Qasr Abu El-Kharaq

A dry-stone watchtower on a hill, in sight of Qasr Bshir

Plan your visit Explore it in 360°

FoundedIron Age (probably)

TowerAbout 22 × 18 m

Location5 km NW of Qasr Bshir

Access4x4 track

Book a tour

Travel Guides Iron Age Nabataean Kingdom Roman Period Part of Jordan’s Roman Forts

Introduction

Walls that lean inwards, built without mortar.

Qasr Abu El-Kharaq is a large stone tower on a hilltop about 5 km north-west of Qasr Bshir. Its dry-stone walls slope inwards, and in 1936 the archaeologist Nelson Glueck counted 22 courses still standing over 8 m high at the best corner.

Most of the pottery found here is Iron Age, with some Nabataean and early Roman pieces, so the tower was probably founded in the Iron Age and used again later. It may have served as an outpost of Qasr Bshir in the late Roman period. It stands against the north wall of an older enclosure of about 60 × 60 m.

Best timeMar–May · Oct–Nov

Time needed20 min

TicketFree

From Amman100 km · 1 hr 50 min

Combine withQasr Bshir · 20 min

Google rating4.8 · Reviews

Highlights · A dry-stone tower

A tower built to last without mortar

Sloping walls, a raised doorway and a view to Qasr Bshir

Abu El-Kharaq is a quick stop from Qasr Bshir, and a good contrast to it: older, rougher and built without mortar.

A corner of the tower with inward-sloping walls, Qasr Abu El-Kharaq, Jordan

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01 · Architecture

Sloping walls

The tower

The outer walls lean inwards as they rise, which made the dry-stone tower more stable.

Look closely

The angle of the walls from a corner.

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Room by room

What to see

Three stops: the tower, its entrance and masonry, and the view from the hill. Pick a stop to see what to look for.

The tower on its hilltop, Qasr Abu El-Kharaq, Jordan

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01 · From outside

Walk round the tower

The tower measures about 22 × 18 m. Its walls are built without mortar and slope inwards as they rise. In 1936 Nelson Glueck recorded over 8 m standing at the best corner, with 22 courses, and 23 courses on the west wall. He also saw traces of plaster, mostly on the south side.

Kennedy’s aerial photographs show that it stands against the north wall of an enclosure of about 60 × 60 m, which may be older than the tower.

22 × 18 mDry stoneWalls lean inwardsEnclosure

Look for

The inward slope of the walls
The faint line of the enclosure
Plaster traces on the south side

Dig deeperHow old is it?

There is no inscription, and the site has never been excavated. Glueck found mostly Iron Age pottery and a little Nabataean ware, including one sherd of fine red sigillata. The later Limes Arabicus survey found the same mix.

So the tower was probably founded in the Iron Age, or possibly by the Nabataeans, and used again later. The date of the 4th century AD you may read elsewhere belongs to Qasr Bshir, not to this tower.

Explore this room in 360°

The doorway in the north wall of the tower, Qasr Abu El-Kharaq, Jordan

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02 · Details

Find the doorway

Early surveys recorded a doorway in the north wall and a low opening into a blocked passage near the southern end of the west wall. In 1936 Glueck described the doorway near the east end of the north wall, a little above ground level, and thought steps or a terrace once led up to it.

The passage was already blocked by fallen debris, and its purpose is unknown.

North doorwayBlocked passageCut corner stones

Look for

The doorway in the north wall
Corner stones cut to shape

The view from the hilltop over the plain, Qasr Abu El-Kharaq, Jordan

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03 · From the hill

Look across to Qasr Bshir

Abu El-Kharaq stands on a hill with wide views over the steppe. Qasr Bshir is in sight to the south-east and Qasr El-Al to the north-east, and the towers could pass signals between them.

It is a good place to understand the whole group of forts around Qasr Bshir.

HilltopView to Qasr BshirView to El-Al

Look for

Qasr Bshir on the plain
Qasr El-Al on its hill
Shallow wadis draining west

History & significance

An Iron Age tower near a Roman fort

Abu El-Kharaq was probably founded in the Iron Age and used again in Nabataean and early Roman times. It may have served as an outpost of Qasr Bshir in the late Roman period.

