About Wadi Rum Horse Adventures

Feel the Magic of the Desert on Horseback

There are places in this world that stop you in your tracks. Wadi Rum is one them.

A vast, otherworldly landscape of red and yellow sandstone mountains, sculpted rock formations, and a wide open desert. Wadi Rum has been capturing imaginations for centuries. From ancient Nabatean traders to T.E. Lawrence, from Hollywood film crews to adventurers from every corner of the globe, this place leaves a mark. Experiencing it on horseback? That’s something else entirely.

Whether you call it a horse trekking holiday, a trail riding adventure, or simply the trip of a life time; Wadi Rum on horseback is unlike anything else.

Wadi Rum; The Valley of the Moon

Located in Southern Jordan, Wadi Rum is a UNESCO World heritage Site and Jordan’s most iconic desert landscape. Its 720 square kilometres contain narrow gorges, natural arches, ancient petroglyphs, and towering peaks; including Jabal Umm Ad Dami, the highest mountain in Jordan at 1,840 metres above sea level.

It is a protected area, governed to preserve both its natural environment and the heritage of the Bedouin communities who have called it home for generations.

The best months to visit are spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (mid-September, October, November), with pleasant daytime temperatures between 20-26°C . Summers are hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. Winters are fresh and occasionally bring snow, a surreal and breathtaking sight in the desert.

Who We Are

Wadi Rum Horse Adventures is a small, expert-led equestrian tourism operation run in genuine partnership with a Bedouin family native to Wadi Rum.

Astrid, our founder, brings an unusual set of skills to the saddle. A certified horse osteopath and practising human physiotherapist, she approaches horse care and rider comfort with the same clinical rigour she applies in practice. Horse welfare isn’t a marketing point here, it’s the foundation everything is built on. Every rider is matched to the right horse before the trip begins, and the horses are entirely her domain: their training, their condition, their wellbeing. Astrid holds a Certificat du Bien-Être du Cheval from la Cense, France’s leading centre for natural horsemanship, bringing a certified structured approach to horse welfare that goes well beyond industry standard.

Ali, our head guide and horse manager, was born and raised in Wadi Rum. He has spent his life in the desert and knows its paths, its rhythms, and its secrets the way only a local can. He handles the logistic on the ground, communicates with the local community, and makes sure guests feel welcomed and at ease in an unfamiliar environment. He also makes sure you have time to adapt to the horse that was appointed to you.

How We Work

We are not a large-scale operation and we never intend to be. We keep our groups small, our horses well-rested and expertly cared for, and our experiences are tailored to the riders.
Whether you are an experienced equestrian looking for a multi-day desert trail or a beginner stepping into the saddle for the first time in years, we adapt to you, your pace, your abilities, your goals. But adaptation goes both ways. We match the ride to the rider and to the horse, because a gallop that thrills an experienced rider can be the wrong choice for a nervous beginner, and endless trotting with someone who can’t yet absorb the movement does nobody favours, least of all the horse. Comfort and welfare, for both parties, always come first.

Our herd of nine horses are carefully maintained, regularly assessed, and never overworked. Ali and our helpers are experienced, attentive and proud of the place they call home.

We believe ethical horse riding and an extraordinary experience are not in conflict, they go hand in hand.

Wadi Rum Horse Adventures is one of the only equestrian operations in Jordan offering fully guided, small-group horse trekking with a certified horse welfare specialist on the ground.

Our Philosophy: Forage, Freedom, Friends

We believe ethical horse care is built on three core principles. Forage means our horses eat natural diets; quality alfalfa hay supplemented with imported grains and minerals suited to desert living. Freedom gives them space to move, rest and express natural behaviours within the constraints of the desert environment; they’re not confined to stalls. Friends recognises that horses are herd animals; ours live together and form bonds that keep them mentally and physically healthy. This foundation shapes every aspect of how we operate our 3-Hour Rides, Full Day Adventures and 10-Day Trail Rides.

Natural Horsemanship

We use gentle, pressure-based training combined with positive reinforcement, never harsh equipment or immersive techniques that lead to learned helplessness. Our horses are gentled with methods that allow them to express themselves while learning to manage their emotions and trust us. They respond to light cues because they understand them, not because they’ve given up. The result is calm, willing partners who genuinely enjoy their work. You’ll notice the difference the moment you mount, our horses move with confidence because they’re treated with respect from the ground up and never use harsh bits or force.

What We Offer

From half-day rides to our immersive 10-day horse trek across Wadi Rum, every itinerary is designed with both the rider’s experience and the horses’ wellbeing at its core. We offer a range of horse riding experiences in Wadi Rum to suit different timeframes, budgets and riding abilities.

All rides start from Wadi Rum Village and are in the protected area.

Looking for a responsible horse riding holiday in Jordan? You’ve found it!