Take our 4x4 truck into Wadi Rum?
 

Hi folks

We're heading to Jordan from Dahab, Egypt, in 2 days time... taking the ferry from Nuweiba to Aqaba.

We have a 4x4 army truck which we've converted into an overland camper truck.

Are we able to drive ourselves into Wadi Rum, or do we have to park outside and take an organised tour in?

Can anyone recommend how we do Wadi Rum, and once there, what to do/where to go?

Thanks
Steve
www.overafrica.org
www.overlandcamperforsale.com

Wadi walkies
 

Hi Steve
It's been a while since we were there, but if I remember right you have to buy a pass, but just say a day or two because once your in nobody checks. In the ticket office there may be a small book of walking trails which is worth having, the trail up to the rock bridge is worth doing, and the old Laurence bath is fun.

The main tracks are well worn, but great camping, and you can get to (and cross if your not carefull) the Saudi border.

Best to buy a weeks supplies in Aquaba as the local shop is limited and expensive. You will never have seen so many Mk 1 TLCs!

Bon Voyage

Bruce

Thanks Cedar, that's great advice.

Still looking for an answer to whether or not I can take my truck in?

Thanks in advance folks
Steve

4 Wadi
 

Hi, sorry to be un-clear, yes you go in your own vehicle.
Cheers
Bruce

We did this and I must say it was an incredible experience and highly recommend it. The desert in Wadi Rum has to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

My original question was due to the Lonely Planet stating access is vehicle strictly controlled, but all we paid was 2JD per person and 5JD for a caravan overnight. If I remember correctly you pay much more for a 4x4 to drive in, but since we were a "caravan" we only paid the 5JD vehicle fee. The fact that we're driving a giant 10 tonne army truck didn't seem to faze them at all!

This is a must do for anyone going to Jordan. I took some waypoints and will get them on here once I get them off my GPS.

Cheers
Steve

are you coming back up through Syria? We're in Turkey at the moment heading down to Jordan , if so I'll keep an eye out for you...

Darren

Yes, although we're in Turkey now, unfortunately having to pick up the pace... all good things must come to an end at some point I guess!

We're at Akcakil Camping on the Med Coast at the moment.
N36 17 48.8 E33 50 50.2
Details here: www.akcakilcamping.com

Here are the Wadi Rum waypoints I took:

Turnoff for Wadi Rum - N29 43 29.2 E35 16 56.8
Rum village - N29 34 29.6 E35 25 25.2
Big Dune - N29 33 13.1 E35 26 41.8 (big red sand dune you can climb up and roll down!)
Khazali Canyon - N29 31 14.6 E35 25 24.7 (short narrow canyon with enscriptions)
Siq Burrah Entrance/Exit - N29 32 52.8 E35 29 08.8 (beautiful long canyon you can drive through, soft sand in places)
Siq Burrah Exit/Entrance - N29 34 34.5 E35 30 08.4
Um Fruth Bridge - N29 28 07.2 E35 26 57.0 (awesome rock arch)

When we went to Wadi Rum in June 07, we turned off the main Aqaba-Amman highway and followed the road to Wadi Rum (it ran parallel, and to the south of, the railway track).

Just beyond the first station, and near the turnoff to Wadi Rum, is a nice campsite to the north of the road. I can't remember its name, but it was run by an English woman and her Jordanian husband.

They told me about the area to the north of the campsite and the road - it looks, they said, just like Wadi Rum but isn't encircled by the National Park boundary.

Having driven around both this area and the Wadi Rum National Park itself, I can vouch for this - well worth a visit.

Mark

overlandcruiser.net

That campsite called Bait Ali, I stayed there 1 night last nov. and wish I was there still. Very pleasant.

Thanks for the waypoints Steve - we've well passed each other unfortunately, we're in Damascus now - only just managed to get some internet access after being out in the east of the country for a while. Have a good journey home : (