Al Captain Camp: Comfortable Bedouin Tents in Jordan’s Wadi Rum

Sleeping under the star studded desert sky has it own romantic charms, but not everyone can do that in this modern age. Tented accommodation with reasonable luxury can help us enjoy our desert stays. During my recent trip to the Martian land of Wadi Rum in South Western Jordan, I stayed in the middle of Wadi Rum and not so far way from the rolling red colored sand dunes and the tall mountains. My desert home were traditional Bedouin tents that offered a great mix of isolation, lovely desert atmosphere and new age luxury. This place was Al Captain Camp. You might find this review useful if you are planning a holiday to Wadi Rum in Jordan.



1) Al Captain Camp is located right in the heart of the desert and real close to the sand dunes. Thus, you are just a 15 minute walk or a 10 minute camel ride from that amazing sunset experience on the sand dunes.

2) This place is designed in the form of traditional Bedouin tents. It enjoys some green space, which is a rarity in this part of the world, a lovely large communal eating area where they arrange local music and dances every night. The decor is Bedouin style and the people who run it are also local Bedouins. Thus, if you love a solid local connection, this place will definitely make the cut.

3) The rooms are fairly large with an attached bathroom and running hot water. The rooms don’t have any kind of air-conditioning, but owing to their traditional design, they stay fairly cool even during the peak of the day. The rooms are spacious, have comfortable beds, have running hot water, a western style toilet, charging points and much more all inside a traditional tent.



4) The food served at Al Captain camp is fabulous and while you are there, do ask them to show you the underground tandoor where they slow cook the meat. This is a traditional desert style cooking and should not be missed. Even vegetarians have a lot of options here, though nothing like the meat eaters who are always spoilt for choice in Jordan.

5) The place doesn’t have any internet connectivity, which is a blessing in disguise if you wish to be one with the nature. However, if you wish to stay connected, your mobile service provider should offer data connectivity that can be accessed here.

6) Wadi Rum is famous for its star studded skies and if you wish to indulge in it and may be do some night photography, you can hang out by the camp fire spot or step out of your tent and see the galaxy unfold in front of your eyes.



7) The camp service staff are extremely helpful and can arrange for camels and jeeps in case you wish to explore different sides of the dunes, mountains or the desert.

8) As the camp is in the middle of nowhere, it is best to arrive with your own transport or be prepared to walk and hitchhike.

9) As the place is the middle of an isolated region, electricity can be patchy, but while I was around, there was no such outage.

If you are looking to stay in the middle of Wadi Rum during your next holiday to Jordan, check out Al Captain Camp. Their proximity to the dunes, their traditional decor and their delicious food are the standouts for me.

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Wadi Rum: Martian Landscapes on Earth

As a person, I have always loved Mother Nature and her creations. As a traveler, I have been privileged to see some of them at extremely close quarters. One such Mother nature’s benevolent creation that captivates the attention and imagination of one and all is Jordan’s Wadi Rum. This spectacularly scenic desert valley has been immortalized through umpteen number of movies from all across the world. Some of those famous movies are Ridley Scott’s ‘The Martian’, Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen and Lawrence of Arabia. While this place looks amazingly beautiful in the movies, it is a surreal experience to stand in the middle of this mountain desert.



I was bowled over by its sheer raw appeal, its inhospitable environment, its striking landscapes, its gorgeous red color tones, its crystal clear night sky that shows you the galaxy, its rich prehistoric connection, its amazing desert culture and its unlimited avenues for adventure on my recent holiday to Jordan.



Everything about Wadi Rum appealed to the adventurer in me. May be, it is because I am a sucker for deserts and desolate landscapes or may be it is because this place is really special. After all, this place that is nicknamed ‘The Valley of the Moon’ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it should have some special attributes to have been given the heritage tag.



Covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan with rolling sand dunes, huge mountains of sandstone and granite and narrow canyons and fissures, Wadi Rum is full of adventure. Whether you opt for a 4 wheel drive, a camel or your own feet, you are bound to have some serious fun. Rock climbing, dune surfing or sand boarding and dune bashing would have to be the top 3 adventure activities in this region.



Climbing Jebel Umm Ad Dami (6,040 feet) and Jebel Rum (5,689 feet), the two highest peaks of this region have to be two of the most popular climbs in this region. Covering a mix of hiking, rock climbing and technical climbing, these peaks are said to offer views of the Red Sea and the Saudi border on a clear day. Even if you don’t end up seeing the Red Sea, I am pretty sure that there will be no dearth of adrenaline rushes.



If you wish to go easy on the adventure part, there is that sunset camel safari, a scenic jeep drive, a stay in a Bedouin tent, sleeping under the stars, eating traditional food, seeing concealed ancient rock drawings and so much more. Jordan’s largest wadi that has been inhabited by many human cultures since prehistoric times, is not short on action, be it cultural or adventure.



If you are a history buff, you will love the petroglyphs at the Khaz’ali canyon that dates back to the Thamudic times, the Nabatean temple and the Anfashieh inscriptions from the Nabatean and the Thamudic period.



My personal favorites are sand boarding at the red sand dunes of Umm Ishrin, a camel safari at sunset, the traditional Bedouin tented camp experience, sleeping under millions of stars and the feeling of being at home in the middle of one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet.



Whatever your interests might be, if you happen to one of those who absolutely adore Mother Nature’s special creations, you have to make your way to Wadi Rum, especially on your next holiday to Jordan. I am pretty sure that you will be stupefied with its natural splendour.



And when you do manage to find your way to Wadi Rum, do chomp on some of the sweetest and juiciest water melons of the world.

How to get there:



Lying in the south western corner of Jordan, Wadi Rum is closest to the coastal city of Aqaba that offers an international airport and great road connectivity. It is also fairly easy to drive from Amman and Petra. Having your own mode of transportation would be advisable unless you have a lot of time at hand.

Planning for Wadi Rum:



Wadi Rum is usually dry, bright, hot and cold all at the same time. Hence, it is best to carry one warm jacket, a scarf to protect you from the sun, some moisturizer, a good pair of sunglasses and a good pair of walking boots.

Nearby Attractions:



Red Sea, Petra, Amman and the Dead Sea. As Jordan is a fairly small country, most of its top attractions can be reached within 4 to 5 hours.

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