Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal

Highlights

Leistungen

Ablauf

1. Your journey begins with pickup from your hotel or residence in Amman, followed by a brief introduction and expedition overview. If you wish, we can make a short stop at Starbucks to pick up your favourite coffee before heading into the desert. We then travel north in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle equipped with Wi-Fi and phone chargers. Sit back and enjoy your coffee and selected snacks as we leave the city behind and enter Jordan’s remote landscapes. Complimentary bottled water and soft drinks are provided throughout the journey. The drive to our first stop takes approximately 2 hours (150 km).

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2. Our first stop is Qasr Deir Al-Kahaf, a remote Roman-era outpost dating to the 4th century AD. Often referred to as the “Monastery of the Caves,” this atmospheric site once served as a frontier station overlooking the surrounding desert. Although only parts of the structure remain, the location itself—isolated and windswept—offers a powerful introduction to the region’s ancient past and sets the tone for the expedition ahead.

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3. We continue deeper into the high desert to the little-known site of Deir Al-Kinn, perched at an elevation of over 1,100 meters. Hidden within a rugged landscape, the remains here are sparse yet evocative—fragments of walls and stone foundations that hint at long-forgotten activity. The journey itself is part of the experience, with sweeping views across the basalt plains and a sense of true remoteness rarely found in Jordan.

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4. The highlight of the expedition is the extraordinary site of Jawa, one of the oldest known planned settlements in the region, dating back to the late 4th millennium BC. Located in the heart of the Black Desert, Jawa is a remarkable example of early human ingenuity. Here you will discover the remains of one of the world’s earliest dam and water management systems—an advanced network designed to control seasonal floods and sustain life in an otherwise harsh environment. The ruins reveal traces of a once-fortified town, complete with walls, reservoirs, and settlement structures. Despite ongoing research, many aspects of Jawa remain a mystery, adding to its intrigue and significance.

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5. Our final major stop is Umm El-Jimal, a vast and beautifully preserved settlement built entirely from black basalt stone. This “Black Oasis” flourished from the Nabataean through the Byzantine and early Islamic periods before being largely abandoned after an earthquake in 749 AD. Walking through its quiet streets, you will encounter towering multi-storey structures, ancient homes, churches, and courtyards—many remarkably intact after centuries of abandonment. The site offers a unique and immersive glimpse into life on the edge of the desert.

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6. After a full day of exploration, we begin our return journey to Amman. You will be dropped off at your hotel or preferred location, concluding a truly unique expedition through some of Jordan’s most remote and historically significant landscapes.

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Stornierung

Kostenlose Stornierung bis 24 Stunden vor Beginn, mit voller Rückerstattung.

Bewertungen

Die Bewertungen stammen aus 1 Rezensionen, die unser Buchungspartner gesammelt hat. Es sind die eigenen Worte der Reisenden, in der Reihenfolge ihres Entstehens — nie umsortiert, damit das Erlebnis besser dasteht.

Gut zu wissen

How it compares in Amman

• Its from-price is 60% above the median of the 1292 experiences we list in Amman.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 821 of 1292.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Amman

Amman, Jordaniens Hauptstadt, breitet sich über Hügel aus: römische Ruinen, belebte Souks und ein herzlicher Auftakt jeder Jordanienreise.

Die Zitadelle von Amman krönt den Jabal al-Qal'a mit dem Herkulestempel, dem Umayyadenpalast und weiten Ausblicken über die Stadt. Darunter bietet das in den Hang gehauene Römische Theater Platz für Tausende, und die Souks in der Innenstadt rund um die Große Husseini-Moschee verkaufen Gewürze, Gold und Süßes, mit dem Duft von Kaffee und Kardamom in der Luft.

Top-ranked sights in Amman: Petra, Jerash (Gerasa), Ajloun Castle.

See all 1292 experiences in Amman