Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 23 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit worth booking?
Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit is a 4-hour experience in Amman, Jordan, from $37 per person. It scores 58 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 23 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 58 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (23)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $37 per person
Discover three of Jordan’s famous Desert Castles in this trip from Amman. With your informative private English-Speaking Driver, learn about these fabled castles, built by the Umayyad rulers during the 7th and 8th centur
What you get
- English-Speaking Driver
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Al Azraq Wetland Reserve Entrance Fees with Self-Guided Marsh Trail; if option selected
- On board WI-FI
- Private Transfer by air-conditioned leisure new vehicle according to number of participants
- Additional Guide of Desert Castles, if option selected
About this experience
Discover three of Jordan’s famous Desert Castles in this trip from Amman. With your informative private English-Speaking Driver, learn about these fabled castles, built by the Umayyad rulers during the 7th and 8th centuries as you visit each one in the desert plains of eastern Jordan. Explore UNESCO-listed Amra Castle (Quseir’ Amra), famous for its 8th century fresco of hedonistic scenes before continuing to the Kharana Castle (Qasr Al - Kharanah) and the atmospheric Al - Azraq Castle (Qasr Al - Azraq), the latter used as military based by T.E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia during World War I. Upgrade your tour with a Guide. You can also add the Azraq wetland visit. Return to your hotel.
What's included
Included
- English-Speaking Driver
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- Al Azraq Wetland Reserve Entrance Fees with Self-Guided Marsh Trail; if option selected
- On board WI-FI
- Private Transfer by air-conditioned leisure new vehicle according to number of participants
- Additional Guide of Desert Castles, if option selected
- Entrance to Amra Castle, Al Kharanah Castle, & Al – Azraq Castle; if option Jordan Pass not selected
Not included
- All type of meals, unless option with lunch selected (Vegetarian meal by request)
- All type of beverages
- All type of gratuities (Tips to the Driver) – Recommended
- Personal Expenses
- Any other service not mentioned
What you'll see and do
Amman
After pick up from your central Amman by private, air-conditioned vehicle, relax as you journey out of the city and into the desert plains of eastern Jordan. Drive with your friendly informative English-Speaking Driver who doubles up as your guide to experience the fascinating Desert Castles. The region is speckled with 7th and 8th century castles, many within a 15-minute drive of each other, that were originally built by the Caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty as rural retreats and hunting lodges. Hear tales about this powerful dynasty, the first Muslim rulers of the Arab kingdom, including fascinating snippets about their extravagance and debauchery. As you travel, feel free to tell your driver if there’s a castle you want to see more of or another castle you’d like to visit, at your own expense. Your tour is private, so the itinerary can be tailored to suit your interests.
60 minutes here
Quseir Amra
After about an hour on the road, pull up at UNESCO-listed “Quseir’ Amra”, one of east Jordan’s most famous castles. Once a hunting palace of the Umayyads, this splendidly restored edifice is graced with 8th-century fresco showing decadent scenes of nude women, wine, and parties.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Qasr Al-Harranah
Continue to “Qasr Al -Kharanah”, an imperious 2-level fortress standing in a huge plain. Thought to have been built on Roman foundations, this evocative castle exudes intrigue and displays a rich array of Mesopotamian, Arabic, and Greek architectural influences.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Qsar Al-Azraq
Finally, head for “Qasr Al-Azraq”, originally an Umayyad hunting retreat and once used as a headquarters by T.E. Lawrence, the 20th-century British soldier and Arab Revolt leader perhaps more famously known as Lawrence of Arabia. Wander around the sun-burnished courtyards, towers, and mosque to learn how Lawrence based his operations here during 1917 to 1918. After exploring here, relax on your ride back to Amman where your experience finishes with a hotel drop-off. Tour with Accompanied Guide: Upgrade your tour to include an Accompanied Licensed Guide from Amman to be with you for the visit of the 3 Marvelous Desert Castles.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Azraq Wetland Reserve
Upgrade: Optional visit of the Azraq Wetland Reserve established in 1978 Water Buffalo for a self-guided Marsh Trail, which is a water nature reserve and oasis for migratory birds located near the desert castles covering 12 kilometers. Walk and explore on your own. Best time to enjoy the scenery is late autumn or spring.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Tour with Guide and Lunch
Guided private tour of the Three Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan from Amman with guide and lunch at a local restaurant. Pickup included
Desert Castles Tour with Guide
Classic visit of the Three Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan from Amman with guide. Pickup included
Desert Castles Tour with Lunch
Desert CastlesTour with Lunch: Classic visit of the Three Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan from Amman without guide and with lunch at a local restaurant. Pickup included
Tour For Jordan Pass Holders
Guided private tour of the Three Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan from Amman without Guide, entrance fees nor lunch. Pickup included
Tour with Azraq Wetland visit
Classic visit of the Three Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan from Amman with additional visit to Azraq Wetland Pickup included
Desert Castles Tour
Tour to Desert Castles: Classic visit of the Three Desert Castles of Eastern Jordan from Amman without a guide Pickup included
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 7 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Zaid Tours and Travel
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
- Airport Pick-up and Drop-off by request.
