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The wadi rum desert in jordan and martian landscapes. Wadi Rum - Jordan


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Recently there was a post about the "new seventh wonder of the world" Petra, and today I will talk about the desert Wadi Rum, which we visited as part of the usual "package" tour.

Wadi Rum... It is clear that Basim and I immediately agreed on a trip to Wadi Rum on Friday. If you follow the official route, then you need to come by your own or hired transport (a taxi with a waiting time of three hours will cost at least 40 JD) to the ticket offices of Wadi Rum National Park, choose a Bedouin with a jeep there (other ways of getting around Wadi Rum are not allowed), negotiate with him the route and price (usually 50-60 JD), pay 5 JD of the entrance ticket. Total for three people get 105-115 JD or $ 150-160. Actually, that's what we hoped to do. But local taxi drivers have already got the hang of it, sang with the Bedouins and offer "all inclusive" at the same price. Basim and I negotiated $ 140 for a standard two and a half hour desert tour. It is neither cheap nor expensive. Another taxi driver at the hotel offered $ 150. Moreover, the price for four will be the same. If you want to dine in the "Bedouin village" after the tour, it will cost at least another $ 10 per person.

What we got as a result: we left the hotel at 14:00, on the way all the tourists call in to see the old train. The taxi driver said it was a piece of the railway from Turkey to Mecca, which functioned 300 years ago.

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Honestly, I don't know if this is true, I haven't delved into history so deeply.

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By 15:00 we arrive at an unremarkable building, which has this miracle. By the way, most of the vehicles in the desert are in this state.

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Nearby is a young Bedouin who introduces himself as Yassin. We leave the taxi right there, he and Basom get into the cab, we climb into the back and for half an hour "saw" along the highway to the entrance to Wadi Rum.

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Nobody buys any tickets, of course.

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Basim had brought in a whole portable refrigerator of cola, water and beer. Local beer Petra - killer, 10% alcohol. Be careful, especially in the heat.

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Actually, on Wadi Rum, everyone (well, most) go along the standard route.

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And this is the only camel group that we have seen. I don't think they will have magical impressions

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Sourcewhere there is absolutely nothing to do.

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Red dune... Let's go to her

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It is better to climb up the edge, stepping on the stones, since it is very difficult and ineffective to climb into the frontal on the sand: the legs fall through, the sand crumbles. Top views are good.

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The locals have fun with the fact that they compete in jeeps who will go higher.

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Some tourists have brought their snowboards with them and ride them off the dune.

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Gorge.

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Short, about a hundred meters. There isn't much to do there either.

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Petroglyphs. Ancient or not? I do not know.

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Bridge... Basim tries to take a selfie with us on the go

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The essence of the bridge is not even to stand on it.

Price: $ 135.00

The price of the excursion (for example) is presented for 1 person, subject to the departure of 2 people, from Amman. More detailed prices for the excursion are below in the table.

Jordan, private guided tour in Russian. The tour is 1 day long.

A sandy desert with a smooth surface of golden-pink sand with hills, rocks and dunes suddenly appearing from nowhere. The Wadi Rum Desert is interesting because here you can have fun for every taste. There is extreme entertainment (cliffcliming up to 1750 meters high, unexplored gorges and the Khazali canyon) and a quiet rest from the hustle and bustle (camel ride, evening by the Bedouin fire, admiring the desert sunset). Only a few Bedouin settlements live on the territory of the desert, which will show the tourist all the most interesting and unusual.

What is interesting about excursion to the unknown Wadi Rum desert? Landmark # 1 in Jordan. This excursion includes a 2-hour jeep tour. The second name of the desert, which is common among the common people, is "lunar desert" and it was not for nothing that people came here to shoot episodes from "Star Wars" and others. Falling into the desert, the first thing that meets you is the multi-colored hills, as if growing out of flat ground. They look like giants or titans guarding the peace of tourists and desert inhabitants. It is especially beautiful when tourists come here in spring, when they find picturesque meadows of poppy, black iris and red anemones.

Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, this is a favorite vacation spot. After driving through the desert, it is always pleasant to enjoy the oasis, where the tourist will be offered national dishes and music. For those who want to spend the night in the desert, the camp has equipped rooms for the night. ATVs are always available for those who wish.

In the desert Wadi Rum is a base for breeding Beiz antelopes - primordially local animals. This unique place is monitored by people from the Royal Conservation Society for Nature. It is important to note that this project is supported by donations from tourists, from environmentalists, from the sale of souvenirs. Therefore, by coming to the Wadi Rum Desert, you are helping us to preserve this reserve.

Some ruins in the desert are worth seeing. For example, old Nabatean house, possibly in which Lawres of Arabia kept his ammunition.

Wadi Rum is famous for its natural arches, which were formed by means of winds and rain, sculptures of sandstone resembling various bizarre shapes and canyons where you can walk or squeeze through.

There is a tent city, where tourists can visit, have a rest. There is a restaurant where you can eat and for those who want to have a soul. The entire territory of the tent camp is guarded and safe for your luggage or belongings.

What will be included in the price of the Wadi Rum desert tour (Jordan)

Service of an individual Russian-speaking guide

Transfer, including transportation costs, fuel

Wadi Rum 2 hour jeep tour 50 $

What will not be included in the price of the excursion to Wadi Rum (Jordan)

· Entrance tickets $ 8 per person.

· Food

Additional entertainment (camel, horses, quads)

Cap or bucket hat, sunglasses

· Drinking water at least 2 litas.

Warm clothes for an evening walk

Camera

How to dress for a desert tour (Jordan)

Clothes comfortable for you, any

Shoes, comfortable, no heels

Schedule excursion Wadi Rum Desert full day (Jordan):

Meeting in the lobby of the hotel (time by appointment)

start of excursion

The road to the desert depends on the location of your hotel

from 1 to 2 h

Visiting Desert Attractions

Stop for lunch (by appointment)

Desert Jeep Tour

Dinner (by appointment)

Return to hotel

Cost for excursions Desert Wadi Rum (Jordan):

Jordan Unknown

full day excursion

1-3 people (passenger)

Departure from Aqaba

1-3 people (passenger)

Departure from Amman or Dead Sea hotels

4-6 people (minivan)

Departure from Aqaba

4-6 people (minivan)

Number of people per excursion

Excursion: in the desert (Jordan)

the price is indicated for 1 person.

Tourist safety in Jordan.

Guests and residents of Jordan should not be afraid of staying in the country. The country's government actively monitors security and order in all regions of Jordan. The population is considered Arab-Bedouin, you will notice such qualities as respect for tourists and guests of the country after a safe landing at the Amman airport. Especially all tourist places and routes are quite safe for tourists and guests. Every year, the income from the tourism industry supports the national income of the Jordanian country, therefore, the attitude towards people from all countries, the local population, is correct and considerate. The Kingdom of Jordan is considered the friendliest country for its neighbors. The monarchy of the beloved king reigns here, who is appreciated and treated with respect. Coming on an excursion to Jordan, be sure of your safety.

When is the best time to come travel and book a tour of Jordan, the temperature in the desert. For those who want to spend a day or more in the desertWadi Rama, warm clothes are worth bringing. Daytime and evening temperature drops here are from +32 to +4 degrees. In the summer months, the difference will be from +36 to +19 at night. The best months when it is worth visiting the Wadi Rum Desert: March, April, September, October, November. In summer it will certainly be hotter up to +42, but excursion visits to the desert are not canceled.

When planning your vacation to Jordan, Check out all the tours of Jordan we have to offer. We have all Russian speaking guides and operators. If you want to visit something special and you have not found this excursion tour on our website, write to us. We will help you organize an excursion along a new route. Our employees, choosing an individual tour of Jordan, will satisfy your wishes as much as possible, because it is your right to pay only for what is interesting to you. We can offer a price for individual excursions cheaper than tour operators for group excursions, because we have excursions without intermediaries.

