A narrow canyon in the southern part of Wadi Rum that surprises visitors with an unexpected splash of green. Where water seeps through the rock, hardy plants cling to the walls, creating a vivid contrast of red sandstone and bright vegetation that looks almost tropical.
The canyon requires some scrambling to explore — there are sections where you need to chimney between the walls or pull yourself over boulders — and a guide is essential. The route is not long, perhaps an hour or two round trip, but the difficulty varies with recent rainfall. After winter rains, pools of water collect on the canyon floor and the greenery is at its most lush.
Abu Khashaba is not on the standard tourist map and sees far fewer visitors than Khazali or the rock bridges. If you have done the usual half-day tour and want to see something different, ask your guide about this one. The canyon is centrally located in the protected area but feels remote and wild.