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Back to Ajlun

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Voykit pocket guide · Jordan

Ajlun

Spend a day or two in Ajlun to see the castle, nature reserve and Mar Elias; one night if you want to hike or relax.

Ajlun is a small town in northern Jordan known for its medieval castle, forest reserve and cooler, greener hills. A day covers the main sights; an extra night lets you hike the reserve or enjoy the town at a slower pace.

AmmanIrbidKerakMadabaMafraqPellaPetraQasr AmraSaltTala BayUmm QaisWadi RumZarqaWadi Musa (Petra)Ajlun100 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Jordan
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Avoid
Jul–Aug (hot)
Stay
0–1 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
JOD
Money
Jordanian dinar (JOD) is divided into 1,000 fils (or 100 piastres); one dinar is a high-value note.
Daily spend
Budget JD 30–45 excl. bed · Mid JD 45–70 excl. bed · High JD 70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Zain, Orange and Umniah sell tourist SIMs at Queen Alia arrivals; passport registration is required.
Emergency
Police, ambulance, fire 911
Plugs
Types C, D, F, G, J · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs fit most sockets; UK three-pin (G) is common in newer hotels. Bring a universal adapter.
Tipping
Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge; many mid-range places add 10%.; Taxi / Careem: Round up to the next half or whole dinar.; Guide, half day: JOD 5–10 per person.; Driver, full day: JOD 10–20.; Wadi Rum camp staff and jeep driver: JOD 5–10 per group, per day.; Hotel porter: JOD 1 per bag.
Water
Treated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered. Water is scarce — short showers help.
Toilets
Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets at some bus stations. A hose replaces paper in many places. Petra has toilet blocks along the main trail.

Get in

By air

AMM · Queen Alia International Airport
about 1.5 h drive south via Highway 35
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Town centre is walkable; the castle is 3 km (1.9 mi) uphill – walk or take a taxi (set price in advance). Buses from Amman arrive early morning; taxis can be hired for day trips to Jerash.

See and do

Known for

  • Ajlun Castle
  • Mar Elias
  • Ajlun Nature Reserve

Day trips

WhereHowTime
JerashBus from Ajlun bus station, about 30 min≈1 h total

Sleep

Qalet Al Jabal Hotel
Single JD 28, double JD 38; central, near castle
Aljun Hotel
JD 28; basic accommodation
Aljun Forest Reserve Cabins
Campground JD 15‑20 per person; double cabins JD 70

Language

Arabic is the language; the spoken Jordanian dialect is Levantine, close to Palestinian and Syrian speech, with Bedouin dialects in the south. English is common in hotels, tourism and among educated Amman residents, much less in villages and with taxi drivers.

  • Useful words: marhaba (hello), shukran (thank you), la shukran (no thanks), yalla (let's go), addesh? (how much?), inshallah (God willing — often means 'maybe').
  • WhatsApp is the default channel for hotels, drivers and camps.

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Salam alaykum or marhaba; handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Kissing or hugging someone of the other sex in greeting
  • Hospitality: Accept tea or coffee; eat a little when invited; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
  • Right hand: Eat, pass things and pay with the right hand; avoid: Using the left hand to offer food
  • Feet: Keep soles on the ground when sitting; avoid: Pointing the soles of your feet at people
  • Mosques: Covered arms and legs, headscarf for women, shoes off; avoid: Entering during prayer times unless invited
  • Dress in town: Long trousers or skirts, shirts with sleeves; avoid: Shorts and swimwear away from resorts
  • Photography: Ask first, especially with women and Bedouin families; avoid: Photographing police, soldiers or checkpoints
  • Politics: Listen; opinions on Palestine run deep; avoid: Joking about the King or the royal family

Scams and watch-outs

  • Buses from Amman run only when full; aim for 08:00 departure.
  • Agree taxi price before boarding; drivers may wait for return trips.
  • Castle entry fee JD 3; reserve entry JD 7.

Ajlun is generally safe for visitors; keep valuables secure and use the 911 emergency number if needed.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Ajlun yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Ajlun Castle
  • Mar Elias
  • Ajlun Nature Reserve

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Ajlun

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police, ambulance, fire911

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/ajlun). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.