Day Trips and Tours from Amman

Jordan’s bustling capital provides the perfect base for tourists wishing to explore the rest of the country. You can arrange a multitude of day trips and tours from Amman to suit your personal interests, all of which provide unforgettable experiences.

Discover the spot where Christians believe Jesus was baptized, marvel at the sandstone formations of Petra or float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea on one of these remarkable excursions.

Petra

Named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World,” Petra is a history and culture lover's paradise, located in Southwest Jordan. Established in the 4th century B.C., the destination is known as “Rose City” because of the color of its rock-cut monuments.

Despite the city’s numerous landmarks and popularity among tourists, the site has only been 15% recovered so far meaning that archaeology enthusiasts will be able to discover more of Petra as the years go by.

Day trips to Petra enable you to explore several of the UNESCO World Heritage site’s highlights, including its siq, treasury and monastery.

Dead Sea

One of the most unusual phenomena in the world, the Dead Sea is named such because of its high salinity, which makes it inhospitable for any marine creatures.

Despite this, the lake, split across Israel and Jordan, has waters that are high in minerals, providing healing for many conditions, such as rheumatic diseases, and skin issues. However, the reason most tourists embark on a Dead Sea day tour is simply for the novelty of floating in its waters.

The Dead Sea has a salt content of 34%, making this body of water almost 10 times saltier than the ocean. Alongside its salinity, the lake is famed as the lowest point on earth, located approximately 400 meters below sea level.

Dead Sea excursions typically include a multitude of other destinations, such as Petra and Wadi Rum — a sandstone, and granite valley that has been inhabited for 12,000 years, making for an insightful experience.

Jerash

Heading north of Amman, you’ll stumble across the city of Jerash, which, like many other destinations in Jordan, is home to a rich history. The destination has been settled since the Bronze Age, which stretched from 3,300 B.C. to 1,200 B.C., and features a dazzling display of Roman architecture.

Jerash has also been mentioned in the Bible as a city that Jesus passed through, making it popular with Christians who wish to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

A day trip to Jerash includes a guided tour through its most spectacular ruins, including an arch dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, as well as several temples and an amphitheater that could once accommodate 4,700 spectators.

You may combine this experience with a day trip to Ajloun — a 12th-century castle built on the remains of an older monastery.

Mount Nebo

Nestled in the Abrahim mountain range lies Mount Nebo, a significant spot in Christianity. This mountain is mentioned in the Old Testament as the location where Moses lived out his final years, as well as the spot from which he saw the Promised Land.

While many believe that it was Moses who led the Israelites out of slavery and into this paradise, the Bible states that he turned this task over to Joshua. Moses himself never stepped foot in the Promised Land as a punishment from God for his distrust and lack of obedience.

Day trips to Mount Nebo allow you to explore the religious history behind its slopes and often include the nearby city of Madaba, which is famed for its 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land.

Umm Qais

Umm Qais is a modern hilltop town above the Jordan Valley, situated directly next to the ruins of the ancient city of Gadara. This historic site is believed by archaeologists to date back to the 3rd century B.C., however, the Hellenistic ruins have proved difficult to trace back to their origins.

The town thrived until the 8th century when a series of earthquakes led it to be abandoned, and among its remains are both Roman, and Ottoman architecture.

On a day trip to Umm Qais, you can amble among the ruins of Gadara, which include a theater, temple and a nymphaeum, and also learn about the destination’s importance for Christian pilgrims.

Umayyad Desert Castles

Just outside of Amman, you’ll find a series of 8th-century constructs that relate to the Umayyad dynasty. One of the most important monuments you’ll discover on an Umayyad Desert Castles day trip is Qasr Amra, which is recognized by UNESCO for its display of early Islamic architecture.

The itinerary on these excursions differs, however, you’ll typically hop between several different castles in the region, including Qasr Al -Kharana, built upon Roman remains, and Qasr Al-Azraq.

Dana Nature Reserve

Dana is the largest nature reserve in Jordan, covering over 300 square kilometers of land along the Great Rift Valley. Because of its size, the nature reserve is home to great biodiversity, from lofty mountains to golden sand dunes, and everything in between.

Little known to tourists, the park is a natural gem, easily accessible from Amman. Challenge yourself to a Dana Nature Reserve day tour that includes several hours of hiking through its lands and be rewarded with breathtaking scenery on all sides.

Red Sea

The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean, which stretches between the two continents of Asia and Africa. Featuring more than 1,200 species of fish and 250 different types of coral, the waters here are among some of the most diverse in the world, making it a popular spot with scuba divers, and snorkelers.

Of its bountiful marine life, over 40 species of fish are endemic to the region. Red Sea day trips often include the gateway to the stretch of water, Aqaba, which features sparkling seas and silky sands, and is the only port city in the country.

Bethany

Considered one of the holiest sites in Christianity, “Bethany beyond the Jordan” — often referred to simply as Bethany — is believed to be the spot where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

Located in the Jordan Valley to the north of the Dead Sea, Bethany is a popular pilgrimage point where devout Christians can also be baptized in the same waters as their beloved savior.

Alongside being a significant landmark for Chritians, the destination also attracts both Jews and Muslims, and is mentioned in both religion’s scripture.

Alongside the baptismal point, the area around the river is littered with ancient churches and monasteries, providing those on a day trip to Bethany with an opportunity to experience Jordan through the ages.

Pella

Situated just outside of Taqabat Fahl in Northwest Jordan is the archaeological site of Pella, containing the ruins of an ancient city. Occupied since the Neolithic era, the area’s remains feature examples of architecture from a plethora of time periods, including the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Hellenistic era.

Pella was once part of the 10 cities that formed the Decapolis, which also included Hippos, Gadara and Gerasa. By joining a day trip to Pella, you’ll see its architectural wonders, which include Byzantine churches and Islamic mosques.

Azraq

A small town with hundreds of thousands of years of history, Azraq lies to the east of Amman. However, the destination’s main attraction is its wetland reserve, which many choose to explore on an Azraq day tour.

This biodiverse area provides a haven for an array of birdlife, including the hoopoe lark, desert finch and marsh harrier, and is undergoing extensive restoration to return the reserve to its natural former glory.