There is nothing quite like spending the night in a bubble tent – also known as a “Martian tent” – in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan. But with so many options, which do you choose? On this page we will introduce the 5 best bubble tent hotels in Wadi Rum. Prepare to be amazed!
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Wadi Rum Camps
Let’s start by clarifying something from the start. Wadi Rum hotels are not really “hotels” in the classic sense of the word. The accommodations in Wadi Rum are known as “camps”. There are no large buildings like a hotel would have. But for the purpose of this article we will also refer to the camps with bubble tents as “bubble tent hotels”.
The camps feature a wide variety of “tent” accommodations. From actual tents that are just some metal framing wrapped in fabric and a few simple beds to luxury bubble tents, which are permanent structures with air conditioning, modern plumbing, and everything in between.
Each camp has a central reception, restaurant, and social gathering rooms. These rooms are usually also tent structures with fabric covered metal frames. The number of tents/rooms at each Wadi Rum camp varies from about 10 to over 100. While they are all similar, they all have their unique intricacies.
Many of the camps only offer simple tent accommodations and don’t have bubble tents, but most places have built at least a few bubble tents, since they’ve become extremely popular with visitors.
Each camp operates a restaurant and it’s really your own dining option when you’re staying in Wadi Rum. There aren’t any restaurants to just go checkout the menu. And even if there were, you’re not gonna walk across the desert at night to get there.
There are also no supermarkets or stores or any kind unless you’re staying in Wadi Rum village itself, which, since you’re looking for bubble tents, you won’t be. Anything you think you might need during your stay you have to get before checking into your camp.
Meals are buffet style and feature traditional Jordanian cuisine. There are usually plenty of vegetarian options, but most of the main courses are meat-based. And if you’re looking for alcohol, you’re not gonna find it in Wadi Rum. It’s completely dry. For more information about that, refer to my article about alcohol in Jordan.
Note that some camps charge extra for dinner. I clearly indicate below which meals are included with each camp.
The bubble tents are usually far more expensive than the standard tents, sometimes in the order of 10x the cost. It’s actually incredibly cheap to visit Wadi Rum if you stay at one of the cheaper camps without bubble tents or air conditioning.
The bubble tents vary in price, but you’re unlikely to find one for less than $100 USD per night, where you can literally find a basic tent for $15. But you want to stay in a bubble tent, so let’s get on it now.
After reading through the list of best bubble tent hotels in Wadi Rum you will have a pretty good idea where you want to stay!
How to get to the Wadi Rum camps
I recommend renting your own car in Jordan. Driving in Jordan is safe and modern, similar to driving in a western country. Jordan is an awesome country for a beautiful road trip. You’ll most likely be combining your trip to Wadi Rum with a visit to Petra, the Dead Sea, and Amman.
Wadi Rum camps are spread out all across the desert. Most are deep in the desert and require you to park (the camp will tell you where exactly) and ride with one of their drivers in a 4×4 across the desert sand.
Some are just off a paved road, however, and have their own parking lots. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how you look at it. The ease of parking yourself can’t be understated, but there is something peaceful about being deep in the desert away from any roads.
You can find a great deal on a rental car with Rentalcars.com from the Amman Airport using the search bar below.
It’s also common to arrive in Wadi Rum as part of an organized tour, which will arrange everything for you. Some tour options are below:
Quick Intro to Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is one of the most incredible, jaw dropping landscapes on earth. It’s often compared to the surface of Mars, since it’s the closest thing we have on this planet to what the photos of Mars have shown. Red sand dunes are everywhere, only interrupted by the giant sandstone mountains.
There are a wide range of activities that you’ll be doing in Wadi Rum. Some of your options include:
- Cruising across the desert sand in a 4×4
- Hiking
- Riding a camel
- Sandboarding
- Learning about Bedouin culture
- Watching sunset and sunrise
- And more…
These activities will be organized by your camp, so you will end up going with their preferred providers. None of these activities will be included in your accommodation cost, so you’ll pay extra at the camp. Prices range greatly depending on the activity and its duration.
The 8 Best Bubble Tent Hotels in Wadi Rum
The best bubble tent hotels here are listed in no particular order, so disregard the number next to the name. That’s just for you to keep track. Let’s get to it!
1) Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel
- Booking.com rating: 8.5/10
- Google rating: 4.3/5
- Number of bubble tents: 20
- Meals included: breakfast only
The Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel is probably the most luxurious camp in all of Wadi Rum. The camp features only large bubble tents and does not have any standard tents or more affordable options. Each tent features 3 connected “bubbles”, with a bedroom, living room, and bathroom.
The camp is well off the main road and requires you to park and ride, as many others on this list. It’s totally on its own, giving you some isolation and privacy, though it does share the property with the UFO Luxotel. The two camps also share their reception area, so don’t get them confused.
The Bubble Luxotel is best enjoyed as a couple, as it’s quite romantic. It’s not the best place for families, but they can bring in extra cots for the kiddos if needed. If you’re looking for the absolute best bubble tent hotel in Wadi Rum, it’s pretty hard to top the Bubble Luxotel.
