Wadi Rum Jeep Tour: Crimson dunes, canyons and ancient carvings

Drive into rust-coloured desert and walk among thousand-year-old rock carvings

A 5-hour Jeep tour of Wadi Rum Protected Area with a live English-speaking guide, visiting crimson sand dunes, narrow canyons carved with Thamudic and Nabataean petroglyphs, Lawrence Spring, and two natural rock bridges. Bottled water and tea are included. The tour suits travelers with moderate fitness. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Wadi Rum highlights by Jeep

• Visit Lawrence Spring and scramble up
• Walk barefoot on Red Sand Dune
• Explore Khazali Canyon petroglyphs
• Climb Little Rock Bridge
• Walk through Abu Khashaba Canyon
• Scramble onto lower rock bridge

The experience

The tour starts with a 4WD vehicle and a guide who drives you into the heart of Wadi Rum's desert landscape. You'll see the Red Sand Dune (Al Hasany), a rust-coloured formation that rises against the cliff face, fine enough to walk barefoot. The route takes you to Khazali Canyon, where the inner walls hold petroglyphs and inscriptions from Thamudic, Nabataean and Islamic times: human figures, animals, and foot carvings that probably held religious meaning. A short walk through Abu Khashaba Canyon, lined with wild fig trees and huge rocks, fills about an hour of the day.

Two rock bridges break up the driving. Little Rock Bridge is easy to climb and family-friendly, with broad desert views and no exposure that would trouble someone uncomfortable with heights. A lower bridge nearby takes 5 to 15 minutes to scramble onto, depending on your climbing experience, and opens onto equally striking views of the surrounding terrain. Lawrence Spring sits 2 kilometres south-west of Rum village at the top of a short scramble. The pool itself is stagnant, but the vistas across the desert justify the climb. The spring's name honours T.E. Lawrence's description in Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and the location carries that literary weight even if the water does not.

Water and tea come with the booking. The tour runs five hours total, and a sunset viewing is included at no extra cost. Your guide speaks English throughout, and the pace suits travelers with moderate fitness. Those with cardiovascular concerns should check with the operator before booking.

What’s included

• Jeep transport with a live English-speaking guide.
• bottled water and tea.
• entry to Wadi Rum Protected Area.
• sunset viewing.
• stops at Lawrence Spring, Khazali Canyon with its Thamudic petroglyphs, the Red Sand Dune, Abu Khashaba Canyon, and two natural rock bridges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 39 years) · Senior (40 to 60 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 13 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Wadi Rum - Day Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and the history of each stop without translation. The five-hour length and moderate scrambles suit families and adults with reasonable fitness. If you tire easily or have heart concerns, check with the operator first about which stops you can manage.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

58 verified traveler reviews

5 ★58

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (3 to 13 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What are the petroglyphs in Khazali Canyon, and how old are they?

Khazali Canyon holds rock carvings from Thamudic times (pre-Islamic), plus Nabataean and Islamic inscriptions and petroglyphs of humans and animals. The soles of feet carvings are particularly notable and likely had religious significance. A French epigraphist documented them in the 1930s, and they remain one of Wadi Rum's major attractions.

How much walking and climbing is involved?

The tour mixes driving with short walks and scrambles. Lawrence Spring requires a short scramble uphill to reach the top. The lower rock bridge takes 5 to 15 minutes to climb depending on your experience. Abu Khashaba Canyon is about an hour's walk through the canyon floor. Most of the day is spent in the vehicle between stops.

What's included in the tour price?

Bottled water and coffee or tea are included. The sunset viewing at the end is also included at no extra charge. The guide and all transport in the 4WD vehicle are part of the booking.

Is this tour suitable if I have limited fitness or health concerns?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. If you have concerns, contact the operator before booking to discuss which stops suit your abilities.