Wadi Rum Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Public transport is limited because Rum village has a small population and many visitors come on tours organised by agencies or hotels from Wadi Musa or Aqaba. Public transport stops briefly at the visitor centre before continuing to Rum village.

There is talk of starting up a passenger train between Rum and Aqaba along the existing goods line, but don't hold your breath on this one.

Local transport

Taxi

Occasionally taxis hang around the visitor centre (and very occasionally the Rest House) waiting for a fare back to wherever they came from - normally Aqaba, Wadi Musa or Ma'an. Count on about JD15 to Aqaba, and JD20 to Wadi Musa (Petra). A taxi from Rum village to the Ar-Rashidiyya crossroads with the Desert Highway costs around JD4.

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Hitching

Because of the limited public transport to and from Rum village, many travellers (including locals) are forced to hitch - a normal form of transport in this part of Jordan.

The well-signposted turn-off to Wadi Rum is along the Desert Highway at Ar- Rashidiyya, 5km south of Quweira. From Aqaba, take any minibus heading along the highway (but not a JETT bus which won't stop here) and get out at the turn-off (600 fils); from Wadi Musa or other towns to the north, anything headed towards Aqaba will pass the Rum turn-off. From the crossroads you should be able to find a minibus headed your way for JD1 per person; otherwise hitch and negotiate a fare for the 30km ride.

Alternatively, if you have prearranged your excursion through Wadi Rum with a guide, he may come out to pick you up.

You can normally hitch a lift in a pick-up between Rum village and the visitor centre for around JD1.

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