Match-ups
Merzouga vs Wadi Rum
For: Desert trips
Orange dunes against red canyons. Both have camps with blankets, stars and very sweet tea.
Merzouga1Wadi Rum2
7 rounds. Numbers come with their sources under each round; the scores out of 5 are our own take. Draws count for no one.
Round 1
Getting there
Average return fare from London (Kayak), with flight times
Merzougano source foundno non-stop from London, no non-stop from Dubai.
Wadi Rumno source foundno non-stop from London, no non-stop from Dubai. Average return fare: AED 2,353 (to AQJ)
Not enough sourced fares to call it.
Merzouga is far: about 8–10 hours by road from Marrakech, or a flight to Errachidia. Wadi Rum is about an hour from Aqaba.
Sources
kayak.co.ukkayak.aeChecked 2026-11-14.
Round 2
Cost of a day
Average spend per traveller per day (budgetyourtrip.com), in US dollars
MerzougaUS$ 23 a day
Wadi Rumno source found
We found no sourced daily cost for every place, so no winner here yet.
Sources
budgetyourtrip.comChecked 2026-11-14.
Round 3
Weather
Average daytime high, °C
MerzougaErrachidia, nearest stationJan15.9°Apr26.1°Jul39.5°Oct26.8°
Wadi RumAqaba, nearest station; Wadi Rum is higher and a little coolerJan20.9°Apr31.7°Jul41.3°Oct34°
Both are for October to April. Summer days are very hot in both.
Sources
en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.orgChecked 2026-11-14.
Round 4
Visa
For UK, EU and US passports; check yours on the official page
MerzougaNo visa for UK, EU and US passports, up to 90 days
Wadi RumVisa on arrival (40 JOD), or the Jordan Pass, which also covers Petra
Merzouga: the easiest door.
Sources
gov.ukgov.ukChecked 2026-11-14.
Round 5
The landscape
Our take, scored out of 5
Merzouga5 / 5Erg Chebbi: tall sand dunes, camels at sunset
Wadi Rum5 / 5Sandstone and granite mountains, arches and canyons, red sand
A draw: dunes or rock, it's your taste.
Round 6
Combined with
Our take, scored out of 5
Merzouga4 / 5The kasbahs of Ouarzazate, the Todra and Dades gorges on the way
Wadi Rum5 / 5Petra, about 2 hours away, and the Dead Sea
Wadi Rum: Petra next door is hard to beat.
Round 7
Getting there
Our take, scored out of 5
Merzouga2 / 5A long road trip, or a 3-day tour from Marrakech
Wadi Rum4 / 5Short transfer from Aqaba or Petra
Wadi Rum is much easier to reach.
The verdict
Wadi Rum is easier and has Petra. Merzouga has the real sea of sand and the road through the Atlas to get there, which is half the trip.
Merzouga1Wadi Rum2
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