Wadi Rum: Cave Camping & Jeep Tour with Bedouin Dinner

Summary

Wild jeep rides sand surfing and sleeping in a wadi rum cave

You’ll bounce through Wadi Rum by Jeep with a local guide, climb stone bridges and canyons, try sandboarding down wild dunes, then sleep in a cave after sharing Bedouin-cooked dinner under endless stars. If you want real desert silence (and some sand in your shoes), this is it.

What’s the experience like?

I nearly lost my hat before we even reached the first stop — the wind out here in Wadi Rum is no joke. Our Bedouin guide, Khaled, just grinned and tightened his scarf like it was nothing. We bounced along in the back of the Jeep, red dust swirling everywhere, my hands gripping the rail as we sped past these huge rock towers. I’d seen photos before but they don’t get across how quiet it is between the engine bursts — just this big silence, except for the crunch of gravel and sometimes Khaled humming something I couldn’t place.

We stopped at Lawrence Spring first. The water tasted faintly metallic (or maybe that was just my imagination), but it felt cold on my face after climbing up. There were goats somewhere nearby — you could hear their bells clinking below. At Khazali Canyon, Khaled pointed out old petroglyphs scratched into the stone. He tried teaching us how to say “wadi” properly; Li laughed when I tried to say it in Arabic — probably butchered it. Then came Um Frouth Rock Bridge, which looks impossible until you’re standing right on top of it with your knees shaking and the whole desert stretching out pink below.

Sandboarding at Um Ghadah was… well, I fell more than I rode, but honestly sliding down those dunes felt like being a kid again. The sand gets everywhere — shoes, pockets, teeth if you’re not careful (I wasn’t). By late afternoon we reached Chicken Rock (which really does look like a chicken if you squint), then drove out toward this cave tucked into the cliffs where we’d camp for the night. The sun was setting behind us — all gold and orange streaks — and suddenly everything felt very far from home.

Khaled cooked dinner over an open fire while we sat on faded cushions and drank sweet tea that tasted smoky from the pot. There’s something about eating outside after a day like that; food just hits different. Later I lay back on my sleeping mat watching stars spill across the sky — more than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. It got cold fast but I didn’t mind much. Even now, weeks later, I still think about that quiet out there and how small it made me feel in a good way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Jeep tour and cave camping experience

• Start jeep tour at 14:00
• Visit Lawrence of Arabia spring
• Explore Khazali Canyon
• See Um Frouth Rock Bridge
• Stop at Sdad Altag View Spot
• Enjoy sand surfing in dunes
• Visit Um Alsamn Rock Bridge
• See Chicken Rock
• Watch sunset at the cave
• Have traditional Bedouin dinner
• Overnight stay at cave camp

Day 2 — Breakfast and departure from camp

• Eat traditional Bedouin breakfast
• Check out from camp

Top questions

How long is the Wadi Rum cave camping & jeep tour?

The tour lasts 4-5 hours for the Jeep portion plus overnight cave camping.

What’s included in the Wadi Rum cave camping tour?

Dinner, breakfast, drinks, snacks, camping equipment, guide and transportation are included.

Is pickup provided for this Wadi Rum tour?

No hotel pickup is listed but public transport options are available nearby.

What are some stops on the Jeep tour?

You’ll visit Lawrence Spring, Khazali Canyon, Um Frouth Rock Bridge, Sdad Attag view spot, Um Ghadah sandboarding dune, Um Alsamn Rock Bridge and Chicken Rock.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

It’s suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal or heart issues.

Do you sleep in a tent or an actual cave?

You camp overnight inside a natural cave with provided equipment—not tents.

Are meals included during Wadi Rum cave camping?

Yes—dinner and breakfast are both included along with tea, coffee and water.

What’s included

Your overnight adventure includes all transportation by Jeep through Wadi Rum’s protected area with an English-speaking Bedouin guide; visits to rock bridges and canyons; sandboarding; dinner cooked over an open fire; breakfast; drinks; snacks; plus all camping equipment for your stay inside the cave itself.