Wadi Rum Trail Running Race 2026

The Wadi Rum Trail Running Race takes place across two days in early October in one of the world’s most dramatic desert landscapes. The event runs through the Protected Area of Wadi Rum — a UNESCO World Heritage site of red-sand valleys, sandstone cliffs, and granite massifs that rise up to 1,750 metres. Distance categories typically include 10 km, 25 km, 50 km, and a full ultra marathon of around 80 km, with options spread across the two event days to suit different levels of ambition.

The terrain

Wadi Rum trail running is not like standard road or mountain trail events. The surface alternates between soft red sand, packed gravel, and rocky outcrops, with the sand offering the greatest challenge — it shifts underfoot and slows pace relative to a firm-surface equivalent. Navigation in some categories is guided by markers and GPS waypoints through the open desert; the route passes through narrow canyons, around rock arches, and along the base of famous formations. The scenery is genuinely exceptional and unlike any other trail race setting in the region.

Practical information

The race is based at or near the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre, where registration, timing, and the finish line are located. A race camp with basic facilities is set up for participants during the event. Some categories allow camping overnight in the desert between stages.

Registration opens several months before the event through the organising association — check Jordan Road Runners and the official Wadi Rum race channels from August for 2026 registration details. Entry fees vary by distance; international runners are fully welcome and the event has previously attracted participants from Europe, the US, and across the Arab world.

Tips for runners

October in Wadi Rum is cooler than summer but daytime temperatures can still reach 28—32 degrees Celsius. Hydration is critical: carry more water than you think you need, as the dry desert air and heat combine to increase fluid requirements substantially. Mandatory kit requirements (hydration vest, sun protection, emergency whistle) are specified in the race rules and checked at registration.

Wadi Rum is approximately 320 kilometres south of Amman, about a 3.5-hour drive. Overnight accommodation in the area includes Bedouin camps and basic guesthouses; the race attracts enough participants that camp accommodation books up quickly once registration opens. Our Wadi Rum guide has details on camps, getting there, and how to spend additional days in the reserve around the race.

For non-racing days in the desert, browse Wadi Rum tours through GetYourGuide — jeep safaris, overnight camps, and guided hikes let you explore the same terrain at a different pace.

The race atmosphere

The Wadi Rum Trail Race attracts a notably international field. Arabic-speaking runners from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Gulf make up a significant portion of entrants, alongside Europeans and North Americans who combine the race with a broader Jordan trip. The desert camp atmosphere at the base is informal and sociable — evenings around the event tent involve shared meals and the particular camaraderie of runners who have spent the day in genuinely demanding terrain.

Non-runners accompanying participants can explore the protected area independently or through Bedouin jeep tours operating from the Visitor Centre. The October timing makes the desert comfortable for non-runners too, with pleasant temperatures and clear skies throughout the day.

Extending your trip: Petra and Aqaba

Wadi Rum’s position in southern Jordan makes it a natural hub for combining the race with Petra — the two sites are just 60 kilometres apart. Most runners arrive a day or two early to acclimatise and explore Wadi Rum; post-race, a visit to Petra adds a full historical counterpart to the desert running experience. A common itinerary: fly into Amman, travel south to Wadi Rum 2 days before the race, race, recover for a day at the camp, then drive to Petra for 2 days, and return to Amman via the Desert Highway.

Aqaba, Jordan’s Red Sea port city, is 50 kilometres from Wadi Rum and offers the unusual option of post-race snorkelling or diving as recovery activity. The coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba are accessible and intact, making it one of the few places in the world where you can run an ultra marathon through a desert and be in the sea 24 hours later.

What to pack

Beyond the mandatory kit specified by race organisers (hydration vest, sun protection, emergency whistle, space blanket), the following are recommended for all distance categories: trail shoes with a wide toe box to accommodate feet swelling in the heat; gaiters to keep sand out of your shoes on the softer sections; salt tablets or electrolyte supplements given the high sweat rate in dry desert heat; and a buff or lightweight balaclava for early morning cold at altitude before the sun rises. Poles are permitted in the ultra and 50 km categories but add limited value on flat sandy terrain.