Wadi Rum - Jordan
Wadi Rum is a vast desert landscape in southern Jordan, famous for its dramatic sandstone mountains, red dunes, and star-filled skies.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s home to Bedouin culture and unforgettable desert experiences.
Where to stay?
With over 200 camps in the desert, choosing where to stay can be challenging.
Many travelers prefer authentic Bedouin camps inside the protected area, which all operate with solar power and water tanks.
Camps outside the protected area are closer to villages and use electricity and water pipes, offering a more hotel-style setup rather than a true desert experience.
Tourism in Wadi Rum began to develop after the film Lawrence of Arabia made the area internationally known. From the late 1970s and 1980s, increasing numbers of visitors came to Jordan, and Bedouins started offering simple overnight stays under the stars or in traditional tents.
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Tourism grew significantly after Wadi Rum was declared a protected area in 1998 and later recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
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Today, Wadi Rum is a major ecotourism destination, offering accommodation ranging from basic Bedouin camps to luxury bubble tents.
The Bedouin Villages of Wadi Rum
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Along the boundary of the protected area are the Bedouin villages of Rum, Ad Disah, At-Tuweisa, Mansir and Shakriya.
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Rum Village is the only village located inside the Wadi Rum Protected Area.
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Most desert camps belong to Bedouin families from Rum and Disah. This is largely due to traditional land ownership.
Families from Rum possess land inside the protected area, while families from Disah mainly own land outside the protected boundary.
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The difference is therefore primarily regulatory and infrastructural. Camps inside the protected area near Rum Village are subject to environmental rules, size limits, and sustainability requirements.
Camps outside the protected area near Disah are not bound by the same construction and infrastructure restrictions and can install permanent water and electricity connections more easily.
In summary, Rum Village represents the regulated core inside the protected desert, while Disah, At-Tuweisa, Mansir and Shakriya lie along the outer boundary, where development conditions differ.
Our recommendations
It goes without saying that we personally favour camps with authentic character and a genuine connection to the desert environment.
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All the camps are located within the "Red Desert - The Protected Area" and offer unique Views!
However, visitors are often surprised to discover that all comfort categories are available inside the desert: from simple traditional camps to high-end accommodation.
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The camps we recommend are not only family-owned and locally operated; we have also carefully selected and tested them ourselves.
Our own guests have stayed in these camps, allowing us to evaluate quality, atmosphere, service, and overall experience firsthand.
We fully understand that every traveller has different expectations, comfort levels, and ideas of what makes the perfect desert stay.
That is why we offer carefully chosen options to suit a variety of preferences – without compromising on authenticity and responsibility.
All you need to know
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