Desert Budget Travel

Below is a list of Wadi Rum Desert's top activities, click on the link to view all details and tours.

Wadi Rum Jeep Safari

View all activities in Wadi Rum Desert

Airports

Wadi Rum airports include the following:
•Queen Alia International Airport
•King Husein International Airport

Conservation

To continue to untouched pristine nature of this area, Wadi Rum Desert conservation is critical. The area has been declared a protected area, and aside from the Bedouin camps found within the Wadi, there is no occupation or human influence that could disturb the extremely fragile ecosystems of Wadi Rum Desert.

Culture

Wadi Rum Desert culture includes the following:
• Family and ties play a key role in Bedouin culture
•Folk arts such as music, art and poetry is also a traditional culture of the Bedouin tribes
•Many Bedouin tribes have begun to breed and keep white doves in more recent years
•The transitional lifestyle eventually progressed into a nomadic or semi nomadic lifestyle over the years

Health

Wadi Rum Desert health info for travellers includes the following:
•The most common health risk is travellers tummy from rich foods or tap water
•Health facilities are advanced in the major cities, but not in rural areas
•Pack a basic first aid kit with medication for upset stomachs, nausea and other minor ailments
•Check with your doctor about any health risks or disease outbreaks that may have occurred recently before leaving for your trip

Languages

Wadi Rum Desert languages include the following:
•Modern Standard Arabic
•Jordanian Levantine
•English
•French
•Spanish
•Armenian
•Circassian
•Chechen
•Turkish
•Serbo-Croatian
•Greek
•Bosnian

Malaria

While malaria in Wadi Rum Desert is not a risk, there may be a malaria risk within Asia in general. Travellers who are visiting malaria-risk countries before or after travelling to Wadi Rum Desert should consider malaria medication.

Money

Wadi Rum Desert money and banking info is as follows:
•There are no banks or facilities in Wadi Rum Desert itself, but there are facilities in nearby towns and cities
•Most establishments accept payment in US dollars
•Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops
•Traveller's cheques are not widely accepted and may not be exchanged even in banks
•Cash machines are found in most supermarkets, banks and other commercial buildings

People

Wadi Rum Desert people include the following ethnic groups:
•Bedouins
•Jordanians

Phrase

Wadi Rum Desert local phrases include the following:
•Hello: Marhaba
•Good morning: S-bahh Al-khair
•Good evening: Masa Al-khair
•Please: Men-fadllaak (m)
•Please: Men-fadllake (f)
•How much: Gha-daish?

Plants

Wadi Rum Desert plants are scarce, with much of the area taken up by desert and rocky cliff faces. The largest type of vegetation to be found in Wadi Rum Desert comprises of sand dune vegetation, which typically includes shrubs and grasslands.

Religion

Wadi Rum Desert religion includes the following:
•Sunni Muslim 92%
•Christian 7%
•No religion 1%

Safety Tips

Wadi Rum safety tips include:
•Climbing and trekking here can be dangerous for those who have difficulties with heights
•Canyons can be lethal, particularly as a result of flash floods - check the weather and avoid the area after rains
•Dangerous animals can be found in the desert, including snakes and scorpions
•The desert heat is extremely harsh, with very strong sun - carry water at all times and wear high factor sunscreen to protect yourself
•The area is extremely remote, with no health facilities in the event of sickness or accidents, take simple precautions at all times

Transport

Wadi Rum Desert local transport includes:
•Camel
•4x4 vehicle

Travel Books

Wadi Rum Desert travel books include the following:
•Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum Desert by Tony Howard
•Travels in Syria and the Holy Land by Johan Lewis Burckhardt
•Kingdom of the Film Stars: Journey into Wadi Rum Desert by Annie Caulfield
•Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler
•The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T E Lawrence

What To Buy

What to buy for holidays in Wadi Rum Desert:
•Spare batteries for torches and camera
•Guide books and Arabic phrase books
•Thick socks for hiking boots
•First aid kit for travel purposes
•Large refillable water bottle, or plenty of bottled water

What To Pack

What to pack for safari in Wadi Rum Desert:
•Sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses
•Bathing suit and towels
•Headscarves for women, plus long skirts and t-shirts that cover shoulders
•Comfortable walking shoes plus sandals
•Camera with spare batteries and memory card/film
•Guide book and phrase book
•Basic first aid kit

When To Go

When t o go to Wadi Rum Desert:
•Early Spring and Autumn have clear, sunny days and moderate temperatures that make these periods the best times to visit
•March and the first half of April are ideal, with wildflowers briefly in bloom
•Summers have fierce temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and upwards
•Rain in Winter and Spring can sometimes cause flash floods so take caution during these times