Amman to Kerak and Shobak Castle: Private day trip

The rocky spur on which Kerak Castle stands has been fortified since Biblical times when it was a city in the kingdom of Moab. The vast fortification seen today was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century as the center of Transjordan and their most important fortress on the King’s Highway between Jerusalem and Aqaba. After having withstood several sieges, the castle finally fell to Saladin in 1189 and was expanded under Mamluk rule. Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt nearly destroyed the castle castle while capturing it in 1840. Today, Kerak Castle is an excellent example of medieval military architecture, and the Crusader and Arab elements are clearly distinguished - the former used dark volcanic tufa, and the later, white limestone. Visitors enter the castle through the Ottoman Gate, after which you can wander its courtyards and battlements and delve into its vaulted passageways (a flashlight is recommended). Tucked away in the lower part of the castle is a small Archaeological Museum, where you can learn more about the site.

Built in 1115 by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, Shobak Castle was the first of many fortifications erected beyond the Jordan River to guard the road from Egypt to Damascus. Having resisted a number of attacks, it finally fell to Saladin's troops in 1189 after a two-year siege that saw the defenders selling off their family members for food. Today, the castle experience begins when visitors first glimpse its imposing silhouette from a distance. Within the castle complex you’ll find original Crusader elements alongside Mamluk additions and modern restorations, such as a church with a Crusader cross or keep with Quaranic inscriptions. In the catacombs of one church, you can find Islamic tablets, Christian carvings, rocks used for catapults, and what is allegedly Saladin's throne. While plans to hold large-scale reenactments on site haven’t yet been realized, the staff dress as Saladin's soldiers and are happy to pose for pictures.