Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
have been trained in the UK. To arrange a climbing trip, contact the visitor centre a few
days in advance; they will put you in touch with a guide with whom you can negotiate the
price and organise camping gear, equipment and transport. Costs start at around JD200 for
one to two days' climbing.
Guides often suggest Jebel Rum for less experienced climbers: minimal gear is needed
and it's close to the Rest House. Another popular climbing location is Jebel Barrah. For
information on routes see Tony Howard and Di Taylor's books and check out
www.wadirum.net.
Other Activities
For a magnificent eagle-eye view of Wadi Rum, take to the air by balloon (JD130 per per-
son for a minimum of two people). Trips take a minimum of two hours and are dependent
on the weather. Alternatively, try a 20-minute 'flip' by microlight or ultralight.
Bait Ali
Lodge
Offline map
( 079-5548133;
www.baitali.com
)
acts as the local facilitator for
the
Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan
( 2058052;
www.royalaerosports.com
)
,
providing the easiest way of making a booking for these sports. Bait Ali also rents out
sand yachts, mountain bikes and quad bikes, along with maps of possible routes in the dry
mud flats north of the camp.
The annual
Jebel Ishrin Marathon
takes place each September and the
Wadi Rum
Endurance Race
(
www.fei.org
)
, a 120km-in-a-day FEI event, may interest horse enthusi-
asts.
Tours
If you have limited time, you may find it easier to arrange a tour to Wadi Rum from
Aqaba. Prices start from around JD70 per person per day (including transport, food and
entrance fee) and can include an overnight stay in the desert (JD15 for facilities and
breakfast).
Wadi Rum Safari
( 2063882;
www.wadirumsafari.com
)
has one of the bet-
ter reputations for these tours.
Some tours overnight at Diseh and do not even enter the main protected area of Wadi
Rum. Diseh has some good camps in beautiful scenery but it is not part of the reserve area
so you should be clear about what the tour entails to avoid disappointment.
Sleeping
There is no hotel in Wadi Rum, nor in the neighbouring village of Diseh, so if you want to
spend time in the area, be prepared to camp. Camping can range from a goat-hair blanket
under the stars at an isolated Bedouin camp or a mattress under partitioned canvas in a
