The trek to Burdah Rock Bridge is the most demanding hike most visitors will attempt in Wadi Rum, and it is magnificent. The bridge sits high on the ridge of Jabal Burdah in the southern part of the protected area, about 15 kilometres from the village.
The route takes two to three hours each way and involves genuine scrambling over exposed rock — this is not a walk, it is a climb, and you need a Bedouin guide. The final approach to the bridge involves pulling yourself up rock ledges with the desert floor far below. Heights-averse visitors should know what they are signing up for.
The bridge itself is breathtaking. A massive natural arch spans a gap between two rock faces, and standing on top of it — with nothing between you and the valley floor — is an experience that stays with you. On a clear day, you can see deep into Saudi Arabia. The descent is harder than the ascent because you can see what you are climbing down. Allow a full day for the round trip, bring plenty of water, and do not attempt it in summer heat.