Wadi Rum is a wide desert valley in Jordan, where sandstone mountains rise straight out of red sand and narrow canyons cut between them. On the ground the cliffs tower over you, and it is hard to judge how far apart they stand. From a hot air balloon the pattern becomes clear: separate blocks of rock, with open sand filling the valleys between them. The one ride on the Wadi Rum hub is built around this landscape rather than around a single rock, because the launch site changes from day to day.
The Wadi Rum Desert Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride is a shared balloon flight timed for sunrise, from US$292 per person. You spend about an hour in the air, more or less depending on the wind and where the pilot can land, and the listing describes red sandstone cliffs, canyons and rock arches below. Because the balloon goes where the wind takes it, you may drift along a cliff face one morning and over open sand the next. After landing, the 4×4 takes you back to your pickup point. Plan on about 3.5 hours in total.
The day starts in the dark. Free pickup from local camps in Wadi Rum is included. Pickup can be up to 90 minutes before the flight, and the exact pickup time is confirmed after booking. Transfers from Aqaba and Petra are not included, and pickup from remote camps and hotels outside Wadi Rum costs extra. A 4×4 drives you into the desert to that morning’s launch site, where you watch the crew inflate the balloon over Bedouin tea, coffee, water and biscuits. A safety briefing follows, and the instructor speaks English.
No rock formation is promised. The pilot sets the launch site each morning by the wind, and a balloon cannot be steered towards a chosen cliff or arch, so each flight follows its own line; the balloon’s height and speed change with the wind too, and the view changes with them. The setting itself is the point: sandstone mountains, red sand and canyons, with the low sun bringing out the colour of the rock. On some mornings the balloon’s shadow may slide across a cliff beside you, and on others the view opens out over the sand towards distant ridges.
Flights run year-round. They depend on the weather and the wind: if conditions are not suitable, you are offered a new date or a full refund, and you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before. Souvenir photos and videos are sold after the flight and are not included in the price. Bring warm layers for the desert morning, comfortable shoes and a camera.
The minimum age is 6, and children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult family member. The ride is not suitable for pregnant women. No weight limit is stated at booking. If you weigh around 110 kg or more, check before you book, as an extra charge may apply. To see the Wadi Rum desert at first light, book the sunrise balloon ride.
See Wadi Rum Desert 热气球视角 in Wadi Rum. Book the Wadi Rum Desert Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride.