The Wadi Rum train is a piece of theatre with a locomotive attached, and you should book it knowing that. You ride a restored stretch of the Hijaz Railway, the line the Ottomans built so pilgrims could travel from Damascus toward Medina, while actors stage the 1916 Arab Revolt attack on the train around you, with horses, camels, old military vehicles and a lot of noise.
We're a tour company in Wadi Musa, and we send guests to Wadi Rum every week. This guide tells you what the ride is, what we couldn't confirm and who it suits.
Short version
It is a short, staged and loud ride, with a heritage show at the end. It suits history fans and families whose children cope with gunfire and smoke. Skip it if noise bothers you. The operator's booking page, checked on 1 November 2026, lists dates from 4 November to 30 December 2026 roughly every three to four days, so the old "Sunday and Wednesday" rule no longer applies there. It shows no price or start time, so confirm both when you book.
What happens on the ride
The operator calls the trip "Journey Through 1916". Its terms say the train crosses the desert at a moderate speed and the trip ends with a heritage show that re-enacts events from the Great Arab Revolt, using horses, camels, old military vehicles, blank ammunition, sound and smoke crackers and fireworks.
The show follows one arc. It starts as a calm Ottoman supply run. Fighters arrive on horses and camels, a skirmish breaks out along the track, the train stops and the Ottoman soldiers surrender. The open carriages are where you get photographs.
After the battle scene the booking page lists access to the fortress and the Madafa (a Bedouin lounge), plus a dining and stargazing experience. It does not say whether those are covered by the ticket, so ask before you assume.
Days, times and prices
These details have changed over time, so here is what we have and when we checked it.
- Days:
dates every three to four days from 4 November to 30 December 2026 (booking page, 1 November 2026). Our older notes say Sundays and Wednesdays, which no longer matches.
- Start time:
our notes say mid-afternoon, between 3 and 4 pm. The booking form has a time field but lists no times, so confirm yours.
- Arrival:
be at the departure point 15 minutes before the train leaves.
- Price:
20 JD for adults and 10 JD for children as we last had it in 2025. The booking page shows no price today. The ride is free with a Jordan Pass if the pass includes it.
- Length:
about an hour including the show. The time on the train itself may be shorter.
If any of this differs from your booking confirmation, trust the confirmation.
Steam or diesel?
We can't settle this ourselves. Our 2024 notes described the tourist train as diesel-powered, while reports from January 2026 describe an Ottoman-era steam train and a recreation of the 1916 battle. The booking page calls it an authentic Hijaz Railway train and does not name the engine. If the engine matters to you, ask the operator when you book.
How to book
- Book on the operator's official booking page. The form asks for your name, email, mobile number, date, time and number of tickets, and you commit to the date and time you pick.
- Jordan Pass holders find their booking date and time on the pass and receive a confirmation email. Our earlier notes say the train has to be booked when you buy the pass, not added later, so check that on the Jordan Pass site. Our Jordan Pass guide
covers whether the pass is worth buying at all.
- Paid tickets arrive by email or SMS, and a supervisor scans your ticket at the departure point.
- Bookings can't be rescheduled and tickets can't be transferred. If the operator changes the date or time, it says it will tell you by email at least 48 hours ahead.
- Questions go to the contacts on the booking page.
Getting there
The booking page says the journey starts about 22 km past the main street entrance of Wadi Rum village and ends at the Wadi Rum train station, and it links map pins for both. From Amman you come down the Desert Highway and turn onto the Wadi Rum road. Follow the pins on the booking page, not a general map search. If you're staying in a camp, ask your host to arrange both legs. Our transport page
covers private drivers.
Safety rules from the operator
- Follow the instructions of the supervisor and tour guides.
- Do not move between closed and open cars while the train is moving.
- Do not stand at the doors or walk around in open cars while it moves.
- Board and leave only by the stairs and places staff designate.
The terms also say you accept the risks of the simulated attack, blank ammunition, heritage weapons, crackers, and contact with animals and vehicles. Desert storms or sudden line closures can cancel or disrupt a trip. Read the disclaimer before you pay.
Who should go, and who should skip
Book it if you like military history, want photographs from an open carriage, or have a free afternoon in Wadi Rum already. It works as an afternoon break between jeep tours, not as a reason to travel.
Skip it if your group dislikes loud noise, if smoke or gunfire effects will upset a child, or if you want a quiet scenic rail journey. This is a show.
Fitting it into your Wadi Rum days
Because the ride takes an afternoon, do your jeep tour in the morning or on another day. Our Wadi Rum jeep guide
explains the routes, and our Classic tour
and film-sites tour
are the usual choices. To choose where to sleep, see Bedouin camps vs luxury camps, and for the season see the best times to visit Jordan.
FAQ
Is the Wadi Rum train really steam?
We can't settle it. Reports from January 2026 describe a steam train, while our older notes describe a diesel engine. Ask the operator when you book.
Is the train ride free with the Jordan Pass?
The ride is included if you book it with your pass. Our earlier notes say it can't be added later, so check the Jordan Pass site before you rely on it.
How long does the Wadi Rum train ride take?
Plan for about an hour including the show, though the time on the train itself may be shorter. Arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Can I reschedule or give my ticket to a friend?
No. The operator's terms say bookings can't be rescheduled and tickets can't be transferred.
Is the train ride suitable for children?
Child tickets exist (10 JD in 2025), but the show includes blank gunfire, smoke and fireworks. Decide by how your child handles noise.
Planning Wadi Rum
If you want the train fitted around a jeep tour or a camp night, tell us your dates on our contact page
or look at our Wadi Rum tours.
Last updated: 2 November 2026. Dates, times and prices change, so confirm them on the operator's booking page before you go.
