Amman, Madaba & Mount Nebo tour: Ancient sites and mosaics

Seven hours across three sacred and ancient sites, from Amman's markets to Moses' mountain

A full-day tour of Amman, Madaba and Mount Nebo combines the Jordanian capital's Downtown markets, Roman ruins and Citadel with the Byzantine mosaics of Madaba and the biblical summit of Mount Nebo overlooking the Jordan River Valley. A driver picks you up from your hotel, handles all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and returns you at day's end. Entry fees are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Downtown Amman2h
2. Roman Theater of Amman1h
3. Mount Nebo1h

Explore Amman, Madaba, and Mount Nebo

• Explore Downtown Amman markets and cafes
• Visit King Abdullah Mosque and Roman Amphitheatre
• See Odeon and Roman Nymphaeum
• Tour Amman Citadel and Temple of Hercules
• Visit Umayyad Palace and Byzantine Church
• Explore Jordan Archaeological Museum
• Discover Madaba mosaics and St. John the Baptist Church
• Ascend Mount Nebo and view Holy Land
• Return to hotel in Amman or Dead Sea

The experience

The day starts in Amman's Downtown, Al-Balad, where the Citadel, Roman Amphitheatre, Roman Nymphaeum and Umayyad Monumental Gateway stand among traditional markets, cafes and bazaars. You walk through these sites at your own pace, moving between the 2nd-century Roman Amphitheatre (a 5,000-seat theatre and the most impressive relic of ancient Philadelphia), and the Citadel perched 850 meters above the city on Jebel Al-Qala'a. The Citadel itself holds the Temple of Hercules, one of the Middle East's best-preserved Roman temples, the Umayyad Palace with its mosaics and carvings, and a 6th-century Byzantine Church. The King Abdullah Mosque, recognizable by its blue dome, and the smaller Odeon theatre round out Amman's stops.

From Amman, the route heads to Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics. The centerpiece is the 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (the oldest preserved mosaic depiction of the region) alongside Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics in other ancient churches. The St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, built in the 19th century, blends Romanesque and Byzantine styles and stands as part of Madaba's Christian heritage.

The final stop is Mount Nebo, where Prophet Moses was first granted a view of the Promised Land and is said to have died. From the summit, the panoramic view stretches across the Jordan River Valley and the Holy Land. The return journey to your hotel or the Dead Sea closes the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Amman or the Dead Sea.
• air-conditioned private transportation.
• bottled water on board.
• WiFi on board.
• English-speaking driver. Entry fees to the sites are optional and selected at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Transportation OnlyUp to 9 per booking · Guide in English or Arabic · No fixed timeEntrance fees are not part of the tour package. Local guides are not included, though you can hire one at each site. This is a private tour with transportation only, lasting 8 hours. Bottled water is available onboard. The Jordan Pass is recommended for this option, as it gives discounted advance entry and access to other Jordanian attractions. Vehicles range from economy sedans to larger vans to suit different needs. Amenities such as bottled water, Wi-Fi, and phone charging are available during the ride. Pickup is included.

With Entry FeesUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English or Arabic · No fixed timeEntrance fees are included in the tour package. Local guides are not included, though you can hire one at each site. This is a private tour with private transportation, lasting 8 hours. Bottled water is available onboard. Vehicles range from economy sedans to larger vans to meet different needs. Amenities such as bottled water, Wi-Fi, and phone charging are available during the ride. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendly

Operated by R&H VIP Transportation Services

Is this one for you?Choose the option with entry fees included if you want to walk inside the Citadel, the Roman Amphitheatre, Madaba's churches and Mount Nebo without stopping to buy tickets at each site. The transportation-only option works if you prefer to arrange entry separately or visit only the exteriors.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What is the Roman Amphitheatre in Amman like when you visit it?

The Roman Amphitheatre is a 2nd-century theatre with 5,000 seats, the most impressive surviving relic of ancient Philadelphia. It stands in Downtown Amman and is one of the tour's main stops. You explore it as part of the morning in the capital.

Can you walk around the Amman Citadel, or is it mostly viewing from a distance?

The Amman Citadel sits atop Jebel Al-Qala'a and you visit and explore its sites during the tour. The complex includes the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace, a Byzantine Church, and the Jordan Archaeological Museum, all accessible on the hilltop.

What makes Madaba worth a stop on this tour?

Madaba is known as the City of Mosaics, and the tour includes the famous 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (the oldest preserved mosaic depiction of the region) plus Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics in other churches.

What can you see from Mount Nebo?

Mount Nebo offers a panoramic view of the Jordan River Valley and the Holy Land from its summit. The site is a significant Judeo-Christian pilgrimage location where Prophet Moses was first granted a view of the Promised Land.

How does the tour handle getting between Amman, Madaba and Mount Nebo?

An English-speaking driver provides all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, picking you up from your hotel and returning you at the end of the day. The seven to eight hour itinerary includes travel time between the three locations.