Where to stay in Wadi Rum

Types of camp

Bubble and luxury camps

Traditional and mid-range camps

What to check before booking

• Exact pickup point and whether transfers from Rum village are included.
• Which meals are included (most include dinner and breakfast).
• Heating or extra blankets from November to March.
• Whether the camp is inside the protected area (quieter) or near the village (easier).

Inside the desert or near the village?

Camps deep inside the protected area offer the most silence and the darkest skies, but you depend completely on the camp's transport. Camps on the edge of Rum village or just outside the protected area are easier to reach by taxi and better for late arrivals, though you may hear vehicles and see village lights. Most are 10–30 minutes by 4×4 from the village.

Bubble and dome camps cluster in a few areas to the south and east of the village. They have private bathrooms and air-conditioning or heating in many cases, which matters in summer and winter.

What a night in camp is like

You arrive in the late afternoon, drop your bags in the tent and gather around the fire for tea. Dinner is served buffet-style around 7–8 PM, often after the dramatic unearthing of the zarb. Afterwards there may be Bedouin music, and then the stars. Electricity in many camps comes from solar panels and may be limited at night; bring a power bank and a head torch. Breakfast is simple — bread, cheese, eggs, olives, jam, tea and coffee — before the morning tour or departure.

Packing list for a camp night

• Warm jacket and hat for the evening (even in spring and autumn).
• Head torch and power bank.
• Toiletries and a small towel; wet wipes.
• Cash in dinars for tips and extras.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a scarf for the drive.
• Earplugs if you are a light sleeper — tents are close together in bigger camps.

Booking directly or online

Many camps take bookings on Booking.com and directly by WhatsApp. Whichever you use, confirm the pickup point, time and what is included in writing, and save the camp's number before you leave mobile coverage.

Which camp suits whom?

More well-reviewed camps

Two more camps with strong guest reviews, useful when your first choices are full during spring and autumn.

Seasonal comfort

From November to March, check that your camp provides heating or very good blankets — nights near the village can approach freezing. In summer, tents trap heat by day but cool after dark; dome tents may have air-conditioning, which is worth asking about in June to September. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons and the busiest, so book a week or more ahead.