Aqaba & Wadi Rum

Aqaba is Jordan's gateway to the Red Sea — and the country's only coastal town. Located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, squeezed between Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt (the lights of Eilat and Taba are visible at night), the city offers year-round 300+ sunny days, water temperatures from 21–28°C, and a relaxed, almost Mediterranean atmosphere.

Aqaba is a special economic zone (ASEZA) with reduced VAT — shopping here is cheaper than in the rest of Jordan. The city itself is not an architectural gem but has a lively souk, a well-maintained corniche (waterfront promenade), good fish restaurants, and is the perfect starting point for diving excursions and Wadi Rum tours.

Plan 2–3 days for Aqaba: one day diving/snorkeling, one day beach and souk, and one day (with overnight) in Wadi Rum.

Aqaba's Underwater World

The Red Sea off Aqaba is one of the best diving areas in the world — and the special thing: The coral reefs start right at the shore, without needing a boat. Over 500 species of fish and 150 species of coral live in the warm, crystal-clear waters. Visibility is often 20–40 meters.

The Best Dive Spots

• Cedar Pride (Wreck): Aqaba's most famous dive spot. The freighter, deliberately sunk in 1985 (74 m long), lies at a depth of 10–27 m, fully covered with corals and teeming with marine life — lionfish, moray eels, barracudas, butterflyfish. Suitable for beginners (upper deck at 10 m) and advanced divers.
• Japanese Garden: One of the most beautiful coral reefs in the entire Red Sea. Huge table and fan corals in vibrant colors, turtles, eagle rays, and nudibranchs. From 5 m depth, perfect for all levels.
• Tank (M42 Duster): An American anti-aircraft tank from the Cold War, sunk as an artificial reef in 2019. At only 6 m depth — ideal for snorkelers and beginners.
• Underwater Military Museum: Since 2019, Jordan's craziest underwater project: tanks, helicopters, ambulances, and military vehicles at 15–28 m depth, serving as artificial reefs.
• Seven Sisters: Seven coral heads at 5–15 m depth, rich in small fish and nudibranchs. Perfect for snorkeling.
• First Bay / South Beach: Snorkel right at the shore — colorful corals and fish from knee-deep water. Ideal for beginners and families.

Diving: Prices & Providers

Recommended dive schools: Aqaba Adventure Divers, Seastar Watersports, Ahlan Aqaba Scuba Diving. All PADI certified, English and some German-speaking guides.

In the City

Aqaba is not a sightseeing destination but has a few worthwhile places:

• Aqaba Fort (Mamluk Fort): The small 14th-century fortress at the harbor — here flew the flag of the Arab Revolt of 1917. Small museum with archaeological finds. 3 JOD (included in Jordan Pass).
• Sharif Hussein bin Ali Mosque: The striking white mosque with slender minarets is beautifully illuminated at night.
• The Souk: Behind the mosque stretches an authentic souk with spices, textiles, and goldsmiths. Much more relaxed than in Amman.
• Corniche: The waterfront promenade is suitable for evening walks. Fish restaurants, shisha cafés, and views of the lights of Eilat.

Beaches

• Al-Hafayer Beach (public): Clean, free beach north of the city. Good for families.
• South Beach / Coral Beach: South of the city, in front of the hotels. The best snorkeling beach — corals right at the shore. Entrance to individual beach sections: 5–15 JOD.
• Berenice Beach Club: Upscale day resort beach with pool and restaurant (20 JOD day pass).
• Tala Bay: Luxury resort complex 15 km south. Private beach, marina, restaurants. Day pass from 25 JOD.

Wadi Rum — The Desert of Superlatives

The Wadi Rum (also: "Valley of the Moon") is one of the most spectacular desert landscapes in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. Covering an area of 720 km², massive sandstone towers (up to 1,750 m high) rise from a sea of red and golden sand, interspersed with narrow canyons, natural rock bridges, and millennia-old rock drawings.

