Camping in the Wadi Rum Desert: A Firsthand Experience
What could be more peaceful than spending a night out in the desert under the full moon and starry sky? It sounds so perfect, right? Things we did not factor in: The heat. But don’t let that stop you. Camping in the Wadi Rum Desert is a must have experience for everyone visiting Jordan. Let’s take a look at what my experience was like and what you should expect of your time camping in Wadi Rum.
My Experience Camping in the Wadi Rum Desert
From Petra, two friends (Gabi and Frenchie) and I decided to book a one night stay in the Wadi Rum Desert. Unfortunately, we were in Jordan in August, which is not an ideal time to visit. It is intensely hot, like over 100 degrees. I recommend visiting almost any other time of the year to avoid feeling like you’re being boiled alive, but even with the heat, camping in the Wadi Rum Desert is an amazing experience!
Arriving in Wadi Rum Desert
Around 6:00am a shuttle bus came to pick us up to drive the two hours from Petra to the Wadi Rum Desert. We arrived at Wadi Rum Village and were greeted by our “Guide” who also owned the camp we were staying at. He drove us to his uncle’s house where we all sat outside under a covering and had a very sweet and equally hot tea while learning a bit about the village, the Bedouins who lived there, and our plan for the day.
Side Note: What I found most fascinating (and horrifying) is that as a polygamist society, the men can have many wives, but each wife must have her own house. The horrifying part is some men have 35 children. 35!!! What do you do with 35 children?! That’s from four wives. Did I mention horrified?! Anyway, moving on…
Exploring the Wadi Rum Desert
Our full day in Wadi Rum Desert was set to hold a four-hour jeep tour around the desert, some time relaxing in camp, sunset at an overlook point, a traditional dinner, and of course sleeping in the peace and quiet of the desert.
The Wadi Rum Desert is unique in that it features many sandstone and granite formations growing out of the otherwise fairly flat red sand. The jeep tour was led by the guide’s nephew in a pickup truck with the three of us sitting on the benches in the back. Being a guy of about 18, you can imagine how his driving was, so at times we hung on for dear life.
Touring the desert we stopped to check out ancient inscriptions on rock surfaces, sand dunes, natural bridges, canyons, and more. My favorite part was being able to climb up the many rock bridges. The most challenging part was climbing through and up a narrow canyon until Gabi and I gave up and let Frenchie and the Bedouin continue without us. I value my personal safety! Every part of the desert was beautiful, empty, quiet, and hot!!
Checking Out Our Wadi Rum Camp
Exhausted from the heat and climbing rocks, we arrived at camp early in the afternoon. Camp featured five canvas tents in the open and three small buildings nestled up to a large natural formation: the bathroom (with running water including two showers!), a kitchen, and the common area tent and fire pit. It was deserted except for the three of us and a Bedouin, who turned out to be the cook, and did not speak English.
We spent the afternoon there hopping from our tent, to the main tent, to the shade under the rock’s edge trying to remain cool all while being continually fed burning hot, really sweet Bedouin tea. It was after a few hours of this we realized we should have come in the afternoon rather than the morning. It was so hot that all of the water we brought to drink was close to bath water temperature – not so refreshing!
While hanging out at camp the Bedouin played the Hood, a string instrument similar to a guitar, for us and showed us dinner before he buried the container on top of a fire in the sand to cook for a few hours.
Catching Sunset Over the Red Sands of Wadi Rum Desert
Sunset became really exciting as not just a beautiful time of day but also a relief from the 100 degree temperature. Our car returned with a family of three and took us to the nearby natural bridge to watch the sunset over the desert.
It was so beautiful and peaceful and very difficult to catch the beauty on camera. While enjoying the multitude of colors appearing overhead, our guide surprised us with something very valuable – cold water! With the sun behind the granite formations and the temperatures starting to drop, we returned to camp for dinner.
Cooking and Dining at Camp
By the time we arrived back at camp, it was dark and time to dig up dinner. Our guide and the cook worked together to dig it up, uncover it, and haul it out of the sand. It was quite the production.
From there, the eight of us – Gabi, Frenchie, the family of three, guide, cook, and I returned to the main tent and fire pit to eat dinner together and enjoy a bit more live Bedouin music. It was a very relaxing night which even included nice cold (and definitely necessary) showers before climbing into bed where we could see the stars and full moon outside our windows and front door.
Unfortunately, the Bedouin cook had taken an interest in Gabi and more or less stalked our tent so eventually we ended up closing (and locking) the door.
Morning in the Desert
Morning came early as the sun was rising, and we all shared a simple breakfast at our camp. Then Gabi, Frenchie, and I returned to Wadi Rum Village to catch a taxi to Aqaba. From there, Frenchie was flying on to Lebanon and Gabi and I were pursuing our Egyptian visas.
Things to Know Before Camping in Wadi Rum Desert
If you choose to go glamping or camping in Wadi Rum Desert, here are some tips to make your experience a bit better, and to avoid some potentially unpleasant surprises!
Understand What to Pack
Once you have booked an adventure, verify what is provided and what you need to take. I would not take anything for granted. For example, you may need to take water for yourself. In that case, take more than you think you will need because it’s very hot out in the desert.
Verify if they have bathrooms and showers. While bathrooms may not be considered a necessity in the desert, it is nice to know what you are getting into! Pack toilet paper, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer accordingly. Additionally, know if you need to take your own towel or if it will be provided.
Check that the beds are real beds and if they offer basic things like clean pillows and sheets. This may seem ridiculous, but you are in the middle of the desert and some camps are very basic. It’s good to know if you need to take a sarong (or something) to sleep on and something to cover the pillows. It may give you peace of mind.
Know What to Wear
Depending on the time of year, the weather can vary. If it is summer, like when I went, wear light weight covering clothing. Also, definitely wear sunscreen. The sun is brutal in the desert. Also remember that while you are in the desert away from the majority of society, it is a good idea to stay fairly covered as is typical in Bedouin culture.
Take Entertainment for Downtime
You will have some down time at camp. This could be in the afternoon or at night. I recommend packing something lightweight to keep you entertained in those off times, like books, cards, drawing, music, etc.
Find Additional Resources for Nearby Cities and Sites
If you’re camping in Wadi Rum Desert, chances are you have time to explore other nearby cities. Where else do you want to go? Here are some posts to help you decide:
- Visiting Petra and Wadi Musa
- How to Visit the Dead Sea: The Essential Guide for First Time Visitors
- How to Get an Egyptian Visa in Aqaba, Jordan
- Taking the Ferry from Jordan to Egypt: A Local Experience
- Tel Aviv: Finding Paradise in the Middle East
- Exploring Jerusalem: The Holy City
- Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
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