uday029

We are visiting Jordan in March and are planning to spend good 3 to 4 days in Wadi Rum. We are mainly interested in photography (sunrise/sunset/night). After going through lot of posts, blogs, and guide books, it seems like almost everyone takes guided tours of Wadi Rum.

Is it possible to do a self-tour if we rent a 4x4? Has anyone done it before? Main purpose of wanting to do a self-tour is to have flexibility. A good example of that would be - if there is a tour group at a location we are waiting to photograph, we can wait until they depart or come back at a later time. Also, if needed we can extend our trip easily if we feel we need more time.

Is it safe/practical to do a self-tour? Also wondering about issues such as availability of help if car breaks down and emergency services etc. On the other hand, guides would probably know all the best photography locations.

We will consider a private tour if self-driving is ruled out. But we will prefer self-drive if its recommended.

Thanks for your time.

nikostaskos

Hello,

I will be visiting Jordan in March 2020, therefore, I was interested in doing what you have also suggested. Do you any update?

Thanks in advance!

SarahHeidt

Wadi Rum Protected Area is actually a delicate ecosystem and the jeep tours have a sort of designated track so if you go off on your own there could be damage. Also it is hard to drive in the sand, you have to change the tire pressure and let air out and at night it is easy to get lost (even in the day all the mountains start to look alike!). Honestly if you got stuck or broke down in the protected area there's no cell signal to call for help and you could be sitting a long time waiting for someone to find you. If you are confident with your maneuvering skills, and want to take the risks, no one will stop you from going in with a 4x4 but make sure your insurance coverage for a rental covers off Road and sand dune driving.