“This natural stone arch arcs across the sky high on a Wadi Rum mountain, and the scramble up to stand on it is not for the faint-hearted.”
About Burdah Rock Bridge
Burdah Rock Bridge formed through the slow erosion of Wadi Rum's sandstone over geological time, leaving a high natural arch. Such formations are part of the desert's dramatic, wind-sculpted landscape, long traversed by Bedouin and now a magnet for adventurous visitors. The arch is one of the signature natural wonders that contribute to Wadi Rum's protected status.
Burdah Rock Bridge
The Burdah Rock Bridge is one of the highest natural rock arches in Wadi Rum and among the most spectacular in the world, a slender span of sandstone arcing across the sky high on a mountainside. Reaching it involves a scramble up the rock, and standing on or beneath the arch, with the vast desert spread out far below, is a thrilling highlight of the Jordanian desert.
The Burdah Rock Bridge is one of the highest natural rock arches in Wadi Rum and among the most spectacular in the world, a slender span of sandstone arcing across the sky high on a mountainside.
A Bridge of Stone in the Sky
Burdah is a natural arch, carved over countless ages by wind and water eroding the soft sandstone until a bridge of rock was left spanning the gap, perched dozens of metres above the surrounding terrain. It is one of several famous rock bridges in Wadi Rum, but its height and dramatic position make it the most celebrated. A guided scramble, requiring a head for heights, leads up to a viewpoint on the arch itself.
The Experience
You take a jeep to the base, then scramble up the rock with a Bedouin guide, a moderately challenging climb that needs reasonable fitness and a tolerance for exposure, until you reach the arch high on the mountainside. Standing on or by the bridge, with the red desert and distant peaks stretching to the horizon, is exhilarating. The descent and the desert drive complete a memorable adventure.
Why It Matters
Burdah Rock Bridge is one of the most iconic natural features of Wadi Rum, embodying the desert's spectacular, otherworldly geology. As a highlight for adventurous travellers, it showcases the landscapes that have drawn explorers, filmmakers and now visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage desert.
Burdah Rock Bridge is one of the most iconic natural features of Wadi Rum, embodying the desert's spectacular, otherworldly geology.
Why Visit
One of the world's highest natural rock arches, a dramatic Wadi Rum scramble to a sky-high sandstone bridge with vast desert views.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
A guided scramble is needed; it requires fitness and a head for heights.
- 2
Climb in the cooler morning or late afternoon, not midday heat.
- 3
It is one of the highest natural arches in Wadi Rum.
- 4
Combine it with a wider jeep tour of the desert.
