Full Day Roman Heritage Tour in Jordan Um Qais, Ajloun and Jerash

We head north for around two hours driving to explore the Decapolis city of Um Qais, also known as Gadara. This dramatic black-basalt Roman city sits perched on a ridge, commanding an awe-inspiring view over the Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights, and the Jordan Valley. As you wander through the ancient ruins, you'll encounter well-preserved Roman remains alongside the remnants of a late 19th-century Ottoman village, providing a fascinating glimpse into both ancient and more recent history. Don't miss the opportunity to soak in the atmospheric ambiance of this historic site while marveling at the breathtaking panoramic vistas it offers.

In nearby, we drive 1 hour onward through the Jordan Valley to Ajlun for a tour of the crusader era Saracen Castle built by the armies of Salah ad din. An important strategic fortress, helping to control the area between Damascus and Cairo, and one of the few castles built to defend against the Crusaders. Ajloun is remarkably well preserved and a prime example of Islamic military architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries.

The castle occupies a commanding position on Jebel Auf with views over the countryside. In its heyday it had seven towers and was enclosed by a dry moat 15 metres deep. Inside it is a maze of interlinking rooms and tunnels. Although the castle was destroyed on several occasions by attacking forces and earthquakes, it was rebuilt each time and restoration work is ongoing.

We then head to Jerash with around 30 minutes driving. A Graeco-Roman confederation of ten cities, the Decapolis straddled what is now Jordan and Syria. Jerash is the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city. At its heart is a dramatic colonnaded public space from where cobbled, arcaded streets rutted with the tracks of Roman cartwheels lead past shop fronts and bathhouses to an impressive theatre. At the edge of Jerash is the Temple of Artemis with its exquisitely carved Corinthian capitol. We proceed back to Amman, with just an hour's drive to reach the meeting point in the city.