Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal worth booking?
Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal is a 7-hour experience in Amman, Jordan, from $320 per person. It scores 51 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 51 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $320 per person
This is not a typical sightseeing tour—it’s a true off-road expedition into one of Jordan’s least explored regions. Designed for adventure seekers and history enthusiasts, the experience takes you far beyond the usual to
What you get
- Bottled water, soft drinks, snacks
- Entrance fees
- Coffee/tea (on request)
- WiFi, Phone charger
- Private luxury transfer
About this experience
This is not a typical sightseeing tour—it’s a true off-road expedition into one of Jordan’s least explored regions. Designed for adventure seekers and history enthusiasts, the experience takes you far beyond the usual tourist routes into the remote basalt desert, where some of the country’s oldest and most mysterious archaeological sites remain largely untouched. You will visit extraordinary locations such as Jawa, one of the earliest planned settlements in the region with one of the world’s oldest known water management systems, and the vast black-stone city of Umm El-Jimal, where you can walk freely through remarkably preserved ruins spanning multiple civilisations. Combined with private 4×4 transport, a flexible pace, and the comfort of a fully personalised experience, this journey offers a rare opportunity to explore Jordan’s hidden past in a way that feels authentic, adventurous, and truly unforgettable.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water, soft drinks, snacks
- Entrance fees
- Coffee/tea (on request)
- WiFi, Phone charger
- Private luxury transfer
Not included
- Professional on-site (local) guide, if avaliable. The price for their services usually $5 - $15
- Personal expenses
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Your journey begins with pickup from your hotel or residence in Amman, followed by a brief introduction and expedition overview. If you wish, we can make a short stop at Starbucks to pick up your favourite coffee before heading into the desert. We then travel north in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle equipped with Wi-Fi and phone chargers. Sit back and enjoy your coffee and selected snacks as we leave the city behind and enter Jordan’s remote landscapes. Complimentary bottled water and soft drinks are provided throughout the journey. The drive to our first stop takes approximately 2 hours (150 km).
120 minutes here
Our first stop is Qasr Deir Al-Kahaf, a remote Roman-era outpost dating to the 4th century AD. Often referred to as the “Monastery of the Caves,” this atmospheric site once served as a frontier station overlooking the surrounding desert. Although only parts of the structure remain, the location itself—isolated and windswept—offers a powerful introduction to the region’s ancient past and sets the tone for the expedition ahead.
60 minutes here
We continue deeper into the high desert to the little-known site of Deir Al-Kinn, perched at an elevation of over 1,100 meters. Hidden within a rugged landscape, the remains here are sparse yet evocative—fragments of walls and stone foundations that hint at long-forgotten activity. The journey itself is part of the experience, with sweeping views across the basalt plains and a sense of true remoteness rarely found in Jordan.
60 minutes here
The highlight of the expedition is the extraordinary site of Jawa, one of the oldest known planned settlements in the region, dating back to the late 4th millennium BC. Located in the heart of the Black Desert, Jawa is a remarkable example of early human ingenuity. Here you will discover the remains of one of the world’s earliest dam and water management systems—an advanced network designed to control seasonal floods and sustain life in an otherwise harsh environment. The ruins reveal traces of a once-fortified town, complete with walls, reservoirs, and settlement structures. Despite ongoing research, many aspects of Jawa remain a mystery, adding to its intrigue and significance.
60 minutes here
Umm el Jimal
Our final major stop is Umm El-Jimal, a vast and beautifully preserved settlement built entirely from black basalt stone. This “Black Oasis” flourished from the Nabataean through the Byzantine and early Islamic periods before being largely abandoned after an earthquake in 749 AD. Walking through its quiet streets, you will encounter towering multi-storey structures, ancient homes, churches, and courtyards—many remarkably intact after centuries of abandonment. The site offers a unique and immersive glimpse into life on the edge of the desert.
60 minutes here
Amman Governorate
After a full day of exploration, we begin our return journey to Amman. You will be dropped off at your hotel or preferred location, concluding a truly unique expedition through some of Jordan’s most remote and historically significant landscapes.
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ancient Jordan
Know before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
Traveler reviews
1 verified traveler reviews for Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
This is the one.
Alex is the best. He knows his stuff, is always on time, goes beyond the call of duty to take care of his clients. You forgot water? Alex has you covered. You need a bit of sugar to boost your energy? Alex is way ahead of you. You already bought a Jordan Pass? Alex will reimburse every entry fee he doesn't need to pay for you. The itinerary is very well designed and Alex is happy to take into consideration any physical limitations you may have, even if it is just because you hiked a little too hard the day before =) . What can I say about the sites we saw on this tour? Umm el-Jimal is unbelievably, hauntingly beautiful. My Jordan tour book says that the place can be a little bleak at first owing to every building being made of basalt blocks, but that it grows on you after a little bit of time exploring. I found that to be a completely perfect description of it. There are thousands of intriguing, even charming little aspects of the place as you walk, climb, even crawl around the buildings. These were homes and places of worship and businesses left almost entirely untouched for the past nearly fifteen hundred years. And the site is vast. My son and I immediately decided we would need at least two days to really explore the site on our next visit. Having said that, if you are not quite as super geeky about this as we are, you will also be able to see the main attractions here in the time allotted in the tour. There are a couple of other nice sites Alex stops at along the way, but the other main course is Jawa. What a place. Only fairly recently has it started to be recognized for the significance it holds. It's the oldest proto-urban site in Jordan with the oldest masonry gravity dam known in the ENTIRE WORLD. When you first get there it might not look like much is left to explore, and it has succumbed significantly to entropy in the past 5,500 years, but there is still a lot to see here. The site is littered with surface artifacts to see and marvel at. The dams are amazing in their ingenuity at a time before they even had bronze. Alex told us that we were only the second people to book this tour in the past year. That's unimaginable to me. These sites were some of the most beautiful and most emotionally powerful I saw on our whole visit to Jordan. If you are looking for a tour that takes you incredible places most, even other tour guides we spoke to, have never even heard of, this is the one.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 51
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Amman.
How much does Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal cost?
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Prices start at $320 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Amman usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal take?
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Plan for about 7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Amman is not rushed.
Is Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 51 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Amman, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Amman can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Amman and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Expedition to JAWA and Umm El-Jimal start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Amman within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Amman?
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On Outty we rank every Amman experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include From Amman: Petra and Wadi rum Private/Group Full day Tour, From Amman :Private or Group Full day tour to Petra, Amman Petra Full-Day Trip. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Amman?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Amman?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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