Advantages:
- Pristine desert landscape away from roads
- Delicious food
- Very large and luxurious tents
- Each tent comes with a private hot tub
- Bedroom comes with clear roof for stargazing from bed
Disadvantages:
- Very pricey and many people find it not worth the cost
- Have to leave your car and get a ride
- North of the main road making the main Wadi Rum attractions further to get to
2) Hasan Zaika Camp
- Booking.com rating: 8.8/10
- Google rating: 4.4/5
- Number of bubble tents: 16
- Meals included: breakfast only
Hasan Zawaideh Camp is one of our top picks for best bubble tent hotels in Wadi Rum for a number of reasons. The camp offers everything from simple tent accommodations to ultra-luxury bubble tents.
There are 16 bubble tents at Hasan Zawaideh, with two of them being special ultra-luxury tents. The standard bubble tent features a sunset view over red rock mountains. Each tent comes with a large deck and an outdoor sitting area to really take in the view.
Inside, the bubble tents have a queen sized bed and a small sitting area. The room is equipped with a bathroom behind the bed and a large closet as well as a minifridge. From your bed you’ll have a beautiful view of the desert, but you won’t be able to look straight up to the stars, as the window only extends to about head-level.
The camp itself has 55 individual standard tents and two large communal tents (on top of the bubble tents), one being the dining room and the other being the tea room.
Hasan himself runs the camp and you’ll likely meet him when you check in. He runs a successful business that puts the customer first. You’ll feel right at home when you stay at Hasan Zawaideh Camp!
Advantages:
- Can drive right up to it and it has a big carpark (only camp on this list you can drive yourself to)
- Lively environment at night
- Affordable bubble tents
- Excellent service from all staff
Disadvantages:
- Looking north you see the main road
- Food could be better
- Bubble tents don’t have views directly up
3) Wadi Rum UFO Luxotel
- Booking.com rating: 8.7/10
- Google rating: 4.3/5
- Number of bubble tents: 31
- Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Wadi Rum UFO Luxotel is one of the most luxurious bubble tent hotels in the region. An all-bubble-tent camp, you won’t find standard tents here. Each tent features a large bedroom with a sitting area and a roomy bathroom. You also get a significant outdoor space with your tent, which includes a small table, chairs, and a hammock.
The camp is about 15 minutes off the main road, meaning you have to park and get a ride across the sand dunes with one of the camp’s official drivers. You will leave your car at a secure location that they will arrange for you, so there is no need to worry about security.
The UFO Luxotel shares a property with the Bubble Luxotel, so don’t get them confused. The bubble tents at UFO are a bit smaller.
Advantages:
- Pristine desert landscape away from roads
- Excellent food and dining experience
- Luxurious tents with all the amenities you need
- Attentive staff
- You get your own private hammock
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Have to leave your car and get a ride
- North of the main road that cuts through Wadi Rum, while most of the main desert attractions are south, so it’s a bit further to get to the main sights
4) Memories Aicha Luxury Camp
- Booking.com rating: 9.2/10
- Google rating: 4.6/5
- Number of bubble tents: 25
- Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Memories Aisha Luxury Camp is a spectacular property tucked away on its own under a massive sandstone mountain. It’s one of the top rated bubble tent hotels in Wadi Rum on Booking.com and Google, and one stop by the property will show you why. It’s deep in Wadi Rum, so as most of the other places on this list, you have to park and take a 4×4 ride across the sand.
The bubble tents have a half clear / half blue exterior, making them really stand out in the red desert. The construction is a single bubble, but it’s spacious and has a small sitting area in front of the bed. There is also a massive communal bubble tent that holds the dining area at the back of the property.
Memories Aisha Luxury Camp also features tent accommodations that are more typical – i.e. not a bubble tent. These are cheaper than the bubble tents, but still pretty luxurious and not at all cheap. Be sure you book one of the “panoramic” tents when booking to ensure you get the right accommodation type.
Advantages:
- Isolated location but right in the heart of all the top sites in Wadi Rum
- Sunset views from the tents
- Nice hikes around the property
- 24 hour reception
Disadvantages:
- Very expensive
- Significant ride across the desert from the parking area
- No sitting areas on the decks
- Food quality isn’t that great
5) Sara Luxury Camp
- Booking.com rating: 9.5/10
- Google rating: 4.5/5
- Number of bubble tents: 10
- Meals included: breakfast only
Note March 2024: I have heard from some readers recently that the quality of Sara Luxury Camp has gone way down and recent lodgers have had numerous complaints about the property. It’s not clear if it’s related to new management or what, but please take this into consideration before booking with Sara.
Sarah Luxury Camp offers a chance to stay in a Wadi Rum bubble tent at a reasonable price. The bubble tents are studio style, single room bubbles. But they are pretty large and can fit up to two queen beds or four single beds, making them ideal for families who want to experience Wadi Rum. With that you also get a small sitting area and an outdoor sitting area on the deck.
