Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
your way around the northern tip of Jebel Umm Ishrin until you get back to the Seven Pil-
lars of Wisdom. This hike takes about 2½ hours.
JEBEL RUM ROUND TRIP
Another possible DIY hike is the circumambulation of the southern half of Jebel Rum via
Wadi Leyyah, starting from Rum village and passing Lawrence's Spring and Ain Abu
Aineh. The route takes eight hours and offers some stunning 'big country' scenery.
JEBEL UMM ADAAMI ASCENT
A recommended 4WD-hiking trip is to Jebel Umm Adaami (1832m), Jordan's highest
peak, on the rarely visited southern border with Saudi Arabia. The hour-long uphill hike is
marked by cairns and offers fabulous views of Wadi Rum to the north and Saudi Arabia to
the south. Find a driver who knows the 45-minute 4WD route south to Wadi Saabet,
where the hike starts. On the way back, stop off at the rock carvings of nearby Siq al-Bar-
id, a lovely spot for a picnic.
Scrambling
Scrambling lies somewhere between hiking and climbing. No technical skills are required
but you may have to pull yourself up short rock faces on the following trips.
BURDAH ROCK BRIDGE
If you take a 4WD excursion to Burdah Rock Bridge, it's well worth making the hour-
long scramble up to the bridge itself. There's nothing technical involved but you'll need a
guide to find the route and a head for heights on one spot just before the bridge. There are
fabulous views from the top. To continue beyond the bridge you'll need ropes and some
climbing skills (one climber fell to his death here in 1999).
RAKHABAT CANYON
With a local guide or a copy of Tony Howard's
Walking in Jordan
you can navigate the
labyrinthine siqs of Rakhabat Canyon for an exciting half-day trip through the heart of
Jebel Umm al-Ishrin. The western mouth of the canyon is just by Rum village. At the far
(eastern) end of the canyon you can hike across the valley to the Anfaishiyya inscriptions,
600m south of the Bedouin camp, and then return on foot to Rum via the southern point of
Jebel Umm al-Ishrin, with a possible detour to Ain Abu Aineh en route. Alternatively,
with a guide and some experience of abseiling you can head back west through the moun-
tain ridge along the Kharazeh Canyon for a great loop route.
Rock Climbing
Wadi Rum offers some challenging rock climbing (up to Grade 8). Although the Bedouin
have been climbing in the area for centuries, climbing as a modern sport is still relatively
undeveloped. That said, there are now several accredited climbing guides, most of whom
