5 Reasons to Visit Wadi Rum

Most people have a Travel Bucket List and I am certainly no exception. My list, however, did not include camping in the desert until I visited Jordan. I did not know what I was missing!

Let me tell you five reasons why you should go too!

Breathtaking Beauty

The desert holds a special aesthetic quality that is unlike anything I am used to seeing. While cruising along in the back of a Toyota pick-up truck on bench seats, we were captivated by the color of the sand and amazing rock formations. We could not snap pictures quickly enough!

Hospitality

Bedouins are consummate hosts who wish to make you feel welcome and ensure that your experience with them is an enjoyable one.

We were greeted with music and smiles! Upon meeting our tour guide, we were welcomed into his home in the village to enjoy some hot, sweet tea. (Taking off your shoes is considerate when entering into their homes and/or tents.)

For dinner, our hosts offered a variety of dishes including chicken and vegetables that were roasted underground, tabbouleh, hummus, bread, and a couple of other salads. Dessert was Kanafeh, a delicious cheese pastry-type dish. It was incredible!

We ate our dinner around a campfire while seated on mattress pads with camel saddles used as armrests. One of our hosts entertained us with music, singing, and stories. This was followed by more sweet, hot tea. No worries here about going hungry or thirsty in the desert!

Sleep Out in Nature

There are two options when camping in Wadi Rum – “glamping” in a domed tent or sleeping in a Bedouin tent. We went for the latter and it was nothing like I had expected.

The night was very cool, so we were glad to have some layered clothing on to stay warm.

There was a unisex bathroom with a couple of showers and toilet stalls made from cinder block. We were not completely “roughing it” and I was so glad!

Sunrises and Sunsets

I feel like these are made for moments of thankfulness and contemplation about life. This was certainly a time to pause and be thankful for our blessings and the opportunity to travel and see God’s beautiful creation.

The sun set on a busy yet exciting day. There was a full moon, so we did not get to stargaze like we had wanted. Still, the moon left a beautiful glow across the campsite, and we went to bed fully content with what we had seen that day.

Camel Rides

For an extra fee, we rode camels from our campsite back to the village the next morning. Those camels are very tall! I have a slight obsession with camels now. What an awesome experience

Our trip to Wadi Rum was incredible! Is Jordan on your bucket list yet? If not, what are you waiting for?