Sara is north of the main road, but not by too much, so getting there is not difficult. It’s tucked away between two small rocks on either side, though the rocks are big enough to block any sunset views. Should you wish to watch the epic desert sunset, however, you can just climb to the top of them.
The owner, Seif, and his staff are very accommodating and can arrange desert Jeep or camel tours on short notice. You’ll share the property with the folks staying in the standard tents and intermingle in the common dining hall, which is located in a giant bubble tent.
Advantages:
- Affordable bubble tents in a cozy atmosphere
- Attentive and friendly staff
- Good food and music
Disadvantages:
- Direct sunset view blocked by rocks
- Have to leave your car and get a ride (but ride is short)
- More basic bubble tents than others on this list
- It’s tight in the bubble tents when there are two queen size beds
- Cash only on site
6) Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp
- Booking.com rating: 9.5/10
- Google rating: 4.8/5
- Number of bubble tents: 5
- Meals included: breakfast only
Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp is one of the smaller camps in Wadi Rum. With only 5 bubble tents and 10 “deluxe” standard tents, it offers a more intimate experience than some of the larger camps. The tents all face an expansive portion of the red desert, providing awesome views for days.
The deluxe standard tents at Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp are actually a bit larger than the bubble tents and the price is similar. The communal dining hall is built into a rock and the common areas feature a fireplace and an outdoor fire pit.
The bubble tents are a single bubble, but they are quite spacious and feature a full-size couch and a sitting area. The bubbles face southwest so you get a sunset view, but the top of the bubble is covered so you can’t stargaze from your bed.
Advantages:
- Direct sunset view from the bubble tents
- Small but spacious camp with privacy
- Amazing food
- Great location deep in Wadi Rum near all the main attractions
Disadvantages:
- View from the bubble tents has to look over the regular tents
- Staff is not as welcoming as many other camps in Wadi Rum
- Long ride from the parking area to get to camp
- Usually no music in the common area
- Cash only
7) Palmera Camp Wadi Rum
- Booking.com rating: 9.3/10
- Google rating: 4.7/5
- Number of bubble tents: 14
- Meals included: breakfast and dinner
If you want a little green in your red Wadi Rum desert experience then Palmera Camp Wadi Rum is for you. The exclusive property is deep in the desert and contains only 14 bubble tents and 6 “superior king room” regular tents, as well as a common area surrounding a funky sandstone rock. Palmera is particularly unique for featuring artificial turf on the private decks (hence the “green”) and a swimming pool (also surrounded by artificial turf).
Palmera Camp is really all on its own, with its closest neighbor being about a kilometer away. This makes it one of the most private camps in all of Wadi Rum. It’s surrounded on all sides by interesting rock formations, making it perfect for the adventurous traveler who wants to boulder their way to the top of the mountains.
In terms of the bubble tents themselves, they are a bit more basic than others you will find. They feature a bed (or two beds) and a small table with two simple chairs, with a bathroom behind the bed and not much else. Decorations are bare, and the deck is also bare, featuring only a small table and two chairs.
While the tent itself might be a bit below par, the service is excellent and guests have had great experiences with the food. And for true relaxation and solitude in Wadi Rum, it’s hard to beat Palmera Camp.
Advantages:
- Isolated and private
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Awesome hikes in the rocks nearby
- Great food
Disadvantages:
- Pricey
- Relatively basic bubble tents for the price
- Long ride from the parking area to get to camp
8) Zeina Desert Lodge
- Booking.com rating: 8.4/10
- Google rating: 4.3/5
- Number of bubble tents: 11
- Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Zeina Desert Lodge is one of the most relaxing bubble tent camps to book in Wadi Rum. They only have wifi in the common areas, which means you truly have to disconnect and relax when you’re in your room.
The bubble tents are simply decorated, but they do the trick. They are affordable when compared to some of the other bubble tents on this list. The camp also has dozens of normal tents, giving it a lively environment in the common areas.
Zeina is close to the main road, but you’ll still have to park and be taken to the property, as the road there is pretty sandy and not safe for a 2WD car. Once you get to the camp, they will go over all the tour options with you and ensure you have an amazing time Wadi Rum.
Advantages:
- Great location near the main road but far enough away to not hear it or see it
- Affordable bubble tents
- Very attentive and caring staff
- Supposedly right next to where The Martian with Matt Damon was filmed
- Awesome hiking and rock scrambling in the area
Disadvantages:
- Sunrise view instead of sunset (unless you’re a morning person)
- Wifi doesn’t work in rooms
- Decent, but not great food
- Relatively basic interiors in the bubble tents
Final Word
Staying in a bubble tent in Wadi Rum is a magical experience that is worth the money when visiting this ridiculously beautiful part of the world. And now that we’ve gone through the 8 best bubble tent hotels in Wadi Rum, you’re well informed to make the important decision on which one to stay at!