- Contact your local operator (office phone number, emergency mobile number – out of office hours, or email address) a day before to reconfirm pick-up arrangements provided in your voucher.
- For Jordan Pass holders that purchased tour activity with entrance fees, please inform us to reimburse the entrance fees in destination.
- Tour activity is provided in English. For other languages by request.
- Clients with mobility issues, please contact us.
- Strollers and car seats for infants, please contact us.
- Most local tourist restaurants in Jordan do not serve alcohol, if you do not want a dry restaurant that does not serve alcohol, please contact us.
- For Arab and G.C.C. nationals, please book Jordan Pass option; visits without entrance fees included, as reduced entrance fees apply. It is better for Arab and G.C.C. passport holders to pay directly in destination their entrance fees.
- Clients are advised to bring hats, sun screen, and comfortable walking shoes.
- Indicate special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 23 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
23 verified traveler reviews for Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
My guide and driver were...
My guide and driver were awesome. Exceeded my expectations. I learned history and culture. They were responsive to my needs, questions and desires.
Response from the operator: Thank you for choosing ZTT and for this amazing review of your stay. I hope you can post this review on our TripAdvisor page to share with more travelers. Our goal is always to provide a distinguished service, and our professional and dedicated team go the extra mile to ensure our travelers have wonderful trip. It is rewarding to know that our efforts at continuous improvement, are being recognized. We will be waiting for you again in Jordan!
via Viator
Great tour of desert castles with an amazing driver.
Issa was so helpful and friendly, we had a great time visiting the desert castles and discovering the steppe east of Amman. Special thanks for the smooth and safe driving, which is not a negligible comfort on Jordan’s highways !
Response from the operator: Thank you for choosing ZTT and for this wonderful review of your stay. Our aim is always to provide a first-class service, and our professional and dedicated team go the extra mile to ensure our travelers have a memorable stay. It is rewarding to know that our efforts at continuous improvement, are being recognized. We look forward to welcoming you back with us in Jordan for many unforgettable moments to you, your friends, and family. I appreciate the time and effort in sharing your experience.
via Tripadvisor
Great tour & a chance to...
Great tour & a chance to see something unique. Some castles were small but easy to cover in the allotted time.
Response from the operator: Thank you for choosing ZTT and for this amazing review of your stay. I hope you can post this review on our TripAdvisor page to share with more travelers. Our goal is always to provide a distinguished service, and our professional and dedicated team go the extra mile to ensure our travelers have wonderful trip. It is rewarding to know that our efforts at continuous improvement, are being recognized. We will be waiting for you again in Jordan!
via Viator
Fantastic and Flexible
Basel was an amazing driver full of information we wouldn't have found !elsewhere. He was entirely flexible and atune to our needs adding and deleting things as we requested! We enjoyed his company so much, we joined him for a second day!
Response from the operator: Thank you for your comments and for sharing your experience with us. The nicest complement that our team can get is your desire to return to Jordan with us. We are truly happy to learn that you enjoyed your holiday with us and even, it was difficult to leave. What a complement indeed! Looking forward to your next visit.
via Viator
Great tour, great guide
Hassan Alqurnih from Zaid Tours was an enthusiastic tour guide. Not only was he knowledgeable about the three sites but he wanted to make sure we saw every nook and cranny. The long drive to the sites from Amman provided a constant commentary about everything we asked. Considering it was Ramadan and he couldn't drink anything, we were impressed with his endurance and his great sense of humor.
Response from the operator: Thank you. Looking forward to having you, your family, and friends with us again.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $37 to $347
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 8
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Zaid Tours and Travel, who run 67 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.1.
See everything Zaid Tours and Travel runsWhy this scores 58
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Amman.
How much does Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit cost?
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Prices start at $37 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 Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit take?
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Plan for about 4 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 Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 58 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 23 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 Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit?
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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 Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit?
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Around 8 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 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Tour of Desert Castles Eastern Jordan with optional Azraq Wetland Visit 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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