Are you planning on visiting the majestic desert of Wadi Rum? Do you crave adventure and want to try something different than the normal camel or jeep tour? In this post, we’ll go over exactly why you should consider a rock climbing tour in the incredible Wadi Rum desert and how to go about it.
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It may surprise you to learn that when you arrive in Wadi Rum it feels like you just stepped foot onto Mars! You want to make sure that you take advantage of all the fantastic activities available there – including rock climbing.
While you could just stick to sunset camel tours or all-day jeep excursions, rock climbing will give you the best views of this astonishing red valley desert. Nothing beats the view from a hundred feet up in the air, knowing not many people get to experience that same sight.
Whether you’re an experienced climber or a complete novice, here is everything you need to know about booking a rock climbing tour in Wadi Rum and why you should do it!
Check out the view of Wadi Rum at the top of a climb on my reel here!
About Wadi Rum Desert
General Info
Wadi Rum is a desert valley surrounded by towering mountains, gorgeous red sand and rocks, and camels strolling along this amazing backdrop. It looks like a different planet with many people imagining that Mars must feel this way.
This is probably because many popular movies were filmed here with Mars being the setting for a few of them. These films include Dune, The Martian, Star Wars, and the Aladdin remake. Make sure to keep an eye out for this desert next time you watch any of these!
The Wadi Rum desert is only accessible by jeeps driven by local Bedouin guides. Depending on which camp or tour you book, a guide will meet you in the Wadi Rum Village to drive you into the desert.
As a matter of fact, you cannot drive yourself past the village or into the desert. It’s a protected area that only the local Bedouins know very well. The desert is also so vast, you’d probably get lost in it.
You will come to a large car park in the village after you pass the visitor center, where you will need to park your car for the duration of your visit.
Tours & Activities
Many overnight camps and day tours are available for anything you maybe be interested in. Most people stay at least one night when visiting Wadi Rum. There are luxury camps with dome-shaped rooms where you can stargaze or more traditional tent camping with local Bedouins to experience their culture and food.
Furthermore, the day tours include activities such as jeep tours to all the popular rock formations and arch bridges. Camel tours are also available to experience the sunset in the desert. My personal favorite and why we’re here is, of course, rock climbing in the mountains!
Rock Climbing In Wadi Rum
Obviously, I am biased because I’m a climber and absolutely love it, but I would recommend anyone who is remotely interested to try it! I think it’s so exciting to have new and different experiences while traveling.
The beautiful red rock formations are made of sandstone and are over thousands of feet tall. It is truly a mesmerizing sight. A trained guide will set a proper route for you to climb up and will safely lower you back down.
Plus they have all the necessary gear you will need such as harnesses, helmets, shoes, and the rope. So you don’t even have to bring your own equipment unless you want to.
Shabab Sahra Guides & Tours
When I visited in February of 2022, I had a hard time finding climbing tours and guides. I only really was able to find one source. It seems it’s gotten easier since then but regardless, I will try to link as much information as I can below so you have plenty of options.
I booked my tour and climbed with Attalah from Shabab Sahra. A group of locals from the Azallabeh tribe came together to form this climbing association in 2013. Since then, they’ve been running tours and taking tourists out to climb in the desert.
This is the contact page to reach out to get information and book your own curated tour. Attalah is extremely flexible and accommodating to whatever you may have in mind for your trip.
On their website, they offer an Extreme Sports & Desert Experience anywhere from three to six days. This is definitely for avid adventures or experienced climbers. But no worries, they have plenty of shorter options available.
They also offer more than just climbing. It is possible to do jeep, hiking, or camel tours as well as the option to camp in a cave. If you email or Whatsapp Attalah, you will quickly see that he is kind and willing to accommodate any request.
This is a great option as you can plan your days in Wadi Rum to be exactly what you want. Whether it’s an all-day climbing tour or a half-day climbing, half-day jeep tour – like the one I did!
Other Possible Guides & Tours
Just to give you more options, below are some other companies that I found that offer climbing tours:
For Experienced Climbers
Most of the established routes in Wadi Rum are trad, with just a few sport options available. Just in case you are interested in leading. Because of how tricky it is to get around the desert by yourself, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to climb without some sort of guide.