Iron AgeThe tower is probably founded
1st c. BC–2nd c. ADNabataean and early Roman use
1936Nelson Glueck records the tower
1980sLimes Arabicus Project survey

ProfileQasr Abu El-Kharaq: the full storyHistory, the tower, research and the timeline. About 2 min read.Read the profile →

Plan your visit

Everything you need to know before you go

Qasr Abu El-Kharaq is off the Desert Highway near Qatrana, about 5 km north-west of Qasr Bshir. It is hard to find, with no signs, and can only be reached by 4x4.

Good to know: the site is unstaffed and unsigned, with no facilities and no shade. The walls are dry stone, so don’t climb on them.

Opening hoursOpen accessUnstaffed site · visit in daylight

Entry ticketFreeNo ticket office

Time to visit20 minCombine with Qasr Bshir

From Amman100 kmAbout 1 hr 50 min via the Desert Highway, the last part on a track

LocationNear Qatrana31.3654° N, 35.9418° EGet directions

Opening hours and prices checked October 2026. Spotted a change? Let us know

On site

What you’ll find at Qasr Abu El-Kharaq

Viewpoint

Not on site: visitor centre, ticket office, toilets, designated parking, museum, guide, food & drinks, market / shop, hotels
Access: 4x4 needed

When to go

Spring and autumn are best. After rain the tracks can be impassable, and in summer there is no shade.

BestGood, cooler or warmVery hot

Tip: visit it straight after Qasr Bshir, and look back from the hill: you will see how the two were linked.

Before you go

Services are limited out in the desert.

Water and snacksShops in Qatrana
Sun hat and sunscreenVery little shade outside
Comfortable shoesUneven, stony ground
A 4x4 and a guideNo signs, hard to find
Toilet paperBring your own, just in case

Common questions

Quick answers before you set off.

Do I need a 4x4?

Yes. The site can only be reached by 4x4 on desert tracks, and it is hard to find without a guide.

Is there an entrance fee?

No. The site is unstaffed and free to visit.

Is it Roman?

Probably not originally. Most of the pottery is Iron Age, with some Nabataean and early Roman pieces. It may have been used as an outpost of Qasr Bshir later.

Can I visit it on a tour?

Yes. It is the second stop on our Expedition to Qasr Bshir, Lejjun, Umm ar-Rasas & Karak.

What should I wear?

Comfortable, closed shoes for uneven ground, and light clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, which is respectful in rural Jordan and protects you from the sun.

Combine with

Abu El-Kharaq is one of a group of forts and towers around Qasr Bshir. Drive times are from Qasr Abu El-Kharaq and include the tracks.

Open the route in Google Maps

Qasr BshirRoman fort5 km · ~20 min drive · Tour 12

Qasr El-AlIron Age fort4 km · ~20 min drive 3

Qal’at QatranaOttoman pilgrim fort24 km · ~55 min drive · Tour 1

Tour 1 Qasr Bshir, Lejjun, Umm ar-Rasas & Karak. Compare the tours

Private tours

A private day tour that includes Qasr Abu El-Kharaq

The tour is just for you: your own vehicle and driver, hotel pickup in Amman, entry tickets included, and one fixed price for up to three travellers.

Private: only your group

Your own vehicle & driver

Hotel pick-up in Amman

Entry tickets included

from$250per group (1–3) · 178 JOD

Route map: Qasr Bshir, Lejjun, Umm ar-Rasas & Karak

Tour 1 · Full day · Private

Expedition to Qasr Bshir, Lejjun, Umm Ar-Rasas, Karak

Set high at around 800 meters above sea level, deep within a vast and rugged basalt plain, Qasr Bshir (Castra Praetorium Mobene) remains one of Jordan’s most remote and best-preserved Roman frontier forts. Its isolated location makes it difficult to reach for the average traveller—but that’s exactly what makes this journey so rewarding.

HistoryArchitectureRoman fortsCrusader castleUNESCO site7 stops

Duration8–9 hr

Pick-up8 or 9 AM

Group1–3, private

Included