Wadi Rum: Rum village to Ain Shallaleh and the Nabataean temple

From the car park by the Rest House in Rum village, walk west on the sandy track to the low ruins of the Nabataean temple below Jebel Rum. Carry on south along the foot of the mountain, then climb a flight of rock steps and a path that traverses the slope, with wide views back over the village and the valley to Jebel Umm Ishrin. The path ends in a cleft where Ain Shallaleh (عين الشلالة) drips into a small pool among figs and ferns, beside a Nabataean water channel and carvings on the rocks. Come back the same way.

It is 4.3 km there and back with 125 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: soft sand and village tracks, then rock steps and a stony path with a short, steep section near the spring.

There is no shade until the spring: walk in the early morning or late afternoon and carry at least 3 litres of water each. Rum is a Bedouin village; dress modestly and ask before photographing people.

Pay the protected area's entry, 5 JD or the Jordan Pass, at the Visitor Centre 7 km before the village, and tell the staff where you are walking.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.