Private Tour: Desert Castle Tour of Eastern Jordan from Amman

4 Hours

Mobile Ticket

Hotel Pickup Offered

English,French,Spanish

Language Offered

Overview

Discover three of Jordan's famous desert castles on this 4-hour private tour from Amman. With an informative private driver, learn about these fabled castles, built by Umayyad rulers during the 7th and 8th centuries as you visit each one in the desert plains of eastern Jordan. Explore UNESCO-listed Qusayr Amra, famous for its 8th-century frescoes of hedonistic scenes, before continuing to the atmospheric Qasr Kharana and Qasr al-Azraq castles, the latter used as a military base by TE Lawrence, known as 'Lawrence of Arabia,' during World War I.

Half-day desert castles tour of Jordan from Amman with a private driver
Travel deep into the sweeping desert landscapes of eastern Jordan
Hear about the Umayyad dynasty, Roman history and Lawrence of Arabia
Visit UNESCO-listed Qusayr Amra as well as Qasr Kharana and Qasr al-Azraq
Enjoy a flexible itinerary and tailor the experience to your preferences

Inclusions & Exclusions

Departure & Return

What To Expect

After pickup from your central Amman by private, air-conditioned minibus, relax as you journey out of the city and into the desert plains of eastern Jordan. Drive with your friendly informative driver to experience the fascinating desert castles. The region is speckled with 7th and 8th-century castles - many within a 15-minute drive of each other - that were originally built by the caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty as rural retreats and hunting lodges.Hear tales about this powerful dynasty, the first Muslim rulers of the Arab kingdom, including fascinating snippets about their extravagance and debauchery.As you travel, feel free to tell your driver if there's a castle you want to see more of or another castle you'd like to visit, at your own expense. Your tour is private, so the itinerary can be tailored to suit your interests.After about 1 hour on the road, pull up at UNESCO-listed Qusayr Amra, one of east Jordan's most famous castles. Once a hunting palace of the Umayyads, this splendidly restored edifice is graced with 8th-century frescoes showing decadent scenes of nude women, wine and parties.When you feel peckish, get tips from your driver as to local restaurants, and take a break for lunch (own expense), before traveling onward to Qasr Kharana, an imperious 2-level fortress standing in a huge plain.Thought to have been built on Roman foundations, this evocative castle exudes intrigue and displays a rich array of Mesopotamian, Arabic and Greek architectural influences.Finally, head for Qasr al-Azraq, originally an Umayyad hunting retreat and once used as a headquarters by TE Lawrence, the 20th-century British soldier and Arab Revolt leader perhaps more famously known as 'Lawrence of Arabia.' Wander around the sun-burnished courtyards, towers and mosque and learn how Lawrence based his operations here during 1917 to 1918.After exploring here, relax on your ride back to Amman where your experience finishes with a hotel drop-off.

Private Tour: Desert Castle Tour of Eastern Jordan from Amman

Inclusions & Exclusions

Departure & Return

What To Expect

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

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