Private Tour: Jerash and Umm Qais Day Trip from Amman

Private Tour: Jerash and Umm Qais Day Trip from Amman

Rewind to the time of ancient Rome on a private day trip to Jerash and Umm Qais from Amman. After heading north from Amman in a private, leisure, air-conditioned vehicle, enjoy a guided tour of the ruins of Jerash. Gaze in awe at the well-preserved remains, including Hadrian’s Arch, the Oval Plaza and Hippodrome as you hear tales of the city’s golden age. Continue to the Greco-Roman site of Umm Qais to see its basilica terrace, theaters, and other relics, and visit the town’s archaeological museum before returning to Amman.

Meet your private driver at your central Amman hotel and board your comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Then, start out on your full-day trip to Jerash and Umm Qais, home to the ruins of two of ancient Rome’s Decapolis cities — a group of 10 situated on the frontiers of the Roman Empire in the Middle East. First, venture northward through Jordan’s green landscapes to Jerash, a modern city fringed by the relics of the once-prosperous Roman city known as “Gerasa” - Jerash. Meet your friendly local guide at the entrance, and enjoy a private tour of the spectacular site, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. Pass through the monumental Hadrian’s Arch that was the city’s main gateway, and ogle the classic ruins spread before you. Then, stroll around this once-bustling city to see highlights such as the colonnaded avenue, the Temple of Zeus, the Hippodrome chariot-racing arena, and the Oval Plaza, an egg-shaped forum framed by a ring of standing columns. As you explore, hear captivating tales about “Gerasa” during its heyday. Learn how Alexander the Great conquered the city in the 2nd century B.C., and how later, local farmers cultivated much-coveted fruits and vegetables to sell on to the wealthy Roman residents. After free time to explore on your won, continue to the village of Umm Qais, overlooking the ruins of another Roman Decapolis city known as “Gadara”. Soak up the views from here over the Sea of Galilee and Golan Heights to explore the Greco-Roman ruins, including the amphitheater, crumbled mausoleum, basilica terrace, as well as other theaters and treasures. Then, visit the town’s museum to admire some of the precious artifacts recovered from the site, including mosaics and marble statues. Journey back to Amman where your trip concludes with a hotel drop-off.