Introduction
Aqaba Governorate pairs two very different landscapes: the red-sand desert of Wadi Rum, and Jordan's only stretch of coast — the small Red Sea resort city of Aqaba, with coral reefs beginning within metres of the shore.
Overview
Wadi Rum village, on the desert's edge, is where nearly every desert visit begins and ends — Bedouin-run camps arrange the jeep tours, camel rides and overnight stays that make up a standard visit. An hour and a half south, Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city and a genuinely different kind of stop: a small, relaxed Red Sea resort town where the reefs begin almost immediately below the surface, diveable and snorkellable year-round in consistently warm water. Aqaba's reefs have survived in better condition than many nearby Red Sea destinations largely because the city sees far less boat traffic than Egyptian or Israeli resorts on the same sea, and diving here tends to be calmer and less crowded as a result. Most visitors combine the two as bookends on a south Jordan itinerary — a desert night in Wadi Rum, then a day or two unwinding on the coast before flying out of Aqaba's own international airport or heading back north.
Discover Aqaba
Wadi Rum village sits at the boundary of the protected desert and is entirely organised around it — Bedouin-run camps based here arrange jeep tours, overnight stays, camel treks and multi-day hikes into the reserve, and nearly every visitor books through a camp rather than arranging transport independently. This is the practical jumping-off point for the desert itself — the rock formations, the Bedouin camps, the Lawrence of Arabia connection.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Red sand, sandstone massifs and Bedouin camps — this governorate's practical desert base.
Aqaba's coral reefs begin within metres of shore, warm year-round, with noticeably less boat traffic than neighbouring Red Sea resorts.
Its own international airport makes flying in or out of Aqaba a realistic way to run a one-way south Jordan itinerary rather than backtracking to Amman.
Aqaba Governorate Travel Information
- Wadi Rum has no ATMs — withdraw sufficient cash in Aqaba (about 1-1.5 hours away) before heading into the desert.
- Almost all Wadi Rum visits are booked through a Bedouin-run camp, which typically arranges the jeep tour, meals and transport as a package — independent self-drive access into the reserve is unusual.
- Aqaba's King Hussein International Airport has domestic and regional connections, useful for a one-way itinerary that doesn't require returning to Amman.
Frequently asked questions
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.