Amman Desert Castles Tour: Three Umayyad Palaces & Roman Theater

Three desert castles built on centuries of conquest, from Umayyad hunting palaces to Lawrence of Arabia's wartime headquarters.

A private full-day tour from Amman visits the Roman amphitheater and Citadel in the city, then travels east to three Umayyad-era desert castles: Amra Palace, a UNESCO-listed hunting retreat; Kharana Castle, a two-level fortress on a vast plain; and Azraq Castle, where T.E. Lawrence based operations during 1917–1918. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an English-speaking guide and driver.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. King Abdullah Mosque30m
2. Amman Citadel30m
3. Amra Castle45m
4. Kharana Castle45m
5. Azraq Castle45m

Full day tour of Amman and Desert Castles

• Drive to King Abdullah Mosque
• Visit Amman Roman Theater ruins
• Visit Amman Citadel and Omayyad Palace
• Drive to Quseir Amra Castle
• Visit Qasr Al-Kharanah fortress
• Explore Qasr Al-Azraq castle
• Return to Amman hotel

The experience

The tour opens in Amman itself, starting at the King Abdullah Mosque before moving downtown to the Roman theater (a 6,000-seat amphitheater carved into the hillside), and then climbing to the Citadel and the remains of the Omayyad Palace. From there, the route turns east into the desert, where the three castles lie scattered across the steppe, each one a different chapter of the region's past.

Amra Castle, also called Quseir Amra, sits about an hour's drive from the city and is the first major stop. Built as a Umayyad hunting palace, it carries UNESCO recognition and stands as one of the desert's most intact examples of early Islamic architecture. Kharana Castle comes next: a two-level fortress rising from a huge plain, thought to rest on Roman foundations and displaying a blend of Mesopotamian, Arabic, and Greek design. The final stop is Azraq Castle, the largest of the three, where the black basalt walls still stand after centuries. This was Lawrence of Arabia's headquarters during the Arab Revolt of 1917–1918, and the site preserves the courtyards, towers, and mosque where he coordinated operations.

The tour runs eight to nine hours total and is private: only your group travels. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, and the vehicle carries bottled water throughout. You can book transportation alone or add entrance tickets to all three castles at checkout. An English-speaking guide accompanies groups of seven or more. Smaller groups travel with the English-speaking driver.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking driver.
• English-speaking guide for groups of seven or more.
• bottled water in the vehicle.
• WiFi on board.
• entrance tickets to all three castles if the Transportation & Entrance Fees option is selected at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Transportation OnlyGuide in English · 08:00This tour includes transportation by car and minivan only. Pickup is included.

Transportation and Entrance FeesGuide in English · 08:00Entrance fees to sites and transportation by car or minivan are included in this tour. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bridge Travel

Is this one for you?Book the Transportation & Entrance Fees option if you want entry to all three castles included in one price. Choose Transportation Only if you prefer to buy tickets at each site or skip any castle. The private format means no other travelers join your group, and the eight- to nine-hour span fits the desert castles and Amman's city center into a single day without a second trip.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is inside Amra Castle that makes it UNESCO-listed?

Amra Castle, or Quseir Amra, is a Umayyad hunting palace from the early Islamic period, recognized for its architectural and historical significance as one of the desert's best-preserved examples of that era's design and construction.

Did Lawrence of Arabia really use Azraq Castle as his base?

Azraq Castle served as T.E. Lawrence's headquarters during 1917–1918 while he coordinated the Arab Revolt. The site's courtyards, towers, and mosque remain intact, and visitors can walk through the spaces where he operated.

How far is each desert castle from Amman?

Amra Castle lies about an hour's drive east of the city. Kharana and Azraq castles continue further into the desert, with the full route covering the three sites across the day's journey.

Is the Roman theater in Amman still used today?

The Roman amphitheater downtown is an ancient ruin carved into the hillside, seating 6,000 in its original form. It stands as a monument to Amman's Roman past and is a stop on the tour's city portion.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the tour?

The tour requires good weather to operate. If poor weather forces a cancellation, the operator offers either a different date or a full refund.