The landscape is so otherworldly that Hollywood regularly uses it as a film set: "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), "The Martian" (2015), "Star Wars: Rogue One" (2016), "Aladdin" (2019), and "Dune" (2021) were filmed here. And indeed: You feel like you're on another planet.

Wadi Rum is inhabited and managed by Bedouins. The Zuwayleh and Zalabiah Bedouins run the camps and jeep tours and preserve their traditional way of life while benefiting from tourism. Meeting the Bedouins is part of the magic of Wadi Rum.

Getting There

The Wadi Rum Visitor Center is located on the highway between Aqaba (60 km, 45 min.) and Petra (110 km, 1.5 hrs.). Here you register, show the Jordan Pass, and are picked up by your Bedouin guide by jeep. Private vehicles are not allowed in the desert (except 4x4 with permission).

The Jeep Tour — How to Experience Wadi Rum

The standard way to experience Wadi Rum is a jeep tour in an open pick-up truck, driven by a Bedouin guide. The tours lead to the main attractions and can be booked in various lengths:

Highlights of the Jeep Tour

• Lawrence's Spring: A small spring named after T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who stopped here during World War I. Nabataean rock carvings nearby.
• Khazali Canyon: A narrow gorge with Thamudic and Nabataean rock carvings (petroglyphs) depicting animals, hunters, and Arabic inscriptions. Some are over 4,000 years old.
• Red Sand Dunes: The massive red dunes at the foot of Jebel Um Ishrin invite you to climb up — and sandboard down. The view from the top is breathtaking.
• Um Fruth Rock Bridge: A natural rock bridge you can climb (10 min., some scrambling) — fantastic photo spot with desert panorama.
• Burdah Rock Bridge: The largest natural rock arch bridge in the region, high above the desert floor. Ascent only with a guide and climbing experience (3 hrs.).
• Mushroom Rock: A mushroom-shaped rock that has retained its unique shape through wind erosion. Deluxe photo motif.
• Sunset: Every tour ends with the sunset from an elevated point — when the desert is bathed in golden, then red, then violet light. Unforgettable.

Tour Options & Prices

Prices apply per jeep (max. 6 people). In a group, it becomes cheaper per person. Booking through the Wadi Rum Visitor Center or directly through the camp.

A Night under the Desert's Starry Sky

Staying overnight in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum is one of the most unforgettable experiences Jordan has to offer. After the jeep tour, you drive to a camp in the middle of the desert, where a campfire dinner, Bedouin music, and the clearest starry sky of your life await you.

Camp Categories

• Basic Camp (20–35 JOD/person): Simple tents with mattress and blanket, shared toilets, authentic Bedouin atmosphere. The food (Zarb — meat cooked with vegetables in the sand) is often excellent. For backpackers and adventurers.
• Standard Camp (35–60 JOD/person): Larger tents with proper beds, private toilet/shower in the tent. Dinner and breakfast included. Good value for money.
• Luxury Camp / Bubble Tents (80–200 JOD/person): Air-conditioned bubble tents with glass dome for stargazing, private bathrooms, upscale cuisine. "Glamping" at its finest. Providers like Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp or Memories Aicha Luxury Camp.

What to Expect?

The typical schedule: Afternoon jeep tour → Sunset → Back at the camp → Zarb dinner (lamb and vegetables cooked in an earth oven under the sand for hours — incredibly delicious) → Campfire with Bedouin music and tea → Stargazing (without light pollution, you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye) → Sleep → Sunrise over the desert → Breakfast → Transfer back.

Recommended Camps

• Mohammed Mutlak Camp: Authentic, family-run, excellent food. Basic/Standard. From 30 JOD.
• Rahayeb Desert Camp: Good mix of comfort and atmosphere. Standard. From 45 JOD.
• Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp: Bubble tents with air conditioning and glass ceiling. Luxury. From 120 JOD.
• Memories Aicha Luxury Camp: The luxury option with Martian tents (like in "The Martian"). From 150 JOD.