Overnight in the Wadi Rum: Everything you need to know
Spending a night or two in one of the Bedouin camps in the Wadi Rum Desert is definitely an experience you don't want to miss while in Jordan! However, while organising my stay there, I had lots of questions that I didn't really find answers to until I actually set foot in the Wadi Rum. I must say there was a little bit of a language barrier while trying to organise all the activities for our stay and some things were not really as expected. So, I thought I'd give you some heads-up by sharing my own personal experience on my overnight in the Wadi Rum and everything you need to know about it.
The million-dollar question: The Accommodation
Where should you stay while in the Wadi Rum? Well, just by looking at Booking.com, it can already be super confusing to choose one camp over another. You can find Bedouin camps starting at very cheap prices (some even under £10), which usually have shared bathrooms. If you're looking for a tent with a private bathroom for a little more privacy, prices can go up to £30 to £50 for a double tent. On the other hand, for those of you who are into luxury holidays, you could even spend over £100-£200 a night (if not more) to stay in one of those Martian bubble tents.
I travelled to Jordan with my cousins and booked a tent for 4 people with a private bathroom and an amazing terrace with a view of the Wadi Rum for about £27 each (a total 100 JOD for the night). If you're wondering which Bedouin Camp I chose, I'll leave you the link here. However, if you'd like to get in touch with the Bedouin camp boss directly, Halil, feel free to email me, and I can give you his number to arrange your stay. If you speak a little Arabic, even better 😁 There has been a slight language barrier in planning and organising all the activities the way we wanted, as I mentioned before, but we eventually understood each other.
Activities in the Wadi Rum
Even though it might seem like there isn't much to do in the Wadi Rum, there is actually a lot to keep you entertained! For additional prices, you can choose from Jeep tours, camel rides, hot air balloon rides, lunch in the middle of the desert (usually included in the jeep day tours), sandboarding, horse riding, sleeping under the stars, or simply hanging around the camp and taking some amazing pictures. You will be amazed by how quiet the Wadi Rum can be. It's the best feeling ever to just hear silence all around you, especially if you live in a busy city like London!
Personally, we chose a full-day Jeep tour for our first day in the Wadi Rum, and it was truly amazing. It's the only way to see as much as possible of this stunning place. The morning after, I went for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise, and it was simply breathtaking. There are no words to describe it, just see for yourself below...
After the hot air balloon ride, we had some time to relax at the camp, wandered around a bit taking pictures, and went on a 30-minute camel ride before heading back to the Wadi Rum village to pick up our rental car and start driving toward our next stop, Aqaba.
A quick tip! When agreeing on the price for the activities: make sure you have it in writing (a simple WhatsApp message will do) so you can show it at the camp if needed. Prices might be "different" when you arrive, prepare yourself so you don’t end up paying more. If you are a group, ask how much it is for the Private Jeep tour in advance. We thought it was private already but when we arrived at the Wadi Rum, they told us it was with 10 other people on the jeep (not sure how they were planning to fit 10 more people on it but ok) and that we had to pay 10 JOD extra each if we wanted a private one.
In terms of costs, we paid:
-Full Day ‘Private’ Jeep tour 90 JOD each, they also had a 4 hour tour for 70 JOD
-Hot Air Balloon Ride at sunrise 150 JOD, plus 10 JOD to be taken back to the camp (had to negotiate the price as I was ask for 20 JOD to start with)
-30 min Camel Ride 20 JOD each (the price became 25 JOD afterwards but he put the price down again after showing him the text message regarding it clearly stating 20 JOD each)
- The camp itself was 100 JOD for a tent of 4 with terrace and private bathroom
-Dinner at the camp 15 JOD each (this is something they didn’t tell us in advance either and technically it should have been included in the price)
How is dinner at the Camp
Talking about my experience, our dinner consisted of a choice of slow slow-cooked meat and vegetables in an underground oven (which you will be able to see for yourself at the camp if you are curious on how it actually works), rice with lamb in yoghourt sauce, mezze like hummus for example, some fresh fruits, traditional sweets including baklava of course, and the omnipresent chai tea! After dinner you will be able to enjoy some traditional music and performances in some camps or you just end up dancing ‘bedouin’ with the bedouins and the other tourists like in our camp 😅!