Location of Wadi Rum Desert (Jordan): 200 km from Amman

- this is a desert in the heart of Jordan, where white, red sands and steep, going into the sky, rocks are amazingly combined. In the desert, you can spend several days filled with various adventures, surrounded by pristine nature. Here you can climb the highest mountain in Jordan, slide down a huge sand dune on a board, see mesmerizing sunsets, and at night - a sky strewn with myriads of stars!

The climate here is rather dry, with large temperature drops during the day. In winter, temperatures range from 4 degrees Celsius at night to 25 ° C during the day, in summer - from 19 ° C at night to 35 ° C during the day. The best time to visit is in spring when flowers bloom here.

If you only have one day at your disposal, all the most beautiful places can be bypassed by jeep.

Climbing a rock near the village of Wadi Rum, it is easy to find a water source. A very beautiful view of the desert opens up from here.


Khazali Canyon


A stone bridge


Red sand dune


Ruins of the house of Lawrence of Arabia

And some places resemble lunar and Martian landscapes. No wonder Wadi Rum is also called the Moon Valley.

But in order to immerse yourself in the atmosphere, the energy of this place, it is best to travel through the desert on foot. The guide does not accompany tourists along the entire route, but only periodically meets his sponsors in a jeep, shows the direction, talks about the most interesting places of the route, and for lunch he makes a fire, on which he makes delicious Bedouin tea. But most of the way he is not there.

The first thing you notice while in the desert is the deafening silence. Like in a cave. Absolutely silent breeze. The beetle crawls completely silently about its business, or the lizard will slip by. A sense of harmony with nature, calmness and tranquility covers you. Here you suddenly understand what kind of sound-filled world we live in. We almost never remain in silence. All the time next to us something sounds: the noise of a car on the street, a refrigerator, a computer or trees outside the window ...

A camel ride immerses you in a completely different mood and a different reality. Monotonous, swaying movements ... The guide, on his camel, sings a mournful Bedouin song ... The path lies through the places where about 2000 years ago trade routes ran from the settlements on the site of modern Saudi Arabia to Petra. There are drawings on the rocks that have survived from that time.

Imagination takes you thousands of years ago, when in these places, past the same rocks, completely different people were riding camels. And you understand that even in 2000 years, when modern civilization has already become history, here in the desert, in all likelihood, little will change, and completely different people will consider the inscriptions on the rock, made in Russian: “Kisa and Osia were here ".

There are at least three options for spending the night in the desert. Standard: in a Bedouin camp, in sheep wool tents. Beds, white sheets, everything is clean. There is a toilet, shower, however, cold. Buffet dinner and breakfast included.

For those who love thrill, there is the possibility of spending the night in a half-cave in the open air. Thick mattresses and warm blankets are delivered by jeep (it won't be cold even in winter). Dinner will be prepared for you on the fire. Stunningly beautiful sky over the desert at night! The view is bounded by rocks and the stars can be seen moving quite quickly across the sky. At different times of the night, different constellations are visible.

The third option for an overnight stay for exotic lovers: you can stay with a local family, in a Bedouin house, in the village of Wadi Rum. Jordanians are very hospitable people: if you are lucky, you will get to a Bedouin wedding or someone's birthday! But get ready for the fact that at 5 am you will be woken up by calls to prayer coming from the local mosque.

How to get to Wadi Rum

Buses run from Aqaba and Petra every morning to Wadi Rum. Departure times may vary from day to day and should be checked with your hotel or with your guide. The bus fare is 5-7JD. A taxi from the Eilat-Aqaba border or from Aqaba will cost about 38 JD. Taxi from Petra will cost 50JD (1 $ USA - 0.7 Jordanian dinars JD)

What you need to take with you:

  • sleeping bag;
  • flashlight;
  • wet bactericidal wipes;
  • headdress;
  • sunscreen.

Average cost of hiking tours with a local guide is from 40 to 60JD per day per person, including overnight stay, breakfast and dinner.

