Umm Qais, Jerash, Ajloun Castle Tour
Umm Qais, Jerash, Ajloun Castle Tour
If you would like to visit Jerash, Ajloun Castle and Umm Qais all in one day then you can hire a taxi for the day and this will cost you around 70JD (around €90). If you just want to go to Jerash and Ajloun Castle as Umm Qais is quite a long drive from Amman then this will cost around 55JD (around €70).
Jett Bus offers a tour from Amman going to Jerash and Ajloun Castle for 15JD (around €20) every Thursday and Saturday which is a cheaper option but you could potentially be with a big bus load of tourists and will have a limited time at each location and you would miss out on the chance to visit Umm Qais.
Jerash
The ancient city of Jerash is a huge site which has been occupied by humans for over 6,500 years. In 63BC it was conquered by General Pompey and was one of the ten great Roman cities of the Decapolis League. Nowadays, Jerash is thought to be one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world – and a must see!
As you walk around this magnificent archaeological site you can see panoramic views of Jerash from the north and south theatres which hold regular performances from someone playing the bagpipes! You can also wander along the original stones of the streets that paved Jerash which still have the ruts worn by chariots visible. Perhaps the most spectacular part of Jerash is the oval plaza which measures 90mx80m and is surrounded by columns and truly makes you feel as though you have stepped back in time to the Roman era.
It is located 45 km north of Amman and is really easy to get to whether you would like to drive, take the bus or grab a taxi to get here. If you have the time, Jerash is really worth a visit.
Ajloun Castle
Ajloun Castle was built in the 12th century under the rule of the sultan Saladin. It is located right on top of Mount Auf and overlooks the historic town of Ajloun below. Although the castle has undergone many rebuilds and many of its original features no longer exist the castle has a small museum with information about the castle and a number of artefacts you can view as well as mosaics and interesting mediaeval weaponry on display.
The castle boasts incredible views from the top, you can see panoramic views over the Jordan Valley as well as being able to see into The West Bank in Palestine. These views make the trip well worth the visit.
It is located 50 km from Amman which is about 90 minutes by car or a 40 minute journey from Jerash if you choose to combine these two into one trip.
Umm Qais
Very few tourists make it this far up north in Jordan and if you are one for escaping a crowd and seeing some ancient ruins then you will love Umm Qais. It is located 68 miles from Amman and takes 2 hours to drive here so if you are short for time this place might be a bit time consuming to complete but it really is worth the journey up north!
This ancient city was built from this beautiful black basalt stone which can be seen in the Northern and Western ancient theatres, the main street, the path of Nymphs, church square, balcony, royal cemetery and the Tiberias Gate.
On this ancient site you can also explore the underground water tunnels, an Ottoman village, a Byzantine bath complex, and visit the museum and visitor centre.
The most incredible thing about this place though is the breathtaking views over 4 different territories: Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. There are plaques all over the site indicating what territories you can see in front of you and how far away they are located as well as viewpoints to take panoramic photos.
Read more: Jordan: The Ultimate Travel Guide
