Full-Day Private Tour to Black Desert, Azraq Oasis and Desert Castles

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Your journey begins with a warm welcome and a short introduction to the day’s adventure. Before leaving Amman, we can make a quick stop at Starbucks so you can pick up your favourite coffee if you wish. From there, we head east toward the desert on a comfortable 1-hour drive (about 95 km) from Amman to our first destination, Quseir Amra. You will travel in a luxury vehicle equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing you to relax while sipping your coffee and enjoying a selection of snacks. Complimentary water and soft drinks are provided, and phone chargers are available for your convenience.

   Passes by

2. Qusayr Amra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous and best-preserved monuments from the Umayyad period. This small desert palace is celebrated for its extraordinary frescoes that cover the walls and ceilings. The vibrant paintings depict royal hunting scenes, musicians, zodiac symbols, and even portraits of rulers from different parts of the world. The complex also includes a bathhouse with cold, warm, and hot rooms, as well as an ingenious water system that once supplied the baths. After exploring the site, you may enjoy a relaxing coffee or tea break at the traditional Bedouin tent beside the visitor centre.

   40 minAdmission included

3. Next we visit the beautiful Azraq Wetland Reserve, a unique oasis located near the historic town of Azraq in the heart of the Eastern Desert. The reserve is a haven of biodiversity and an important habitat for numerous aquatic and terrestrial species, including the Azraq killifish, the only vertebrate species endemic to Jordan. Here we will walk the 1.5 km (1 mile) Marsh Trail, which usually takes about 30–40 minutes to complete. The path follows natural tracks originally created by water buffalo that still roam through the wetlands. Along the trail you can also see the remains of a basalt wall dating to the Umayyad period. During our visit we will observe birds from a hide and feed the fish in the clear springs. The visitor centre also features a small museum, picnic area, and restroom facilities.

   1 hAdmission included

4. Our journey continues to the impressive basalt fortress of Qasr Azraq, located near the oasis town of Azraq. Originally used by the Romans for military purposes, the castle later became an important strategic base controlling desert trade routes. During the Arab Revolt, it served as headquarters for T. E. Lawrence, who later described his experiences here in his famous book Seven Pillars of Wisdom. You will have the opportunity to explore the fortress and see the room where Lawrence stayed.

   40 minAdmission included

5. One of the hidden highlights of eastern Jordan is Qasr Usaykhim, located about 22 km (14 miles) north of Azraq. We will drive off-road to reach this dramatic hilltop fort. A short but rewarding climb brings us to the ruins, where you will enjoy sweeping views across the surrounding Black Desert. A large stone arch at the site creates a perfect natural frame for photographs with the vast volcanic landscape stretching behind.

   30 minAdmission included

6. Next is a beautifully restored bath complex of Hammam As‑Sarah. Built during the Umayyad period, likely under the reign of Caliph Al-Walid I, this elegant limestone structure functioned as a royal bathhouse similar to the one at Qusayr Amra. The complex includes an audience hall, a bath suite, and an advanced water supply system. Despite its relatively small size, the building provides a fascinating insight into early Islamic architecture and daily life.

   15 minAdmission included

7. Our final stop is the impressive complex of Qasr Al‑Hallabat. Originally built as a Roman fort protecting the important trade route known as the Via Nova Trajana, the site was later transformed by the Umayyads into a large palace complex with defensive walls, towers, a mosque, and residential quarters. Today visitors can admire beautifully restored stone structures, intricate mosaics, and early Islamic architectural details that illustrate the transition from Roman to Islamic culture in the region.

   30 minAdmission included

8. After a full day exploring the Desert Castles and the dramatic landscapes of Jordan’s eastern desert, we will drive comfortably back through Zarqa to Amman, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or residence. You will return with a deeper understanding of the Umayyad era and unforgettable memories of these remarkable desert monuments scattered across Jordan’s vast desert landscape.

   Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 15 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Amman

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 1292 experiences we list in Amman.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 218 of 1292.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Amman

Amman, Jordan's capital, spreads across a series of hills, with Roman ruins, crowded downtown souks and a warm welcome at the start of any Jordan journey.

The Amman Citadel crowns Jabal al-Qal'a with the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace and sweeping views over the city. Below, the Roman Theatre, carved into the hillside, seats thousands, and the downtown souks around the Grand Husseini Mosque sell spices, gold and sweets, with the scent of coffee and cardamom in the air.

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

See all 1292 experiences in Amman