Where Is Wadi Rum?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Wadi Rum (Valley of the Moon) lies in

the far south of Jordan

, set on a high plateau at the western edge of the Arabian desert. Gargantuan rock formations, rippled sand dunes, and clear night skies create an almost fairy-tale setting across an unpopulated area the size of New York City.

Is Wadi Rum worth visiting?

If you think the kids would enjoy a desert adventure riding camels, bouncy 4×4 jeep drives over sand dunes and climbing up huge rock formations to view the sunset and camping out under the stars in a Martian landscape, then

yes, Wadi Rum is worth visiting

. It is basically a giant sandpit for them to play in!

Is Wadi Rum in the Sahara Desert?

Once you visit this iconic dessert, you’ll understand why the Wadi Rum is also known as Mars on Earth.

Our visit to the Sahara desert in Morocco was already breathtaking, but our visit to Wadi Rum was next level because it has one of the best cosmic views on Earth!

What is special about Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum Desert is famed for

its link to T.E. Lawrence the original “Lawrence of Arabia”

. Along with Prince Feisal bin Al-Hussein, he made his base here during the Arab Revolt of 1917-1918. At the center of Wadi Rum village is the Desert Police fort.

Is Wadi Rum mentioned in the Quran?

Inscriptions prove:

Wadi Rum is mentioned in the Quran

Quran 89: 7-8: ‘7 Iram – who had lofty pillars. 8 The likes of whom had never been created in the land? ‘. Thanks to numerous inscriptions in various alphabets, desert scholars were able to identify Wadi Rum with ancient Iram.

Where is Jordan desert?

Jordan, Arab country of Southwest Asia,

in the rocky desert of the northern Arabian Peninsula

.

Why is it called Wadi Rum?

Wadi Rum also known as The Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan 60 km (37 mi) to the east of Aqaba; it is the largest wadi in Jordan. The name Rum

most likely comes from an Aramaic root meaning ‘high’ or ‘elevated’

.

Are there toilets at Petra?

Are there toilets inside Petra?

Yes. There are toilets at the Visitor Centre when you arrive and then more throughout the site

. They’re not very regular though so make sure to check their location on the site map.

How old is Wadi Rum?

It was human habitat as early as

12,000 years ago

!

Widespread petroglyphs, inscriptions and archaeological remains illustrate that many humans of different cultures inhabited Wadi Rum as early as 12,000 years ago since prehistoric times and interacted with the natural environment there.

What continent is Jordan in?

Asia

Is there desert in Jordan?


Wadi Rum is really the only desert in Jordan

with plenty of things to do. Wadi Rum is visitor friendly and easy to access from the city of Aqaba. From leisurely walks to adrenaline fuelled adventures, there are lots of things to do in the Jordanian desert.

How far is wadi from Petra?

Location of Wadi Musa

It is 4 kilometers in length and leads to the entrance of Petra which is a

ten-minute walk

from many hotels. The journey between Wadi Musa and the capital city of Amman takes just under three hours by car.

Do people live in Wadi Rum?


Nearly all the native inhabitants of Wadi Rum are bedouins

. Here, they live in the Rum Village and in the desert, some families moving from place to place as the climate demands.

Can Canadian travel to Jordan?


Canadian citizens travelling to Jordan are not exempted from the visa requirements

. After obtaining the Jordan Pass, Canadians still need to apply for a visa on arrival or a traditional visa from the Jordan Embassy or Consulate. The Jordan Tourist Visa for Canadian citizens is valid for a period of up to 30 days.

Was Wadi Rum an ocean?

Wadi Rum, also known as Valley of the Moon, is

a desert

the size of 720km squared, cut into sandstone and granite rock. Many years ago, the sea formed the strange shapes you see in the sandstone.

Who built Petra?

Petra was built by

the Nabateans

in what is now southern Jordan, while the civilization was amassing great wealth trading with its Greek and Persian contemporaries around 150BC.

What is the capital of Jordan?

Amman

How safe is Jordan?

It’s safe

Jordan is a safe and peaceful nation despite being located amidst some unsafe and unstable countries like Syria, Iraq and South Arabia. According to a recent Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, Jordan ranked

38th out of 136

where safety is concerned.

Is Jordan in Egypt?

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية (Arabic) Al-Mamlakah al-‘Urdunniyyah Al-Hāshimiyyah HDI (2019) 0.729 high · 102nd

What language is spoken in Jordan?

Official languages

Is Jordan a poor country?

Jordan is an upper middle-income country, with a population of 10.9 million, quite youthful with 74 percent below the age of 30.

It is a resource-poor, food-deficit country

with limited agricultural land, no oil resources and a scarce water supply.

Is Wadi Rum open?

Our airports have opened, and we are finally able to welcome visitors again in Jordan.

We are happy to welcome you here in Wadi Rum after this long break.

What does Wadi Rum mean in Arabic?

Wadi is an Arabic word often translated to valley. Officially wadi refers specifically to

dry river beds

and can also relate to smaller geographic formations. Wadi Rum is one of many well known locations that have given the word a cross lingual recognition.

How big is Wadi Rum desert?

Wadi Rum is a protected area covering

720 square kilometers

of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more.

Can you go inside the Treasury at Petra?

Can you go inside the Treasury at Petra?

No, you can’t go inside the Treasury

, but there’s nothing to see. It’s just an empty chamber. The Nabataeans, who carved the ancient city of Petra into the cliffs in the 1st century AD, were much more focused on the facade.

Can you fly from Tel Aviv to Petra?

You’ll find

domestic flights available from Tel Aviv to Eliat for around $90 USD per person

. You can then transfer by land to Petra. Tel Aviv also offers flights to the Jordanian capital Amman, with Royal Jordanian Airlines operating two to three per day. These cost a little more but only take around 45 minutes.

Is Petra safe for tourists?

Currently,

there are no travel warnings against Petra

. Neither the US State Department nor the British Foreign Office has issue travel advice against visiting anywhere in the vicinity of Petra. They currently advise against visiting the border with Syria and Iraq.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.