Climbing - Arrival

Many climbers, encumbered by equipment, like to take taxis directly from Amman or Aqaba to Wadi Rum. If you prefer the local buses, full information is given on the Wadi Rum tourist information page - see "getting there". All buses will take you to the Rest House, taxis will do the same thing unless given further direction.

If you are coming from Amman and want to go by bus as directly as possible to Wadi Rum, then rather than continuing to Aqaba, you would do better to get down at the Rashidiya Junction as described on the page cited above. You can gain considerable time by doing this, and most transport offering lifts (usually paying, but still cheaper than taxis) have enough room for a considerable amount of baggage.

The Rest House (telephone +962-3-201-8867, fax +962-3-201-4240) is the "tourist centre" of Wadi Rum right at the entrance to the village. It provides a restaurant, a camping ground, and toilets and showers. The Resthouse is the terminus for buses, it is where you are received by the officials, where you can obtain all information on trips into the desert, and this is where you meet any pre-reserved guide.

Climbers traditionally sleep either in the tents on offer at the Resthouse (see thumbnail photos above) or in smaller tents pitched in Wadi S'Bach behind a big spur of rock, but still within reach of toilets and showers. These tents can be rented for a small sum, and are very useful if you want to move your camp out into the desert to be closer to some of the climbing sites. I am thinking particularly of the Barragh Canyon, but there are plenty of other choices. Otherwise the Rest House tents cost 2JD/person/day (which does include bedding and mattresses), but if you are there for several days, they can often be bargained down. If you are planning to be there for weeks rather than days, especially in the winter, you might consider renting a room or a house (for those travelling in groups) in the village. This is best arranged when you arrive and can see what is on offer. I have been trying to discover the approximate prices of these, but the best I can do is "it depends". In fact it depends logically enough on exactly what facilities are offered, and how long you are likely to be staying. Rooms seem to be from 50JD/week and houses from 150-200/JD week. Longer stays can be bargained down, sometimes considerably.

The restaurant in the Resthouse, although complete with bar which is sometimes appreciable, is rather more expensive than the other local ones - supper usually costs 5JD. Try the Wadi Petra (locally known as "Amjid's place") close by - take the first turning on the left and it's about 50 meters/yards down. Here you have supper for half the price, and often less. This is the climbers' hangout, and is popular also with the locals. You can often find useful contacts here.

You can also do your own cooking beside your campsite ; be careful, saucepans seem to be unavailable in Wadi Rum, these and sleeping bags are part of the equipment you will need to bring. It is true that food is generally more expensive in Wadi Rum than in Aqaba, the locals complain about it regularly. But unless you are really pushed for comparatively small sums, please consider buying in Wadi Rum anyway. Not only does this go into the local economy, but it helps to have good relations with the local people. Climbers are popular there, but less so when they bring in everything from the outside.