Why Wadi Rum's Desert Camps Have Become Jordan's Most Photographed Night's Sleep

Wadi Rum, a vast valley of red sand and towering sandstone cliffs in southern Jordan, has been a backdrop for film crews and desert explorers for decades, but it is the valley's growing cluster of overnight camps that has turned it into one of the region's most photographed stays. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 for both its natural and cultural significance, the protected area covers over 700 square kilometres of desert, and a night spent inside it, away from any town, has become the point of the visit rather than a stopover on the way to Petra.

A desert built for stargazing

With no towns and almost no artificial light inside the protected area, Wadi Rum's night skies are unusually dark, and camps here have leaned into that: glass-domed or clear-roofed tents, alongside more traditional goat-hair Bedouin-style tents, let guests watch the stars from bed. Days are spent among the valley's rock arches, narrow canyons, and wind-carved formations, several of which lend their names to the routes still used by local guides.

What fills the days

Most camps run their own 4x4 tours into the surrounding desert, taking in natural rock bridges, ancient rock inscriptions, and quiet lookout points for sunset. Evenings typically centre on a communal dinner, often a zarb, meat and vegetables slow-cooked in a sand oven, eaten under canvas or open sky with the camp's own staff.

Getting there

Wadi Rum sits roughly an hour and a half from Aqaba and its international airport, and around four hours south of Amman by road, making it an easy add-on to a Petra itinerary, which lies about ninety minutes to the north.

Traveller tips

• Desert nights are cold even in summer, so pack warm layers regardless of season.
• Camps vary widely, from simple Bedouin-style tents to glass-domed rooms; check what is included before booking, since not all offer en-suite bathrooms.
• Book a 4x4 tour through your camp rather than arranging one separately, since access within the protected area is controlled.
• Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable daytime temperatures for exploring the desert on foot.