Desert Castles & Azraq Oasis
Umayyad palaces in the eastern desert
- 7–8 hours
- Azraq Oasis, Desert Castles, Umm al-Jimal
- Duration
- 7–8 hours
- Start
- Pick-up 8:30
- Group
- Private
- Guide languages
- English, Arabic
Highlights
- Frescoes of Qusayr Amra
- Qasr Kharana
- Qasr al-Azraq
- Azraq Wetland Reserve boardwalk
About this experience
East of Amman the land flattens into the Badia, the stony desert crossed for centuries by caravans. The Umayyads built their retreats here: Qasr Kharana with its two storeys of rooms around a courtyard, and Qusayr Amra, a bathhouse painted with hunters, musicians and the night sky.
At Azraq, the black-basalt castle was Lawrence of Arabia's winter headquarters, and the wetland reserve shows how the oasis once looked. Lunch is in Azraq, known for its Druze and Chechen communities' home cooking.
Itinerary
-
08:30
Pick-up in Amman
-
09:30
Qasr Kharana
-
10:30
Qusayr Amra
Frescoes and the zodiac dome.
-
11:45
Qasr al-Azraq
The stone door and Lawrence's room.
-
12:45
Lunch in Azraq
-
14:00
Wetland reserve
Boardwalk and bird hide.
-
16:00
Back in Amman
Times are a guide – on a private tour you can change the pace and the order.
Guides and meals described above are included only when “What's included” lists them; otherwise you can add them under “Add to your booking”.
PDFDownload the full programme
The detailed day-by-day programme with approximate timings, plus a guide to every place you will visit and useful travel tips – ready to print or share.
What's included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for your group only
- Professional English- or Arabic-speaking driver
- Bottled water and Wi-Fi in the vehicle
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Fuel, parking and road tolls
What's not included
- Licensed guide – add one under “Add to your booking”
- Lunch – add it under “Add to your booking” (drinks not included)
- Entrance fees (free with the Jordan Pass – see notes)
- Tips for driver and guide (optional)
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
What to bring
- Passport or ID (needed at checkpoints and some sites)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- A light jacket from November to March
- Cash in Jordanian dinars for small purchases and tips
Good to know
- Buy the Jordan Pass online before you travel: it covers Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash and more than 40 other sites, and, for eligible visitors, waives the tourist visa fee if you stay at least 2 consecutive nights (3 days).
- This is a private tour: the time at each stop is flexible and you can change the order on the day.
Places you visit
Questions travellers ask
Is the price per person or per group?
Not per person: the price is for your private car with driver, for your group only – choose the vehicle that fits your group. Add-ons such as tickets, guides and meals are priced as shown next to each one, and the total updates live as you choose.
Can I change the pick-up time?
Yes. We suggest a time that avoids the heat and the crowds, and you can adjust it after booking by message or WhatsApp.
How do I pay?
Choose your payment method at checkout. You will receive an instant booking email, and our team confirms your driver (and guide, if you added one) within a few hours.
Cancellation policy
Day tours, activities, transfers and private services
- Up to 48 hours before the start Free – full refund
- Less than 48 hours before the start 50% of the booking price
- No-show 100% of the booking price