This shop offers a wide variety of handmade embroidery, bed covers, cushions, wall hangings, bags and various souvenirs. The shop supports local women who work from a workshop in Salheyeh Village.
Canyon Art Galleries
The Khazali Canyon (known as the Siq) has provided shade and water for travelers for millennia. The inscriptions on the interior façade of the canyon tell of harmony and pride: two engraved feet, one smaller than the other, are said to indicate blissful marriage; women in labor next to warriors are interpreted to mean that the land will give birth to heroes who will fight and win battles. There are also inscriptions of ostriches which used to live in the area. Jabal Khazali is an interesting climb and even amateur climbers can find their way to the top through the tracks around the mountain.
Don’t Look Down
The highest mountain in Jordan at 1850 meters above sea level is Um Al Dami, located in Rum area. This mountain presents a serious challenge for professional climbers. Tip: Trip must be pre-booked and hiring a hiking guide is advisable.
Find the Springs of Life
Wadi Rum owes its rich history to water. Water springs made Rum a resting center for caravans traveling between Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. Two major springs are worth a visit.
Ain Ash-Shallalah
Enjoy a rest in the shade of ferns and trees. In this site you can also see a small Nabatean shrine, numerous inscriptions, and the remains of water canals.
Ain Abu Aineh or Lawrence's Spring
The water from this spring is collected in a tank used by Bedouin livestock. A nearby boulder is covered with Thamudic inscriptions. It is said that Lawrence of Arabia washed in Ain Abu Aineh during the Arab Great Revolt.
Nabatean Traces
The Nabateans who controlled the south of Jordan between the fifth century BC until the first century AD left traces of their civilization around Wadi Rum.
The Nabatean Temple or Aretas IV Temple
The temple is located within the slopes of Jabal Rum and testifies to a previous Nabeatean settlement in the area. This temple was built on the ruins of Allaat Temple of the A’d Tribe in the first century BC.
Nabatean Reservoirs
The Nabateans are the water engineers of the desert. If you look closely you can see the traces of narrow canals incised in the rocks to channel water seeping from the mountains to cisterns below. These reservoirs are located underground outside the protected area in Al Kharabsheh.
Nabatean Inscriptions
Nabatean inscriptions can be found in several locations. In Al Kharazeh area, an inscription mentions the name of Rabbil II (71-106 AD), the last Nabatean king. Nabatean inscriptions are more organized than Thamudic ones and are always written from right to left. Nabatean alphabets bear a close resemblance to Arabic alphabets.
Rest Tents
Tents for guests to rest and take a break are scattered around Wadi Rum, especially near major attractions. These provide sanctuary from the heat of the day and usually come with a cup of spiced Arabic coffee or tea. The tents also sell Bedouin souvenirs.
Rum Art Shop
This shop offers inventive high quality souvenirs and jewelry designed and handcrafted by local women. Rum Art is rooted in the area’s history and wildlife: Souvenirs depict inscriptions of Thamudic text and drawings of animals that you will encounter on rock facades during your trip.
Rum Gate Restaurant
Treat your eyes to a breathtaking view of the mountains of Wadi Rum while having a meal at the Rum Gate Restaurant. The restaurant offers daily breakfast and lunch buffets with an assortment of traditional Jordanian dishes.
Sand Surf
You wont be able to beat the temptation of fine sand dunes, so bring a ski board and surf the desert! Tip: Avoid surfing inside the protected area or on dunes with plants and shrubs.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
This is one of the first attractions that can be seen from the visitors’ center. It is a magnificent landmark that is named after the book by T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia).
Siq Um Tawaqi
Escape the desert heat in this cool, serene canyon, which also has a carving of T. E. Lawrence.
Speed Up the Dunes
Rent a buggy and speed-up through the open desert space. Buggies are only allowed outside the protected area though. Tip: Avoid running over plants and shrubs.
The Interpretation Hall
Take a quick tour to see the visual interpretation panels that give a preview on Wadi Rum: geology, history, wildlife, Bedouin life, and culture.
The Projector Room
Watch a short movie about Wadi Rum. The movie’s vivid images will take you in a poetic excursion of Wadi Rum through the time.
The Upper Passage
Before stepping into its magic, climb up the few stairs to the upper passage and enjoy a panorama of Wadi Rum. If you are at the visitors’ center at sunset time, make sure you watch it from this vantage point
Um Ishreen
Very close to Jabal Rum, stands this sof nature at 1573 meters above sea level. Geologists say that Um Ishrin and Jabal Rum used to be one mountain, but were separated by land movements. The name means “Mother of Twenty”. Bedouins tell different stories about the origin of this name. One story goes that 19 suitors died in the pursuit of a clever young women’s love before the twentieth outwitted her and got her to marry him.
Visit Rum
This mountain, which rises vertically to a dizzying 1,754 meters, gives the area its name. Rum is the second highest peak in Jordan and is an inviting challenge for mountain climbing and trekking aficionados. Rum's rocks and cliffs display several Thamudic and Nabatean inscriptions. Bedouins take pride in telling the story of HM the late King Hussein landing on the summit of Rum with his helicopter. The area around Rum is where the movie Lawrence of Arabia was filmed.
Visit the Village Plaza and Museum
At the heart of Wadi Rum Protected Area is Rum Village, where the old distinguished Bedouin Police Station is located. The station has now been turned into the “Village Plaza” containing an artifacts museum that showcase Wadi Rum's archeology. The village also contains a handicrafts shop.
