We met nice couple in Madaba. They rented a car and invited us to join them at a day trip to desert castles. We participated in a fuel costs. In the morning we started the trip. We visited the following castles:

  • Qasr al-Kharana – founded in 710. It was located in the remote area far away from the routes.
  • Qusayr Amra – built in 8th century. It used to be ancient Roman military post. There are beautiful paintings in the Turkish baths. I was impressed with the ancient system of ancient heating system of the bath.
  • Qasr Azraq – built in the 4th century. It is famous of British soldier Lawrence of Arabia. The castle was his accommodation in 1917-18.
  • Umm ar-Rasas – is famous of extraordinary mosaics. It used to be a small town at ancient Roman era.
Azraq Castle, Jordan
Azraq Castle, Jordan

It is impossible to reach the destinations by public transport. You need to take a taxi or rent a car.

When we visited Umm ar-Rasas the weather had changed. The sky was full of dark clouds and it started to rain. The employee of the museum warn us:

  • Museum closed. Storm is approaching. Beware of Flash Floods.
Qasr Amra, Jordan
Qasr Amra, Jordan

He was right. All routes to Madaba were closed. The flash foods made them impassable. We had to wait a few hours to take stones, mud out of the route. You can watch the footage of devastating power of flash floods:

Flash floods killed a few of people in Jordan and forced the evacuation of nearly 4000 tourists from the ancient city of Petra.