The rooms in Jordan
Medaina Festival, Petra and Wadi Rum
Medaina is an electronic music festival across two of Jordan's landscapes: Petra, opening at Little Petra, and the red desert of Wadi Rum.
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is a protected desert in southern Jordan: a place to hear silence and, at some camps, evening music. Not a named, bookable venue.
Planning a trip
Hearing music in Jordan
Medaina is the organised option. Its first edition ran 21 to 26 May 2025, opening at Little Petra and moving to Wadi Rum, with about 1,500 people, deep house and techno, and sleeping in bubble hotels or glamping camps. The latest confirmed edition was that one. No 2026 edition or dates had been found when this was researched, so check the organiser's site before planning around it. Wadi Rum is the open-ended option. There is no programme, and any evening music, such as oud, rebab or singing, is arranged by the camp you book, so ask before you go.
For the desert alone, spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the comfortable seasons. Summer is very hot, and winter nights are cold, with the silence at its sharpest. Stay two nights rather than one.
For Wadi Rum, fly to Aqaba (AQJ), about an hour from the desert by road, or Amman (AMM), four to five hours away. The visitor centre at Wadi Rum Village is the entry point, with a 4WD transfer from there; pre-booked camps include it. For Petra, Queen Alia near Amman is three to three and a half hours away, and Aqaba about two. Petra to Wadi Rum is 100 to 110 km, so treat it as a half-day move.
FAQ
Questions people ask
When is the Medaina festival in Petra and Wadi Rum?
The latest confirmed edition ran 21 to 26 May 2025. No 2026 dates had been found when this was researched, and the organiser's site only invites visitors to subscribe for news. Check tithorea.com before planning.
What is the best time to hear music in Wadi Rum?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the comfortable months. There is no fixed programme. Any evening music is informal and arranged by your camp, so ask which nights it plays.
How do you get from Petra to Wadi Rum?
It is 100 to 110 km, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, and best treated as a half-day move. Once there, you need a jeep to get around inside Wadi Rum.