SunCity Camp is one of the best-known places to sleep in Wadi Rum and the camp most couples picture when they see photos of Jordan's glowing desert domes. Its Martian Domes have large panoramic windows facing the sand and cliffs, so you can watch the sun set over red rock from bed and wake to the same view at dawn. Every room, from the domes to the traditional tents, has a private en-suite bathroom, hot showers, air conditioning and heating, which matters in a desert that swings from scorching days to cold nights.
The camp sits about an hour from Aqaba and two hours from Petra, making it the natural night in a Jordan honeymoon after the ancient city. Dinners feature zarb, the Bedouin barbecue cooked underground and the camp can arrange jeep tours, camel rides, hikes, stargazing and hot-air balloon flights.
It suits couples who want the drama of a desert dome with hotel-style comfort. It is a sizable camp rather than a tiny retreat, so couples wanting total solitude may prefer a small camp deep in the desert.
Highlights at a glance
- Martian Domes with panoramic desert windows
- Private bathrooms with hot showers in every unit
- Air conditioning and heating for desert extremes
- Zarb dinners cooked under the sand
- Jeep tours, camel rides and balloon flights
Why Couples Love SunCity Camp
Wadi Rum is the desert filmmakers use when they need another planet and the Martian Domes lean into that. Lying in bed with a wall of glass showing red sand and towering sandstone is the moment couples remember from Jordan.
The comfort is the second reason. Many desert camps share bathrooms or offer only basic heating. Here every unit has its own en-suite with hot water, plus air conditioning for hot afternoons and heating for nights that can drop near freezing in winter.
The night sky is the third. With little light pollution, the Milky Way stretches overhead on clear nights. The camp offers stargazing and simply stepping outside after dinner is enough. Couples often say one night was not enough and wish they had booked two.
Domes and Tents to Book
SunCity has five main categories.
- Martian Dome: the honeymoon choice, with panoramic views of the desert through large windows. Book this if you are coming for the photos and the view from bed.
- Grande Suite: a larger, more spacious option for couples who want room to spread out.
- Royal Tent and Deluxe Tent: Bedouin-style tents with en-suite bathrooms, cozier and usually more affordable.
- Family Suite: panoramic views with two sleeping areas, aimed at families or friends.
All categories include private bathrooms with hot showers, air conditioning and heating. Domes facing the open desert rather than other units are the ones to request; ask when you book and again at check-in. Spring and autumn are the busiest seasons, so reserve domes well ahead for those months.
Food and Bedouin Dinners
Dinner is part of the experience. SunCity's signature is zarb, the traditional Bedouin barbecue in which meat and vegetables are slow-cooked in a pit under the sand, then lifted out with some ceremony in front of guests. Alongside it you will find Middle Eastern and international dishes, salads and sweet tea.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals are available with advance notice, so mention any needs when booking.
Check what your rate includes. Desert camps commonly sell packages with dinner and breakfast and since there are no restaurants nearby, you will want both. Wadi Rum is a protected area with conservative local customs, so do not assume a full bar; ask the camp in advance about drinks if a toast matters to you. Evenings around the fire with tea and music are often the most relaxed part of the day.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
A jeep tour is the classic way to see the desert. In a half or full day, Bedouin drivers take you to rock bridges such as Burdah and Umm Fruth, the narrow Khazali Canyon with its ancient carvings, red dunes for sunset and sites connected with T. E. Lawrence. SunCity can arrange tours, or you can book with local Bedouin operators.
Camel rides offer a slower, quieter view of the landscape. Hikers and climbers can tackle guided routes on the sandstone massifs. For a splurge, a hot-air balloon flight at sunrise lifts you above the cliffs as the light spreads across the sand.
The desert is hot by day from May to September and cold at night from November to March. Bring sun protection, a scarf for dust, closed shoes for rocky ground and warm layers for evenings. Modest clothing works well for both partners when visiting Wadi Rum village.
Getting There
King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba (AQJ) is about an hour by car. Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) is about four hours and Petra is around two hours, which is why most couples come straight from Petra and continue to Aqaba or back to Amman afterward.
SunCity offers private transfers on request, or you can drive yourselves. If you drive, follow the camp's instructions; some camps are reached on desert tracks and many visitors leave their car in the village or a designated meeting point and are collected in a four-wheel drive. Confirm the arrangement before you arrive, ideally in daylight.
Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
Is It Worth It?
For one or two nights, yes. Prices are approximate and depend heavily on season and package, but Martian Domes generally cost more than traditional tents and less than a luxury hotel elsewhere in the region. For the view through the glass, most couples feel it is money well spent.
Keep expectations realistic. This is a well-run desert camp, not a five-star resort. Wi-Fi, room size and food variety are more limited than in a city hotel and the camp's popularity means you will share dinner with other guests.
If you want a tiny camp with only a handful of tents and no neighbors in sight, look at smaller camps deeper in the protected area. If you want a pool, spa and polished service, stay in Aqaba and visit Wadi Rum on a day trip instead, though you would miss the stars.
Insider tips
- Request a dome facing open desert rather than other units.
- Book two nights so you have a full day for a jeep tour without rushing.
- Confirm whether dinner and breakfast are in your package before you arrive.
- Pack a warm layer; desert nights are cold for much of the year.
