Full Day History Tour to Jerash and Ajloun Castle

See three centuries of history in one day across northern Jordan

A full-day guided tour covers Jerash, the ancient Greco-Roman city nicknamed the Pompeii of the East, plus the 12th-century Ajloun Castle built by Saladin's forces and a walk through the surrounding mountain forests. A professional English-speaking guide leads all three stops, with hotel pickup, meals and an air-conditioned vehicle included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Jerash, Ajloun Castle, and Forests

• Gather at meeting point
• Visit Jerash ancient ruins
• Tour Ajloun Castle and museum
• Walk through Ajloun forests

The experience

What can you fit into one day in Jordan? This tour stacks three distinct historical layers into a single itinerary: the Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash, the medieval Islamic fortress of Ajloun Castle, and the natural landscape that frames them both. You start with pickup from your hotel, then head north to Jerash, where the guide walks you through the ancient city's major sites. Founded around 7500 BC and flourishing under Greek, Roman, and Byzantine rule before an earthquake in 749 AD largely destroyed it, Jerash today preserves enough of its original layout and structures that archaeologists call it the Pompeii of the East. The guide handles the history. You walk the colonnaded streets and see how the city was built.

After Jerash, the tour moves to Ajloun Castle, a 12th-century fortress built by Saladin's army to defend against the Crusaders. The castle's medieval Islamic architecture sits high enough to command views of the Jordan Valley, and a museum inside the fortress displays artifacts from different periods of the region's past. The guide shows you the castle's layout and the exhibition, then leads a scenic walk through the Ajloun forests, where you move through beautiful mountain terrain and see old caves tucked into the landscape. This final stretch is where the day shifts from ruins to nature: the guide points out the views and the forest itself becomes the attraction.

Meals are built in: breakfast and coffee or tea before you leave, lunch partway through the day, and dinner at the end. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle the whole time, and the guide speaks English. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours total, so it is a full commitment but leaves no gaps for separate transport or meal planning.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup.
• professional English-speaking guide for all three sites.
• breakfast, coffee or tea, lunch and dinner.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Abdullah

Is this one for you?At 9 to 10 hours, this tour fills most of a day and leaves little room for other activities, so it works best if exploring ancient history and medieval fortresses is your main focus in Jordan. The fixed itinerary hits three distinct sites in sequence, which means you see more ground than a single-location tour but move at the guide's pace rather than your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What exactly is Jerash and why is it called the Pompeii of the East?

Jerash is an ancient city in northern Jordan founded around 7500 BC that flourished under Greek, Roman, and Byzantine rule before a major earthquake in 749 AD destroyed much of it. The nickname comes from how well its Greco-Roman ruins are preserved: the layout and structures survive intact enough that visitors can read the city's original design, much like Pompeii in Italy.

Is Ajloun Castle actually a castle or just ruins?

Ajloun Castle is a 12th-century fortress built by Saladin's army and still stands as a recognizable structure with multiple areas to explore. The castle also houses a museum exhibition inside it, displaying artifacts from various historical periods in the region.

Does the tour include meals, and if so what kind?

Yes, breakfast and coffee or tea are included before departure, lunch is served during the day, and dinner is included at the end. All meals are part of the package.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English and leads the entire tour in that language.