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Wadi Rum Protected Area

Near Al Quwayrah · Jordan

Background

World Heritage since
2011
Type of site
Mixed
Protected area
742 km²

A 74,000-hectare desert in southern Jordan, near the Saudi border, of narrow gorges, natural arches, towering cliffs and caves, cut into sandstone and granite. It is listed for both its landscape and its history.

Some 25,000 rock carvings and 20,000 inscriptions record 12,000 years of people living here and trace the early development of the alphabet. Today several thousand Bedouin live in the area.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 12,000 yearsOf human presence recorded in rock art
  2. Nabataean eraCarvings of camel caravans and a building later linked to Lawrence
  3. 2011Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Khaz'ali Canyon
    A narrow canyon with petroglyphs of people and animals.
  2. 2
    Burdah Rock Bridge
    The highest rock arch in the area, at 80 m.
  3. 3
    Jabal al Kharaz
    A 34 m white sandstone rock bridge.
  4. 4
    Anfashieh Inscriptions
    Carvings of a camel caravan near the red dunes.
  5. 5
    Lawrence's House
    Ruins on a Nabataean base, linked in stories to Lawrence of Arabia.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Spring or Autumn
Wikivoyage recommends avoiding the cold winter nights and hot summer days.
By 4x4
The desert is best seen by jeep with a Bedouin driver, on a camel or on foot.
Stay the Night
Both GoGo guides plan a full day and a night in a desert camp.
Jordan Pass
Entry to the protected area is included in the Jordan Pass.

A Day in Wadi Rum

From the GoGo Aqaba guide · Open the Aqaba Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Wadi Rum Jeep Tour7 hrs
    Red sand and rock arches by jeep, then a Bedouin camp overnight.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Mar–Apr, Nov. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in Jun–Aug.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jan (8 mm), driest Jun (0 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Petra is 77 km away and the Aqaba Marine Reserve 50 km, so Wadi Rum sits between the two.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 1377 · Wikipedia: Wadi Rum · Wikivoyage: Wadi Rum (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Aqaba guide · UNESCO listing