Desert Tour Companies:

Discussion

And I was struck in Wadi Rum by the close proximity of different colored sand. You can stand on a pink hillock, on one side there will be gray sand, and a little further orange, and a little bluish in the distance. Very nice. Local traders collect this sand and make bottle compositions from it. There are said to be over 100 shades.

04/16/2014 13:09:47, Clone

Comment on the article "Jordan: Wadi Rum Desert - Day on a Camel and Night in a Tent"

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The Bedouins living in the Wadi Rum valley have the main income from tourists, so they keep souvenir shops, cafes and even the like of hotels - in Bedouin tents. Perhaps someone will like this exotic in the style of Lawrence of Arabia, while someone will spend the night in a car more calmly. Wadi Rum is already a traditional place for tourists to visit, so every year there are more places to stay with an acceptable level of comfort, but the accommodation is still in the same tents. Bedouin Traditions Camp, for example, looks just like a long barrack with two rows of bunks with blankets and pillows along the walls, although it is very nicely decorated. In the evenings, you can try zarb at the local Bedouins - a dish similar to Central Asian pilaf, but made in a pit filled with sand and hot coals.

The entrance (or entry) to the territory of the reserve for one day costs 5 dinars (approximately 450 rubles in 2016), but entering in your car, you need to register - you may have to pay extra for an overnight stay and the second day. Additional expenses may include buying souvenirs, a traditional Bedouin lunch, and, for the sake of exoticism, a camel ride. We do not recommend going around the entire route on camels - without habit, this is a very tedious activity.

When going around the valley by car on your own, it is better to stick to the recommended routes - they are usually warned about this. Organized excursions usually take four or five places, offer to take pictures, buy souvenirs and fit into the road in six to seven hours. Free excursions by taxi or on your own are not limited in time. The set of souvenirs for Jordan is pretty standard, the only thing that can be mentioned are the bas-reliefs of Lawrence of Arabia and, if you're lucky, casings from British rifles during the Arab uprising.

The history of these places is not very eventful. Wadi Rum is located close to the border with Saudi Arabia, in deserted and uncrowded places. From time immemorial, caravans from Palestine and Syria to Arabia passed through Wadi Rum with its water sources. The Bedouins here live the same way of life as they did a thousand years ago. Neither the desert, nor the habitation, nor the cuisine is changing. Only cars, TVs and tourists were added. There is also the only railway in Jordan. It connects industrial areas with the port of Aqaba and is not used for passenger traffic.

The name of the famous British intelligence officer, philologist and ethnographer Thomas Edward Lawrence (Arabian) is also associated with Wadi Rum. In the deserts of eastern Jordan, the troops of the Arab Liberation Army were based during the Arabian uprising of 1916-1918. Lawrence of Arabia was an advisor to the commander of the army, Prince Faisal, who fought against the Turks. Lawrence mentioned this place in his book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, describing its magnificence. In the valley there is indeed a rock with seven ridges "Seven Pillars", but the book is named after the rock, or the rock after the book is difficult to say.

In Wadi Rum there are the highest mountains of Jordan - up to 1830 meters. An official poster at the entrance to Wadi Rum lists 19 locations for public inspection. This includes the source and Lawrence's house, two viewing platforms where it is convenient to meet the sunrise, rocky bridges - Jebel, Burda and Little bridges, "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", Nabatean pillar, dunes, rocks with rock paintings. Near these places, Bedouin tents are grouped, where they feed, pour tea and sell souvenirs.

The main impression is made not by any specific objects, but by the general grandeur, beauty and silence of these places. Along the way, the color of the rocks changes - from black to pale pink, the rocks of gray perforated sandstone are replaced by black-green basalt outcrops covered with ripples. The landscape is such that there is nothing to compare it with, therefore associations with other planets come to mind. It is not in vain that several fantastic films were shot here. Indeed, it is enough to go behind the rock and find yourself, as if on another planet, in complete loneliness and silence, which very soon become frightening.

