Ever wanted to sleep on Mars? Book a stay at the Memories Aicha Luxury Camp to experience Mars on Earth in Wadi Rum, Jordan. This unique stay is the ultimate luxury glamping experience. This luxury camp is built between sandstone formations and surrounded by desert landscapes. It consists of a mixture of junior, executive, and panoramic tents with spectacular mountain views.
The Room
I opted to stay in the Panoramic Luxury Tent. The Panoramic tents are perfect if you plan on falling asleep under the stars. Through the transparent roof, you can enjoy stargazing from the comfort of your bed.
Upon entering the room, the curtains are closed. The best feeling was pulling back the curtains to reveal the desert surroundings and sandstone formations.
Inside, the domes are spacious, and the décor is colourful with a Moroccan vibe. The room came with all the usual hotel amenities. Although out in the middle of the desert, you will be in 5-Star luxury.
The bathroom was a good size and decorated in marble design. The camp also supplied slippers, a dressing gown, toiletries, and towels for your stay.
Each dome comes with a coffee and tea machine, biscuits, and a little table and chairs to enjoy the outside views. If you prefer sitting outside, you also have a private deck. Worried about the dome getting too hot? Fear not; each dome comes with AC making your stay more comfortable if you travel in the summer months.
I had a fantastic night’s sleep, and the bed was extremely comfortable and clean. However, the camp has no signal or WIFI, so prepare yourself for a digital detox. I must admit, it was nice to switch off social media and the world and be at one with nature and connect with the other guests.
Food & Drink
Dinner and breakfast are served buffet style in a giant dome close to reception. There was an extensive selection of foods to try for dinner, including Zarb, a type of Bedouin BBQ. This is where the food is cooked underground on metal racks. Other dishes included salads, meats, vegetables, and desserts. Breakfast consisted of your typical breakfast foods along with, pastries, fresh fruits and breads.
If you want to relax after dinner, there is a cave-style restaurant /bar next to the main dome. Alcohol is not served at the camp, but you can enjoy soft beverages, tea, and shisha after your meal.
I don’t do shisha, but I sat and enjoyed a mint tea in the beautiful décor. Teas were included in the hotel stay free of charge, too, which was a nice bonus.
Camp Activities
Jeep Safari
The jeep safari is a must during your Wadi Rum desert stay. I opted for the 5-hour jeep tour as the time in the desert goes very quickly. Driving around the desert In a 4×4 and taking in all the breath-taking landscape was an incredible experience. My jeep tour covered the red and white desert, including the famous stops below and more.
- Nabatean Temple
- Lawrence Spring
- Sand Dunes
- Khazali Canyon
- Little Bridge
- Big Rock Bridge
Each location allowed time to stop off to enjoy hiking activities, and explore each site. I also personalized my tour with the camp to add a desert cooking experience with locals. During this experience I learned about Bedouin life and how to make Arbood, a traditional Bedouin-style bread cooked in ash. If you are interested in learning more about this experience, click HERE.
Campsite Hiking
You can hike up the rocks to reach an amazing camp viewpoint. Wear comfortable shoes as there are many rocks to climb. I climbed up just in time for sunset, which was incredible. Climbing back down in the dark, was a little tricky though.
Stargazing
I planned on heading out in the night to Stargaze, but I never made it as I met a group of other travellers and ended up enjoying my evening around the campfire after dinner. However, the hotel does offer a stargazing service, and they will take you about 15 minutes out of the camp to get the best views of the stars. I still enjoyed some stargazing; it was just from the comfort of a panoramic tent until I fell asleep under the stars.
Sunset Or Sunrise Camel Ride
The camp offers a sunset or sunrise camel tour through the Wadi Rum desert. I chose to do sunrise, waking up around 4am to ride the camel into the sunrise. This was a magical experience. A group of us from the camp was taken out by two boys who looked no older than 12 years old and a dog, which seemed crazy initially, but all was good. We all headed out into the desert, admiring the orange hues of the sun over the rock formations and desert sand. The morning was peaceful, and the landscapes were out of this world. After riding for around an hour, we stopped, got off our camels, and enjoyed the sunrise. I had never seen a sunrise so clear in my view. It was a truly unforgettable experience.
Location
Getting There
I took the daily 6am bus from Petra, arriving at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre around 8:30/9am. If you are coming direct by plane, the closest airport is King Hussein International. Depending on your transport option, the camp will arrange for a driver to pick you up at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre or Wadi Rum Village to take you direct to camp in a 4×4.
The drive to camp has breath-taking landscapes. You can admire sandstone formations, desert sand, and amazing views of nearby camps.
Overall Experience
My overall stay at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp was 5 stars; the surrounding landscapes, the food, the activities, and the room were all amazing. It was a truly unique stay that I will never forget. If you are in Wadi Rum and want a luxury glamping experience in the desert, I highly recommend Memories Aicha Luxury Camp.