It may be worth looking into a car for hire for the day to just drive you around to certain climbing spots. This would work well if you already have a climbing partner with you.
If not, as mentioned above you can reach out to a local guide and talk about the possible options available. They seem to be pretty flexible with whatever you want to do.
Also, if you haven’t, you should watch Chris Shwarma’s The Climb where they take contestants to climb in Wadi Rum. It’s a great show but also fun to see the area you may be climbing at.
My Experience Climbing in Wadi Rum
The Climbing Part
I had an amazing time climbing in Wadi Rum and would definitely recommend Attalah and his friends to anyone. After staying one night in a luxury hotel, Attalah met us first thing in the morning at the camp to pick us up for the day.
From here, he took us straight to a climbing wall with sport routes so we were able to lead our own routes. Both of the walls we climbed were slab which just means the wall is at an angle less steep than vertical. After climbing a few routes we took a lunch break.
Lunch was provided by him as well as a traditional, strong Bedouin tea. Here we got to take some time to get to know Attalah better and learn about the Bedouin culture and desert.
After lunch, we drove to a different wall where we continued to climb. Now I say this not to deter you but to be honest and warn you, the rock in Wadi Rum is sandstone which requires a certain level of caution.
My husband was climbing on the wall when he felt a large piece of loose rock. Luckily, he noticed it and was able to safely pull it off and throw it down away from us. This can happen anytime you rock climb but especially with such soft rock like sandstone.
Although it was probably a lot scarier for my husband who was the one actually climbing, Attalah seemed unfazed by this and I found it rather cool because I’ve never experienced that before. I like to think it’s all part of the adventure and the slight dangers that come with climbing.
Click here to watch my climbing in Wadi Rum reel!
The Rest of the Day
When I booked the tour, I decided to only do a half day of climbing and a half day on a jeep tour. That way I could experience more of the desert’s uniqueness and beauty.
After we finished our half-day of climbing, Attalah drove us all around the most popular spots and views. We got to see one of the famous rock bridges, the petroglyphs and inscriptions in the canyon, and remarkable sand dunes.
We originally had a full day booked with him which included the night at one of their camps and dinner. However, one day and one night was enough for us so we continued our journey to Aqaba instead.
We were short on time but you should definitely plan ahead to spend two nights in Wadi Rum if you’d like. I wish we would have because then we would have gotten a luxury experience as well as a traditional desert camping one.
Price & Details
The total cost for a full day of climbing and jeep excursions came out to be 70 Jordanian dinars or just about 99 US dollars per person. Remember, this included the stay at an overnight camp as well.
I think this was a great option and price considering other tours may not be as flexible and tend to be more expensive. Plus you get to try an exhilarating activity that not many other people get to experience in Wadi Rum.
I hope this blog post gave you all the information you were looking for about rock climbing in Wadi Rum. You will have a memorable time no matter what tour you choose to take. However, I do hope you consider including at least a half day of rock climbing in this magical red desert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth going to Wadi Rum?
Yes, 100% yes. Wadi Rum is a beautiful red sandy desert that is out of this world! There’s a reason people refer to it as Mars. Not only is it worth a visit but camping overnight in the desert should also be high on your list.
What is the rock in Wadi Rum?
The red rocks in the Wadi Rum desert are mainly sandstone and granite rock. This makes it a great option for rock climbing.
Which month is best for Wadi Rum?
The best months to visit Wadi Rum are during the spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) when the temperatures are much cooler and manageable. If you can, you should avoid Wadi Rum in the summer as the sun as it its strongest.
Can you drive yourself in Wadi Rum?
As a matter of fact, no, you cannot drive yourself past the village or into the desert. It’s a protected area that only the local Bedouins know very well. The desert is also so vast, you’d probably get lost in it.
There is a car park for vehicles in the Wadi Rum Village right after the visitor center. Here you can park your car for the duration of your visit. Depending on what camp or tour you book, local Bedouin guides will meet you at the village and will drive you around the desert.
For more Jordan information, you may also like:
- What To Wear In Jordan As A Woman: Everything You Need To Know (+ Excellent Tips)
- How To Visit The Dead Sea In Jordan For Free (2023)
- The Best & Complete Jordan Road Trip Itinerary (With Map)
