Private Full Day Crusader Castles of Karak & Shobak, Kings Highway from Amman

Amman, Jordan

Private Full Day Crusaders Castle of Jordan Shobak and Karak Kings Highway Tour from Amman

From $121.80

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

10 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Step back to Crusader times on a private round-trip to Karak and Shobak castle from Amman. Travel along roads tracing the ancient Kings Highway route, and visit the 12th-century castles, built by the Crusaders to defend against Saladin’s forces. Explore the ruined halls, parapets, and tunnels, and take in sweeping views from the hilltop towers. Your tour includes private transport with hotel pickup and drop-off, with entrance fees and local guides excluded.

Private Crusader castles day trip from Amman
Follow the ancient Kings Highway route to Karak and Shobak castles
Explore 12th-century Kobak with its underground passages, galleries, and turrets
Experience the ruins and carvings of Shobak castle, also built by Crusaders
Entrance fees and local guides at castles at own expense
Private round-trip transportation with Amman hotel pickup and drop-off included

What's Included

Hotel pick up and drop off
Private Transfer by air-conditioned leisure new vehicle according number of participants
English-Speaking Driver
Entrance to Karak Castle; clients with Jordan Pass we will refund the entrance fees in destination
Entrance to Shobak Castle; clients with Jordan Pass we will refund the entrance fees in destination
On board WI-FI

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
Guide
Anything else not mentioned

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

09:00 AM

What To Expect

Depart your Amman hotel by private, air-conditioned vehicle, and travel south along scenic roads that follow the ancient trading route of the Kings Highway.

Arrive at Karak, and ascend to the massive hilltop castle, built by the Crusaders between 1110 and 1143 BC. One of a chain of Crusader defenses between Jerusalem and Aqaba, Karak resisted attacks from Saladin’s armies in the 1180s before succumbing in 1189. It then served as a Byzantine bishopric, and incorporated a church.

Explore independently or hire a local guide (additional cost) and wander around the underground passages, galleries, chambers, and fortified turrets.

Absorb the spectacular views from the towers, and then continue to the Crusader Castle of Shobak. Built in the early 12th century, this isolated hilltop castle withstood many attacks from Saladin’s forces until it fell in 1189. During the 14th century, the Mamluks built over much of the Crusader structures.

Go inside and explore the remnants, seeing the beautifully intricate wall inscriptions, halls, and underground staircase tunneled into the hillside.

Soak in the haunting atmosphere and views from the battlements, and then return to Amman, where your trip ends with a hotel drop-off.

Amman (Pass By)

Karak Castle

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Shobak Castle

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
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.

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.
Clients are advised to bring hats, sun screen, and comfortable walking shoes.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Thomas_L

As someone interested in the history of the region this tour was an amazing experience for me. What really made the trip exceptional was being lucky enough to be assigned Hasan as my driver and guide. Of course he had all the pertinent information readily at hand, but what really made the experience special was his friendliness and personality. It was a wonderful tour with a fantastic guide and I would highly recommend both of them. Thank you Zaid tours and thank you Hasan!

Reviews

5.0

8 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-7 of 8 reviews

Castle day

Andrea_C, Apr 2024

Our driver, Amer, has been very friendly and helpful.. Everything was perfect, from hotel pick up to castle visit. Recommended.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

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.

Great castles

Edward_L, Oct 2023

Amazing castles a must see. But the drive is very long. Our driver was great. Made our trip very knowledgeable and stopped a few times to show us amazing views

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Fabulous driver and...

Sarah_C, Oct 2023

Fabulous driver and fabulous castles!! Definitely worth the long drive to experience such history. Lunch was also super yummy.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

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.

Had a wonderful time,...

Daniel_M, Sep 2023

Had a wonderful time, seeing some history and listening to some Arabic music on the way! Ramouni was a great guide.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you. Looking forward to having you, your family, and friends with us again.

A wonderful experience

Thomas_L, May 2023

Response from Host, May 2023

💕Great! Looking forward to have you and your family again with us! Thank you.

Lovely Tour.

Joseph_A, Sep 2022

Our deepest thanks to our tour guide. We made it thanks to him. Due to medical conditions my wife and I had special care by our guide.

Response from Host, Oct 2022

Thank you. Looking forward to having you, your family, and friends with us again

Great trip - the castles are well...

Carolyn B, Nov 2017

Great trip - the castles are well worth visiting. Our driver added on St Stephen's Church which made the day. I highly recommend asking if you can add this on as you will be passing. The mosaics are amazing! They rival those at Madaba. It is a long day with a lot of driving. Shobak is a long way south but we thought is was worth the time. Karak is great - you can spend a lot of time in the ruins and the view is fabulous. Our driver kept us supplied with yummy Turkish coffee from roadside vendors and made sure we had the best of Jordanian food for lunch yum. Highly recommend