Half-Day Jeep Tour: "Wadi Rum Images"

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. The spring is at the top of a short scramble – head for the fig tree, located just 2km (1.2 miles) south-west of the village of Rum. The spring was named in honor of Lawrence’s evocative description in the Seven Pillars of Wisdom: ‘’In front of us a path, pale with use, zigzagged up the cliff-plinth…From between [the] trees, in hidden crannies of the rock, issued strange cries; the echoes, turned into music, of the voices of the Arabs watering camels at the springs which flowed out three hundred feet above ground’’. Although the pool itself is largely unprepossessing, being a stagnant puddle, the views across the desert are truly spectacular

   40 min

2. Among the vast expanses of rust-coloured sand in the Wadi Rum desert, the Red Sand Dune, or ‘Al Hasany’ in Arabic, is one of the most famous ones. Officially named Al Ramal it has become better known by its descriptive name. It stands out against a cliff side like it is part of the mountain. Coloured red by the presence of iron oxide, this dune is fine and soft underfoot making it perfect to walk up barefoot!

   40 min

3. Khazali Canyon in Wadi Rum is the site of petroglyphs etched into the cave walls depicting humans and antelopes dating back to the Thamudic times. This narrow canyon contains numerous Nabataean rock carvings of people and animals. Jebel Khazali, a peak situated in the center of Wadi Rum Protected Area opens up in a narrow fissure of about 100 m length. Its inner walls are covered with Thamudic, Nabatean, and Islamic inscriptions, as well petroglyphs depicting humans and animals. Remarkable are the soles of feet petroglyphs, which probably had religious significance. In 1932 the French epigraphist Savignac noted the engravings in the cleft and published some of them in 1934. The petroglyphs and inscriptions of Khazali Siq form an impressive collection being one of the major tourist attractions in Wadi Rum. At the end of the canyon, there are several man-made rock-cut basins for water collection.

   40 min

4. Little Rock Bridge: Easy to climb, this bridge offers great views across a broad expanse of desert. It is easily accessible and not dangerous, it is perfect for families with children and people who feel less comfortable with heights under their feet.

   40 min

5. Nobody is certain that this was Lawrence’s house, although there are stories that he both stayed and/or stored weapons here. The current structure is built upon the remains of a Nabataean building, however, and it’s another beautiful spot in the desert. There is little left of this building, erected on the Nabataean ruins of a water cistern. Nonetheless, legend has it that Lawrence stayed here during the Arab Revolt and that makes it a must on the regular 4WD circuits of the area. Near the building is a Nabataean inscription that mentions the area’s ancient name of Iram. The remote location and uninterrupted view of the red sand dunes are the main attractions.

   40 min

6. A lower rock bridge which is featured on many tours and can be easily scrambled onto. The climbing takes 5-15 minutes (depending on your experience) and the view that it offers to the surrounding area is amazing.

   40 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 44 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Aqaba

• Its from-price is 54% below the median of the 466 experiences we list in Aqaba.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 34 of 466.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Aqaba

Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport, a warm Red Sea resort town at the head of its gulf, backed by desert mountains and near Wadi Rum and Petra.

Aqaba sits at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, at the north end of the Red Sea, with the mountains of Edom behind it and Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the other shores of the gulf. Jordan's only seaport, it has been a trading place since ancient times, and an early Islamic city, Ayla, has excavated remains on the seafront. The fort near the harbour dates from the Mamluk period, and Aqaba fell to the forces of the Arab Revolt in 1917.

Top-ranked sights in Aqaba: Wadi Rum.

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