How is the weather
The best time to visit the Wadi Rum is between March and May, and September to November, during spring and autumn. The summer months can be very hot, making it difficult to enjoy, while the winter can actually be quite cold, with temperatures reaching -3 degrees at night. Remember, you are in the desert, so there is a significant temperature difference between day and night. We visited the Wadi Rum at the end of April, and during our stay, temperatures were around 25 degrees during the day and dropped to around 10 degrees at night, so make sure to bring some warm clothes. Speaking of which...
What to wear in the Wadi Rum
This can be a bit of a struggle because even if you're staying for just a day (or two), you'll need to pack light clothing for the daytime and warm clothes for the evening and night, especially if you want to do some stargazing and witness an amazing sunrise. By the way, make sure you don't miss it!
Here's another tip: If you have a rental car, pack everything you need in a backpack and just take that with you. If you're opting for a full-day jeep tour like us, chances are you'll have to carry your suitcase with you on the jeep for the entire day. They usually place them on top of the jeep on a custom-made luggage holder (we did notice that, nor all jeeps had that though), but let me tell you, they are very likely to fall off (I witnessed it with my own eyes 😅). So yeah, if you can, leave your big luggage in the car. It just makes things easier for everyone and you will be able to sit on the luggage holder yourself instead as it will be empty and enjoy wonderful views while driving around! A little bumpy but 1 million % worth it.
To give you an idea of what to wear:
During the day, I wore loose summer trousers and leggings in the morning, along with a t-shirt and a shirt throughout the day. Of course, I also had the traditional red and white headscarf, which was very helpful when the sun was strong. I carried a foldable jacket with me as it got a little chilly after sunset which is when you will most likely drive to your camp and if you choose to sit at the back of the jeep, you'll experience a fair amount of wind in your face, so a neck scarf is not a bad idea either.
During the night, I simply put on a hoodie and it was sufficient to keep me warm. Unfortunately, even though we had a cloudy night, we still decided to spend some time on our terrace, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars. For that, we wrapped ourselves in the amazingly warm and comfy duvets provided in our rooms and almost fell asleep outside. That’s how peaceful this place gets!
Can you take your rental car in the Wadi Rum
Short answer: No. Even if you have a 4x4, it is highly advised against taking your rental car into the desert if you are not an experienced driver on sand dunes. There is a high risk of getting stuck easily. If you book a camp, they will typically require you to leave your car at the Wadi Rum Village.
Bring some cash
Do not forget to bring some cash with you before you arrive at Wadi Rum, as most camps do not accept credit cards. There was an ATM along the road, but we already had cash with us, so we didn't give it a try. However, don't risk it, as if that ATM doesn't work on the day you're there, well... it's a very long drive back to the next one!
Forget the internet and enjoy the Desert!
Say goodbye to social media for the entire duration of your stay in Wadi Rum. As our jeep tour guide, Hussain, explained, the only place where you might have a 0.0001% chance of finding some sort of cellular connection is somewhere around the white desert, a specific area within Wadi Rum. Send a text to your relatives back home just before you enter the desert, as you won't have the chance for hours to let them know you're okay. The last cellular connection you'll be able to find is in Wadi Rum Village.
In conclusion
However, always remain vigilant for scams, agree on activity prices in advance, and save a screenshot from booking.com if dinner is included in the stay price (so you don’t get told otherwise when there and can’t even prove it as you won’t have connection). To be honest, I wouldn't even consider them scams; it's just the way things work in Jordan, I suppose. So, don't get upset about it, simply explain your point to them and cherish your time in the desert!
If you are wondering how I planned my road trip through Jordan, have a look at the full itinerary here and… Happy Travel everyone!
