Places to Visit in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Places to Visit in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum is a valley situated about 60 kms from Aqaba in Jordan bound by Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq and Jerusalem as its neighboring countries. Wadi Rum covers a total area of 720 sq kms and its elevation level is approx 5741 feet above sea level. Wadi Rum is one of the major tourist spots in the Middle East which is visited by large number of local as well as international tourists all round the year. Wadi Rum is also well known for background film setting in many Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Since the place is known for deserts and rocky terrains, many movies have been shot in this locale. Wadi Rum coordinates with 29.34’ degree North Latitude and 35.25’ degree East Longitude.

Wadi Rum History:

Historic evidences show that Wadi Rum existed about 8000 years back as many paintings and temples belonging to prehistoric times were found and excavated. Wadi Rum was also visited by a noted British officer by name T.E. Lawrence who was in this place during the Arab Revolt that took place in the year 1917 to 1918.

Visitor’s attractions in Wadi Rum:

Wadi Rum Desert:

Tourists visiting Wadi Rum can visit the deserts located in this part of the country for undertaking adventure and long drives. They can also take camel rides and spot some animals like wild goats with long horns in the beautiful mountains of the Wadi Rum.

Burdah Bridge Wadi Rum:

This is another major tourist attraction located in Wadi Rum known for natural rock formation. The rocks are formed naturally in such a manner that it resembles a bridge which is a dazzling spectacular sight to watch out for in Wadi Rum.

Tourists coming to Wadi Rum can also visit Aqaba which is approx 60 kms from Wadi Rum. Some of the main tourist attractions in Aqaba are:

Berenice Beach Club:

Situated on the Red Sea Coast, this is the one and only private beach located in heart of Aqaba spreading over 500 meters where many visitors come to enjoy the serene atmosphere and also for sunbathing.

South Beach:

South Beach is one of the only beaches in Aqaba that provides water sporting activities like wave surfing, water skiing, boating and yatching. Many tourists visit the beach to watch the sunrise and sunset which is an awesome sight to be in this part of the place.

Janna Spa:

This is one of the best spas located in Aqaba where the tourists can get an extraordinary experience. Here the tourists undergo various body massages like hot steam bath, sauna, mud bath, oil bath to reduce the stress and tension.

Aqaba Marine Park:

The Marine Park has some of the largest and rarest collections of fishes, corals, marine creatures and aquatic mammals that draw huge number of local as well as international visitors all round the year.

City Beach:

City Beach is another popular tourist destination in Aqaba known for their white sandy beaches and blue crystal waters. The beach is also ideal for having sunbath and offers beautiful view of the sunrise and sunset. At times the tourists can also spot some sea shells and other marine creatures being washed away in the shores like star fish and jelly fish.

Aqaba Fort:

This is one of the ancient forts located near the beach which was built in the year 1557 A.D. where the tourists can come across the Persian style of architecture being depicted in the fort interiors and exteriors. The fort attracts many international tourists from all parts of the country.

Aqaba Museum:

This is one of the must visit museum situated in Aqaba which has large collections of paintings, artifacts, coins, antiques which display the culture and tradition of the people of Jordan.

Climatic conditions in Wadi Rum:

Since the valley of Wadi Rum is stationed in the middle of the desert, the place remains hot and dry rest of the year. The maximum temperature during summers goes up to 40 degrees and during winters the temperature falls to low of 20 degrees with sanddunes and cold winds blowing across the valley of Wadi Rum.

Cuisines, festivals and sports in Wadi Rum:

Wadi Rum is known world over for its awesome cuisines and dishes like bright vegetables, felafels, crunchy kababs and spicy meat dishes. Some of the local delicacies include chicken kabab, muton gosh, mutton kurma, naan stuffed with layers of chicken, beef kurma etc. Festival is one major event in Wadi Rum where many major Muslim festivals like Idul-Fitr, Bakrid, Ramzan, Moharum are celebrated with much vigor by the locals living in Wadi Rum. Wadi Rum is also known for many desert sporting activities like desert rallies and jeep racing which keeps the tourists on their toes by undertaking such adventurous sporting activities.

Connectivity to Wadi Rum in Jordan:

Wadi Rum is well connected by road and air transport. Many tourist buses operate from Wadi Rum to Aqaba at regular intervals. Tourists can also take camel rides, jeeps to cover nearby distance in Wadi Rum. Jordan International Airport is about 285 kms from Wadi Rum which operates several domestic as well as international flights to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Israel.

Hotels in Wadi Rum:

Tourists visiting Wadi Rum can find accommodation in Aqaba city located about 60 kms from Wadi Rum. The hotels range from 1 star rating to 5 star rating offering some of the world class amenities and services like airport shuttle, separate visitors lounges, parking for visitors, mini bar, free internet connectivity, laundry services and hosts of many facilities. List of hotels in Aqaba located at the distance of 60 kms from Wadi Rum is as follows: