Last Updated on August 6, 2022
Jordan is a country famous for its huge rock valleys, canyons and desert landscapes. If you are looking for sandboarding thrills, you will be able to enjoy some rides on the soft sand in the incredible Wadi Rum Protected Area near Aqaba, about a four hour drive south from the capital Amman.
Sandboarding at Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum (a.k.a. Wadi al-Qamar, “Valley of the Moon“) is the large rock valley in Jordan, and the only one that is suitable for sandboarding. This is because unlike other wadis, this extremely vast desert wilderness comprises both rocky areas and soft sand dunes where you can surf with your board or sled.
Please note that the Wadi Rum is a historic site and protected area, so do not venture there on your own. Pick an adventure tour and ask about sandboarding, they will know exactly where to take you. You will also be able to get a taste of the Bedouin lifestyle, enjoy some camel riding, rock climbing, and enjoy some local meals and tea in the Wadi Rum village.
Most sandboarding tours start early in the morning when the sun is not too strong, as temperatures can get unbearably hot in the afternoon. Entrance fee to the Wadi Rum protected area is JD5 per person. A personal travel insurance that covers sandboarding is highly recommended.
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Wadi Rum is a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more. Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over millennia.
Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.
There are many ways to enjoy the attractions of Rum, including sandboarding, jeep safari, camel riding and hiking tours and you can stay overnight in a Bedouin tent and gaze at the amazing panoply of stars in the desert free of light polution.
To safeguard its unique desert landscape, Wadi Rum was declared a protected area in1998 and an intensive conservation programme is now underway. Source: wadirum.jo
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