But, watching the sunset and sunrise, you experience fantastic delight and begin to understand the Bedouins, who do not want to change their lifestyle for anything in the world and do not even believe that somewhere they can live differently. The best time to visit Wadi Rum is in spring when everything is in bloom. The desert is covered with poppies, anemones and black irises, the national colors of Jordan. Regarding the rock inscriptions, it is believed that they were left by the Nabateans about two thousand years ago and, judging by the fact that archaeologists do not work here, do not carry any special scientific discoveries.

Two more exotic activities can be separately mentioned. This is rock climbing and hot air ballooning. There are not many climbing routes in Wadi Rum, but those that exist are very popular among European and Israeli climbers. The geology here is very unusual - the mountains consist of dense cemented sandstone, which slips little, therefore, it is less dangerous to climb. Also, when climbing, frequent gaps in the rocks here are very helpful. Several 300 - 500 - meter routes of varying degrees of difficulty - from minimum to 5b - have been developed and equipped. In the tourist shops you can find a complete description of the climbing routes in English.

Hot air balloon flights are organized in spring - from April to May and in autumn - from September to December, always in the early morning - this is probably due to the movement of air currents. For such a flight, you will definitely have to spend the night in Wadi Rum.

When going on an excursion, in addition to the standard set of the traveler - water, dry rations, glasses, a camera, special attention should be paid to shoes. Moving along the valley, you have to go down and up the sandy slopes, so you need shoes with thick soles that fit your foot well. Then the legs will get stuck in the sand less and the sand will not burn the feet. Some amateurs bring snowboards with them for descending the slopes, but they, if desired, can be found among the Bedouins.

In contact with

It belongs to stony deserts and covers an area of \u200b\u200b74,180 hectares. Height above sea level - 1830m.

The climate is dry. In some places the desert turns into a semi-desert with individual dry trees and shrubs.

Laurent de Walick, CC BY 2.0

The highest peak is Mount Um ad-Dami with a height of 1830 m. One of the most recognizable rocks of Wadi Rum is the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which is located next to the Tourist Center.

Tomobe03, CC BY-SA 3.0

The surface is generally uneven, abounding in local canyons, sinkholes and hills.

The air temperature within Wadi Rum ranges from 32 degrees Celsius during the day to 4 degrees at night.

xorge, CC BY-SA 2.0

In the phrasebook: jabal - in Arabic means "mountain". You will hear this word a lot in Wadi Rum.

Mountains and rocks compete here with the beauty of colorful sands and unusual vegetation as objects for photography.

Flora and fauna

A large area of \u200b\u200bthe Wadi Rum Desert is a national park.

Despite the apparent emptiness, a wide variety of ecosystems are found in Wadi Rum.

During the rare winter rains, Wadi Rum is covered with hundreds of species of flowers and wild herbs. The medicinal plants growing in the desert are still used by the Bedouins.

Camel thorn, rare fig trees, numerous bushes and herbaceous plants provide food and a saving shade for small mammals, birds and reptiles.

Janos Korom Dr. , CC BY-SA 2.0

Bedouin villages in the desert are surrounded by olive and orange orchards, date palm groves and vegetable gardens - the soil here is fertile and needs only water.

For most of the year, high daytime temperatures and lack of water force mammals to get out only at night.

Here you can see hedgehogs, hares and hyraxes (small hairy animals, which is surprising - the closest relatives of modern elephants!). In remote areas, a jackal, a wolf, a steppe lynx or an ibex can be seen.

Jorge Láscar, CC BY 2.0

Desert expanses - the home of large birds - falcons, eagle owls, kestrels. If you come across a scorpion, snake or camel spider, consider yourself lucky - these are the shyest inhabitants of these places.

History

Wadi Rum has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The petroglyphs and burial grounds found on its territory confirm the importance of Wadi Rum as a hunting and habitat for people in the early era.

Some Islamic scholars are convinced that it was here that the Adits, an ancient Arab tribe mentioned in the Koran, lived.

Tetiana Zazuliak, CC BY-SA 3.0

About 30 thousand inscriptions were found on the sandstone cliffs of Wadi Rum. They were carved out by tribes from South Arabia, and later by the Nabataeans, who settled in Wadi Rum around the 4th century. BC.

