Jerash — ancient Gerasa — is 48 km north of Amman and the best-preserved Roman provincial city in the Middle East. The site contains intact colonnaded streets, two working theatres, a unique elliptical forum (the Oval Plaza), the Temple of Artemis, and Hadrian’s Arch — all still standing inside a functioning Jordanian city. It is consistently compared to Pompeii and Ephesus in scale and condition, and is significantly less crowded than either.
The six tours below range from a focused half-day private guide to full-day combinations with the Dead Sea and Amman, covering formats for every type of Jordan itinerary.
1. From Amman: Jerash Half-Day Tour
From Amman: Jerash Half-Day Tour (from $30 per person)
A focused half-day trip from Amman covering Jerash’s main monuments with a licensed guide. The route follows the standard circuit from Hadrian’s Arch through the Oval Plaza, along the colonnaded Cardo Maximus, to the South Theatre and the Temple of Artemis. The guide provides historical context at each stop. This is the most straightforward way to visit Jerash from Amman and works well as a morning outing before returning to the city for lunch.
Duration: Half day (4–5 hours including transfer) | Difficulty: Easy — flat paved paths
Includes: Guide, transport from Amman, hotel pickup
Best for: Visitors with limited time or those treating Jerash as a single morning excursion
2. Private Half-Day Tour to Jerash from Amman
Amman: Private Half-Day Tour to Jerash
A private-format version of the Jerash half-day, with a dedicated guide and driver for your group only. The private tour allows you to set the pace — spending more time at the South Theatre where Roman chariot racing reenactments are sometimes staged, or exploring the less-visited northern section of the site around the North Theatre and the Gate of Perdicca. Flexible pickup timing from Amman hotels.
Duration: Half day | Difficulty: Easy
Includes: Private guide, driver, hotel pickup
Best for: Groups who want focused attention and flexibility over the standard half-day group format
3. From Amman: Day Trip to Jerash
A full Jerash day trip allowing more time on site than the standard half-day format. Extra time makes it feasible to explore the northern archaeological zone — the North Theatre (currently under partial excavation), the Byzantine Cathedral complex, and the Nymphaeum fountain house — in addition to the primary southern circuit. A longer visit reveals how much of Jerash remains unexcavated beneath the current city.
Duration: Full day | Difficulty: Easy
Includes: Transport, guide, hotel pickup
Best for: History enthusiasts who want to go beyond the primary circuit and spend proper time on site
4. From Amman: City, Jerash, and Dead Sea Day Tour
From Amman: City, Jerash and Dead Sea Day Tour (from $60 per person)
A practical single-day itinerary covering three distinct Jordan experiences without the Petra drive. The morning visits Jerash (approximately 2.5 hours on site), the early afternoon covers Amman’s Citadel hill and the Roman Amphitheatre in the city centre, and the day ends at the Dead Sea for the traditional float in the world’s saltiest large water body (34% salinity, 430 metres below sea level). This is the best-value single day in northern Jordan.
Duration: 10–11 hours | Difficulty: Easy
Includes: Guide, transport, Jerash entry, Amman sightseeing, Dead Sea access
Best for: First-time Jordan visitors who want to cover Jerash, Amman, and the Dead Sea in one efficient day
5. Full Day: Jerash and Dead Sea Tour
From Amman: Full-Day Jerash and Dead Sea Tour
A direct combination of Jerash (morning) and the Dead Sea (afternoon) without the Amman city component, allowing more time at both sites. The extra time at Jerash means you can cover the full circuit — south and north zones — before heading west to the Dead Sea for an afternoon float and mineral mud treatment. Good pacing for travellers who have already seen Amman or prefer a two-stop day rather than three.
Duration: Full day | Difficulty: Easy
Includes: Transport, guide, Jerash entry, Dead Sea access
Best for: Travellers who have already visited Amman and want a two-site day focused on Jerash and the Dead Sea
6. From Amman: Jerash, Ajloun Castle, or Umm Qais Private Tour
From Amman: Jerash, Ajloun Castle, or Umm Qais Private Tour
A flexible private tour of the northern Jordan triangle — you choose the combination of Jerash, Ajloun Castle (a 12th-century Ayyubid fortress in forested hills above the Jordan Valley), and Umm Qais (a Hellenistic and Roman city with views over the Sea of Galilee into Syria and Israel). All three are within an hour of each other and the private format means you can visit one, two, or all three depending on your pace.
Duration: Full day | Difficulty: Easy to moderate (Ajloun involves a short uphill walk)
Includes: Private driver-guide, hotel pickup, flexibility on site selection
Best for: Repeat Jordan visitors, history enthusiasts, or those wanting to see the full northern archaeological circuit in one private day
Choosing the Right Jerash Tour
| Tour | Format | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Day Group from Amman | Group | ~4–5 hrs | Quick visit, tight schedule |
| Private Half-Day | Private | ~4–5 hrs | Flexibility and focus |
| Full-Day Jerash Trip | Group | Full day | Full site coverage |
| Jerash + Amman + Dead Sea | Group | 10–11 hrs | Three sites, one efficient day |
| Jerash + Dead Sea | Group | Full day | Two-site day without Amman |
| North Jordan Private (Jerash/Ajloun/Umm Qais) | Private | Full day | Northern Jordan deep dive |
Prices as of 2026 — verify current rates on GetYourGuide. Most tours include free cancellation. Browse all Jerash tours on GetYourGuide.