Jebel Qatar Petroglyph Tour
This tour will take you up and around Jebel Qatar to see the many petroglyphs in the area. The tour usually starts and ends at our Bedouin Camp in the desert, though we can arrange to start in the village, if you'd prefer. The tour will begin around 9am and finish around 5pm, depending on the speed of the group.
Total distance covered: 10.5km desert walking, scrambling and hiking
Route of Jebel Qatar Inscription and spring tour, distance of each section and method of travel.
Section 1: Official Bedouin Camp to 1st Petroglyph area: 1.9km desert walking
Section 2: 1st Petroglyph area to 1st Jebel Qatar spring: 1.09km hiking
Section 3: 1st Jebel Qatar spring to 2nd Jebel Qatar spring and 2nd Petroglyph area: 1.6km scrambling
Section 4: 2nd Jebel Qatar spring to 3rd Petroglyph area: 531m scrambling
Section 5: 3rd Petroglyph area to 1st Jebel Qatar spring: 2.1km scrambling
Section 6: 1st Jebel Qatar spring to official bedouin camp: 3km hiking
Section 7: Official bedouin camp to sunset site: 200m scrambling
Distance to 1st inscription area 1.9km
Location 36R 0732046 UTM 3263870
After arriving from Rum village or sleeping a night in the desert or at our camp you will begin your days journey from here. It is one of only a few official camps in Wadi Rum Protected Area and will be our base for the day and night if you choose this option. We will leave from here between 9am and 10am depending on if you have slept overnight or not. Our first part of this tour will be a 1.9km desert walk in soft sand to the 1st inscription area. It is a great way to get your legs warmed up.
1st Petroglyph Area
Distance to Jebel Qatar spring 1.09km
Location 36R 0731796 UTM 3265704
The 1st main inscription area of this tour begins here. There are over 15 different rocks with various inscriptions and rock art on them in this area. You will have sometime to explore the area and see how many you can find. Our Bedouin guide will help you understand the story behind each one offering their expert desert experience to help you learn this special culture and 2000year history in a totally different way. This area gives great views of the valley of the moon and Jebel Qatar. The next walk is 1.09km thru hard sand and then on a path at the base of the 1st Jebel Qatar spring to the actual spring. The path is a local Bedouin track and you need to follow your guide.
1st Qatar Spring
Distance to 2nd spring along ancient path 1.6km
Location 36R 0731250 UTM 3266825
You will have hot tea made with water collected from the fresh spring and it will be cooked on a fire. Also it will be time to eat some chocolate for energy and a piece of fruit here. It is a nice place for photos and you can collect some water here for drinking if you wish. There are several trees here and you will often see some of the bird life. After a 30min break you will begin the next stage of the journey. It is a 1.6km scramble along an ancient path. This path has over 25 inscription sites and your Bedouin guide will point them out to you and explain them. Also you can try to find more that we possibly don’t know about. This path is very special and if you choose this tour you will have the very special experience also.
Ancient Path
2nd Jebel Qatar Spring and 2nd Petroglyph Area
Distance to 3rd inscription area 530m
Location 36R 0729845 UTM 3265933
Next we arrive at our lunch location. It is the 2nd Qatar Spring. In this area you will get to relax in the nice sun and enjoy the fresh spring water. We will cook a hot bbq lunch for you here. Chicken with salad and yoghurt. Or for vegetarians a hot bean dish. Again there are trees here for shade and two of the largest rock inscriptions in Wadi Rum. Each large rock has many inscriptions on them and is an amazing part of Wadi Rums history and culture. We will spend around 1hr here relaxing and enjoying the area. After lunch you will enjoy a 530m scramble to more significant inscriptions and a special old cave dwelling.
3rd Petroglyph Area
Distance to 1st spring 2.1km
Location 36R 0729475 UTM 3265497
The scramble to this area is possibly the hardest part of the walk to date but it is not difficult but not easy either. You need to focus and concentrate will your walking for this 530m. On we reach the area our guide will show you the ancient people old home and a 2 special inscription sites.
1st Qatar Spring
Distance to camp 3km
Location 36R 0731250 UTM 3266825
From the 3rd inscription site area to the 1st Qatar spring we will go back along the ancient path for 2.1km so you can enjoy the views from the opposite direction to which you have come. Its a great walk and we are sure you will enjoy it a lot. At the Spring you can have a short rest before we begin our walk back to camp.
Distance to sunset site 200m
Location 36R 0732046 UTM 3263870
The walk from the 1st Qatar spring to camp is 3km and will help your body warm down after the great day of hiking, walking and scrambling. We will then arrive back to camp where you can have a well deserved rest after 10km of hiking. We have solar powered showers so you freshen up and electricity so you can charge your electronic equipment. Dinner will be served around 7pm which is traditional BBQ Zarb cooked under the sand. It is BBQ chicken, potatoes and onions, with salad and vegetable dishes.
Sunset Site
Distance to camp 200m
Location 36R 0732046 UTM 3263870
The sunset site is only a 200m walk directly on a small hill behind our camp. It is a great place to watch the sunset in the white desert from the red desert. Some days the sunset is truly memorable and a great chance to be quiet and reflect a little. Many people have taken great photos from this location of the nearby mountains, stars and sunset.
Included in the price:
-Bedouin guide, BBQ lunch with salad and tea (cooked at 2nd Qatar Spring), drinking water and jeep transportation.
-Overnight stay in Wadi Rum Protected Area Camp with Bedouin BBQ Zarb dinner cooked under the sand with sides of salad, rice and vegetable dishes, breakfast, Bedouin tea and water
-Sunset and Sunrise viewing.
-Star gazing the galaxy at night
Time Details: Starting time 9am, finishing time approximately 5pm depending on the speed of the group.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
+10JD Camel Ride to Rum Village or Qatar Spring
Price Details:
1 Person 140JD
2-4 People 85 JD PER PERSON
5-8 People 75 JD PER PERSON
9+ People 65 JD PER PERSON
Wadi Rum Specialty Jeep and Hiking Tours
If you didn't find something for you in our classic jeep, hiking, and camel tours, check out our specialty trips that focus on a specific area or geologic feature!