Two civilizations peacefully coexisted here hand in hand, worshiping the same deities - the goddess Allat and the god Dushara.

Moon Valley - Wadi Rum Desert xorge, CC BY-SA 2.0

The desert gained world fame thanks to Lawrence of Arabia. He visited here in 1917, during the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire, led by King Hussein bin Ali. Royal troops on horseback and camels crossed Wadi Rum, heading for Aqaba. Part of the king's army, in which Lawrence was, stood for a while in a temporary camp in the desert, and then moved to Damascus.

Interest in Wadi Rum was spurred on by the discovery of a Nabatean temple in 1933. A French team of archaeologists completed excavations in 1997.

Of interest are sights, rocks (for climbers), jeep safari tours and rock paintings, many of which have not yet been sufficiently studied (petroglyphs).

Grumpygreen, CC BY-SA 3.0

Wadi Rum has everything that you expect to see in the desert - the stifling heat on a summer day and the piercing cold nights in winter, deceit and changeableness, when in the morning the sun's rays contrast the edges of the gorges, and in the evening, on the contrary, smooth out the differences between rocks and sand.

Janos Korom Dr. , CC BY-SA 2.0

The desert makes the Bedouins living in it submissively bear the burdens of life and does not forgive mistakes to strangers who laugh at the dangers.

Photo gallery














Useful information

Wadi Rum,
in Arabic: وادي رم (Wadi Rum),
Lunar valley

How to get there

Rent a car or take a taxi to Wadi Rum Visitor Center. There you need to take a tour with a professional driver-guide in a jeep.

There is no public transport. The nearest intercity bus stop Amman-Aqaba is 15 km from the Tourist Center.

Drive along highway 15 (Pustynnoe highway):

from Amman: about 290 km,

from Aqaba: about 45km

until the direction indicator goes east towards Wadi Rum Visitor Center. From the turn to the Tourist Center - about 15 km.

Attention!

Self-driving desert trips are discouraged for two reasons:

  • Wadi Rum is a nature reserve where hundreds of species of rare animals, birds, insects and plants are protected;
  • there is a real danger to life (lack of GSM coverage in some areas, the possibility of getting stuck in the sand, getting lost, the presence of wild animals, poisonous insects, lack of drinking water, overheating or hypothermia, etc.)

Nature reserve

Part of the Desert - Wadi Rum Protected Area Nature Reserve

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Type: Cultural, Natural

Criteria: iii, v, vii

Region: Arab States

Inclusion: 2011 (35th Session)

sights

  • museum at the Tourist Center,
  • mount Seven Pillars of Wisdom,
  • mount Ram,
  • mount Umm Ishri,
  • ram village,
  • nabatean temple,
  • al Hasani dunes,
  • stone bridges (rocks),
  • the source of Lawrence of Arabia (Ain Ash-Shallal),
  • source Ain Abu Aineh
  • house of Lawrence of Arabia (Al-Qsair) and others.

Bedouin camps

For most half-day or full-day tourists from Aqaba and Petra, Wadi Rum provides the easiest and safest chance to experience the real desert.

For those lucky enough to find a day or two in their schedule to spend time in a Bedouin camp in the middle of the desert, this will be an unforgettable adventure.

You can book a night in the camp at any travel agency or through specialized sites.

On-site options are available at the Visitor Center.

Offers - from very primitive campgrounds to posh campuses with star hotel conditions.

The price of accommodation always includes dinner, breakfast and a small folklore show. Their variety and quality are also very different.

When booking on your own, find out if the selected camp provides a transfer service from the Visitor Center or another location convenient for you.

All camps are located directly in the desert and you cannot get to them on your own even using the navigator. You will have to take a Bedouin jeep taxi from the Visitor Center and pay as the cost of the desert tour. And you will not be able to do this if you arrive at the Visitor Center late at night or all the jeeps are busy on excursions.

If the camp does not provide a transfer service, ask for other travel options.

Booking a Bedouin camp has the same features as booking a hotel. It will be correct to review the reviews in advance and clarify all the details.