Jerash, Ajloun & Umm Qais Tour: 2025 Review & Guide

So, most people who think about Jordan almost immediately picture Petra or the big, open spaces of Wadi Rum. Honestly, that’s completely fair since they are pretty amazing places. Yet, there is a whole different side to the country up north, you know, one that’s a little greener and packed with a different sort of history. We decided to book a private tour for 2025 to see Jerash, Ajloun, and Umm Qais all in one go, basically because it seemed like the most sensible way to cover that much ground. To be honest, it was a long day, but definitely one filled with some seriously unforgettable sights. This type of trip just gives you a more complete picture of what Jordan is all about, sort of beyond the main tourist spots.

Jerash: So Much More Than Just Old Stones

Okay, so arriving at Jerash, you just kind of get hit by the scale of it all. Frankly, you see pictures, but they don’t quite prepare you for the real thing. First, you walk through Hadrian’s Arch, and seriously, it’s this massive, freestanding gate that literally announces you’ve arrived somewhere special. The preservation here is really top-notch; it’s one of the best examples of a Roman provincial city anywhere, or so they say. The Oval Plaza is really something else; it’s a huge, egg-shaped public square that is still surrounded by these very impressive first-century columns. I mean, you can just stand in the middle of it and try to picture the crowds and the noise from nearly two thousand years ago. It’s pretty wild.

As a matter of fact, walking down the Colonnaded Street feels a bit like you’re in a movie. You can actually see the grooves in the stone that were worn down by countless chariot wheels, which is a pretty cool detail, you know. With a private guide, you basically get all the little stories that bring the place to life. For example, our guide pointed out a spot where you could clap and hear an unusual echo, which was apparently part of the design of the South Theatre. Honestly, we spent a good few minutes just testing it out, like kids. It’s those little interactive bits that kind of stick with you. You could very easily spend a whole day just in Jerash, but the private tour format means you can get a really good feel for the place and still have time for the next stops.

Ajloun Castle: A Hilltop Watcher with Incredible Views

Alright, so the drive from Jerash to Ajloun is a bit of a surprise. The landscape actually starts to change, becoming noticeably greener and hillier, with lots of olive groves and pine forests around. It’s a really nice change of scenery, you know. The castle itself, Ajloun Castle, sits right on top of a hill, so you can see it from pretty far away. It just looks very commanding. Unlike the Roman stuff in Jerash, this is a 12th-century Islamic fortress, built by one of Saladin’s generals to basically keep an eye on things and defend against the Crusaders. It’s a completely different period of history, and it feels that way, too. The inside is a sort of maze of corridors, halls, and towers, which is pretty fun to explore.

Seriously, the best part about Ajloun is the view from the very top. At the end of the day, that’s what you’re climbing all those stairs for, right? You get this absolutely amazing 360-degree look over the Jordan Valley. On a clear day, you can supposedly see for miles and miles, all the way to the West Bank. Our guide was really great here; he explained the whole strategic point of the castle, showing us how they could control the trade routes and watch for enemy movements from that spot. It’s a very practical and solid-looking building, not delicate at all, and it’s almost totally intact, which is frankly quite impressive after all these centuries. We were more or less the only ones up on the main tower at one point, which was honestly a peaceful moment.

Umm Qais: A Border Town Where Worlds Collide

Next, the final stop of the day was Umm Qais, and in a way, this was the most surprising place of all. It was once the ancient Greco-Roman city of Gadara, and what makes it so unique is basically its location. You’re standing on this hill, and you can literally look out and see three different areas at once: Jordan right under your feet, the Syrian Golan Heights just across the valley, and Israel’s Sea of Galilee in the distance. To be honest, it’s a very powerful and kind of humbling viewpoint. The ruins themselves are quite different from Jerash’s; they are mostly made of a dark black basalt rock, which gives the place a slightly more dramatic feel. There’s a main street with columns, a theatre, and the remains of a basilica, all pretty standard for a Roman city.

But there’s a historical layer here that is really interesting, as a matter of fact. Umm Qais is believed to be the spot of the biblical story of the Gadarene swine, where Jesus is said to have cast demons out of a man and into a herd of pigs. I mean, standing there, you can easily picture the whole scene unfolding on the steep hillsides that go down to the water. It’s that connection to stories you’ve heard your whole life that makes the place feel very significant. There’s also the shell of a later Ottoman-era village built right into the Roman ruins, so you just see layers upon layers of history, which is pretty much the story of this entire region, right? The air felt so fresh up there, and it was a really calm place to end our day of exploration.

Why a Private Tour Just Makes Sense for This Trip

Okay, so you could probably try to do this trip on your own with a rental car, but having a private tour was absolutely the way to go for us. First, it’s a pretty long day with a lot of driving, and honestly, letting someone else handle the roads and the directions just takes a lot of stress out of the equation. You can just look out the window and enjoy the changing countryside instead. In fact, our driver was also a great source of information, pointing out things along the way and telling us about modern life in Jordan, stuff you just don’t get from a guidebook. We had some really good conversations, you know.

The other big thing is flexibility, right? For example, we ended up being completely fascinated by Jerash and probably spent a little more time there than a typical group tour would allow. That was absolutely no problem. Similarly, we were getting a bit hungry after Ajloun, so our driver took us to a fantastic local restaurant for lunch—a place we would never, ever have found by ourselves. It was just a simple place serving amazing grilled chicken and fresh salads. Basically, you can tailor the day to your own interests and energy levels. If you want to linger, you linger; if you want to move on, you just say the word. That freedom is pretty much what makes the whole experience feel less like a tour and more like an actual adventure.

Final Thoughts & Main Takeaways

At the end of the day, this trip is for someone who really wants to see the depth and variety of Jordan. You get this incredible look at history from different ages, some really stunning natural scenery, and a genuine feel for the country beyond its most famous attractions. It’s totally worth the time.

Jerash Is Genuinely Huge: Seriously, be prepared for the sheer size and completeness of the Roman city. It’s arguably one of the most impressive sites of its kind in the world.
Ajloun Offers Green Scenery: You’ll be pretty surprised by the green, hilly landscape around the castle, a lovely contrast to other parts of Jordan.
Umm Qais Has a Unique View: The view over the Sea of Galilee and two other countries is something you’ll likely remember for a long time. The use of black basalt stone also makes its ruins look very distinct.
Private Is the Way to Go: Honestly, the comfort, flexibility, and local insight from a private driver/guide really make a difference on a long day like this.
Wear Good Shoes: This almost goes without saying, but you will do a lot of walking on uneven ground, so comfortable, sturdy shoes are absolutely a must. Just be practical, you know.

Read our full review: [Jerash, Ajloun & Umm Qais Private Tour Full Review and Details]

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