North

Northern Jordan: Highlights of the Area

Northern Jordan It is a very interesting place both for its history and for its nature. Its proximity to the capital,
Amman
, facilitates the visit in the form of a day trip, so the most attractive destinations will be very close at hand for any traveler. In this section we have collected practical information and the most outstanding tourist sites of the northern Jordan so you know in advance what you can visit in this area, where many of our circuits arrive in the country.

What is meant by northern Jordan

Northern Jordan it is a relatively small area and roughly comprises the territory between Amman and the northern borders of the country. Borders that follow the courses of two rivers: the Yamuk, which marks the border with Syria and Israel, and the Jordan, which establishes the border with Israel and the Palestinian Territories (West Bank).

Northern Jordan It is very interesting from an environmental point of view, since it has a Mediterranean climate that influences the landscape: it is greener and more fertile than the rest of the country, which is much more desert and arid. It is no coincidence, therefore, that this is the area with the highest population density, where some of the large cities are concentrated, especially Irbid, the second largest in terms of number of inhabitants.

And it was no coincidence that the main Hellenistic and Semitic cities, later Roman, were established here, forming the so-called Decapolis that marked the eastern end of the Roman Empire. In addition, the North of present-day Jordan was once a hotly contested area between the Crusaders and the Muslim powers that dominated the terrain (Ayyubids, Mamluks and later, Ottomans).

To realize all this, you only have to visit the main places of interest in northern Jordan, related to these historical episodes and the forest reserves that have been created here for the conservation of the environment.

What to see in northern Jordan

These are the most outstanding tourist sitesin the north of Jordan. You can easily reach them with the help of our agency, either within a scheduled circuit or in the format of a private excursion of one or several days from Amman.

Jerash

Often referred to as ‘the Pompeii of the East’, it is one of the most spectacular places in northern Jordan. thanks to its well-preserved Roman remains. It was the city known as Gerasa, which reached great splendor as can be deduced from its monuments that are still standing: the Arch of Hadrian, the Hippodrome, the Oval Square, the Temple of Artemis or its theaters, among others. Its archaeological park occupies a compact and reachable space on foot that, in addition, is inspiring and takes the traveler back centuries in time.

Ajloun

It is the other great tourist site of northern Jordan, thanks above all to its castle, located on Mount Awf at about 1,200 meters of altitude. It was built in the twelfth century as a defensive system against the Crusaders, which allows the visitor to know a fundamental period in the history of Jordan. In addition to its evocative structure, well preserved and restored, what will captivate the visitor are the panoramic views of the surroundings, with green hills with Mediterranean air. In them is located precisely a Forest Reserve of great environmental interest.