Cave of the Seven Sleepers and Amman Islamic Sites Tour

Four Islamic landmarks and a Qur'anic cave in one morning or afternoon

A guided tour from Amman to the Cave of the Seven Sleepers (a site mentioned in the Qur'an where, according to Islamic tradition, young believers were preserved in sleep for 300 years), then to four mosques in the city: the King Abdullah Mosque with its ornate interior and Islamic Museum, the Grand Husseini Mosque rebuilt in 1924, the Abu Darwish Mosque with its striking black-and-white stone facade, and the Blue Mosque, which welcomes non-Muslim visitors. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cave and Amman Islamic Sites

• Drive 20 minutes to Cave of the Seven Sleepers
• Explore Byzantine and Roman ruins at the cave
• Visit Grand Husseini Mosque in Amman
• See Abu Darwish Mosque on Jabal al-Ashrafiyeh hill
• Tour King Abdullah Mosque and Islamic Museum

The experience

The Cave of the Seven Sleepers sits 10 km east of Amman, outside the village of Al-Raqim. According to the Qur'an's Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18), a group of young believers fled persecution under Trajan and took refuge in the cave. Islamic tradition holds that God put them to sleep to preserve them, and when they woke 300 years later, they believed only a day had passed. Byzantine and Roman ruins still stand at the site, along with a mosque built to match the Qur'anic description. The drive from Amman takes about 20 minutes.

Back in the city, the tour visits the King Abdullah Mosque, the "Blue Mosque", built between 1982 and 1989 as a memorial to King Abdullah I. Its octagonal prayer hall sits beneath a dome and can hold up to 3,000 worshippers. The courtyard accommodates another 7,000. The interior features ornate Islamic art, chandeliers and Quranic inscriptions. Unlike most mosques in Amman, this one has an open-door policy for non-Muslim visitors, and the complex includes a small Islamic Museum and a library with over 20,000 books.

The Grand Husseini Mosque, one of Amman's oldest, was originally built in 640 AD on the site of a former Byzantine basilica. The current Ottoman-style structure dates to 1924, when King Abdullah I rebuilt it and named it after his father, Sharif Hussein bin Ali, leader of the Great Arab Revolt. The Abu Darwish Mosque, built in 1961 atop Jabal al-Ashrafiyeh, stands out for its alternating black-and-white stone facade: a design drawing from traditional Levantine architecture with Mamluk and Ottoman influences. From its hilltop location, the mosque offers panoramic views across the city.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• on-board Wi-Fi.
• fuel surcharge.

Options for this experience

2 options

Starts from Amman CityGuide in English or Arabic · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Entry fees are not part of the tour package. Local guides are not included, though you can hire one at each site. Private tour with door-to-door pickup and drop-off, lasting 5 hours. Bottled water is available onboard. We offer vehicles from economy sedans to larger vans to suit different needs. We recommend buying the Jordan Pass in advance for discounted entry and access to other Jordanian attractions. Pickup is included.

Starts from the Dead SeaGuide in English or Arabic · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Entry fees are not included. Local guides are not included, though you can hire one at each site. We offer vehicles from economy sedans to larger vans to suit different needs. Duration: 6 hours. Bottled water is provided onboard. Private tour with door-to-door pickup and drop-off, in a normal sedan or mini-van. We recommend buying the Jordan Pass in advance for discounted entry and access to other Jordanian attractions. 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 day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to4h before

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendly

Operated by R&H VIP Transportation Services

Is this one for you?Choose the Amman City start if you're based in the capital and want to combine the cave with the mosques in a single outing. Pick the Dead Sea start if you're staying there and prefer to add these sites to your morning or afternoon. The tour runs 3 to 5 hours depending on your pace at each stop and which option you select.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What is the Cave of the Seven Sleepers and why is it important in Islam?

The Cave of the Seven Sleepers, located 10 km east of Amman, is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf of the Qur'an. Islamic tradition holds that a group of young believers fled religious persecution and took refuge in the cave, where God put them to sleep for 300 years to preserve them. When they woke, they believed only a day had passed. Byzantine and Roman ruins and a mosque still stand at the site.

Can non-Muslims visit the mosques on this tour?

The King Abdullah Mosque, also called the Blue Mosque, has an open-door policy and welcomes non-Muslim visitors to learn about Islamic worship and culture. It is one of the few mosques in Amman that offers this service. Access policies at the other mosques may vary.

What makes the Abu Darwish Mosque visually distinctive?

The Abu Darwish Mosque is known for its striking black-and-white striped facade, made from alternating courses of black and white stone. Built in 1961 on top of Jabal al-Ashrafiyeh, one of Amman's highest hills, the design draws from traditional Levantine architecture with influences from the Mamluk and Ottoman eras, and the hilltop location offers panoramic views of the city.

How old is the Grand Husseini Mosque?

The original mosque on the site was built in 640 AD by Omar ibn Al-Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam, likely on the site of a former Byzantine basilica. The current Ottoman-style mosque was rebuilt in 1924 by King Abdullah I and named in honor of his father, Sharif Hussein bin Ali.

What does the King Abdullah Mosque include besides the prayer hall?

The King Abdullah Mosque complex includes a small Islamic Museum and a library holding over 20,000 books. The octagonal prayer hall beneath its dome can accommodate up to 3,000 worshippers, with the courtyard holding an additional 7,000.