Azraq Wetland Reserve

The restored heart of Jordan’s great desert oasis, with boardwalks through the reeds, water buffalo and migrating birds

Plan your visit Explore it in 360°

Established1978 by the RSCN

Ramsar siteSince 1977

LocationAzraq South

Marsh Trail1.5 km

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Travel Guides Part of Jordan’s Nature & Wildlife Reserves

Introduction

For thousands of years the springs of Azraq made a lake in the desert.

For thousands of years the springs of Azraq fed the only permanent wetland in Jordan’s eastern desert. Pumping drained it almost completely in the 1980s and 1990s, and the Azraq Wetland Reserve, on the eastern edge of Azraq South, protects and restores what remains.

Walk the Marsh Trail on boardwalks through the reeds, watch birds from the hides, look for the water buffalo in the pools and find the old basalt wall of ʿAyn Sawda. Most visitors need about an hour; birdwatchers stay longer.

Best timeDec–Apr

Time needed1 hr

Ticket8 JOD

From Amman110 km · 1 hr 30 min

Combine withQasr Azraq · 10 min

Google rating4.2 · Reviews

Highlights · A desert wetland

Six things not to miss at Azraq

Boardwalks, buffalo, an ancient wall and birds

The reserve is small and easy to walk. These are the places that make the visit.

The boardwalk across the marsh, Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan

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01 · Trail

The Marsh Trail

Marsh Trail

A 1.5 km trail on boardwalks and paths through the reeds and past the pools.

Look closely

The bird hides along the way.

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What to see

Five parts of the visit: the Marsh Trail, the water buffalo, the basalt wall, the dead trees and the visitor centre. Pick one to see what to look for.

The Marsh Trail beside a pool, Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan

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01 · Through the reeds

Walk the Marsh Trail

The self-guided Marsh Trail, about 1.5 km long, follows raised boardwalks and paths through the reed beds and past open pools. Bird hides look out over the water, and one overlooks the Shishan springs, which once fed the whole wetland.

Walk slowly and quietly: birds are easier to see from the hides, especially early in the morning.

1.5 kmBoardwalksBird hidesIncluded in the ticket

Look for

The bird hides along the trail
The pools of the restored wetland
The Shishan springs viewpoint

Dig deeperA lake in the desert

In February 1967 more than 340,000 waterfowl were counted at Azraq. From 1980 water was pumped from the oasis to Amman, private wells added more, and by 1992 the springs had stopped flowing.

Explore in 360°

Water buffalo cooling off in a pool, Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan

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02 · Grazing the reeds

Look for the buffalo

Water buffalo were brought to Azraq by Chechen settlers. They died out when the marsh dried, and the RSCN later brought back a small, managed herd.

Grazing and wallowing, the buffalo keep the reed beds open. On hot days look for them cooling off in the pools.

Managed herdReed bedsPools

Look for

Buffalo wallowing in the pools
Paths trampled through the reeds
The dense reed beds they graze

The basalt wall of ʿAyn Sawda, Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan

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03 · ʿAyn Sawda

Find the Umayyad wall

A long wall of black basalt runs through the reserve. Excavated in 2013–16 at ʿAyn Sawda, it was built in the Umayyad period and reworked in the Abbasid period, as part of an enclosure with a water reservoir on one side and farmland on the other.

Some of its basalt blocks are carved with designs that have no known parallel.

Umayyad periodBasaltExcavated 2013–16

Look for

The line of the basalt wall
Carved basalt blocks
The dry land around it

Dig deeperOlder than the wall

People have used the Azraq basin for hundreds of thousands of years. At Shishan, stone tools lie with the bones of ancient elephants and rhinoceros up to 250,000 years old.

Dead trees on the edge of the marsh, Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan

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04 · A lost oasis

See the dead trees

Bare grey trees stand among the green shrubs, killed when the springs dried up. They are a reminder of how much of the oasis was lost.

Since 1994 the RSCN has restored about a tenth of the former wetland, and a new pool added in 2016–17 roughly doubled its water surface.

Restoration since 1994New pool 2016–17

Look for

The bare trunks among the shrubs
Green shrubs growing back around them

Dig deeperSaving the killifish

The Azraq killifish, a small fish found nowhere else, is Jordan’s only endemic vertebrate. It almost vanished as the pools dried; in 2020 about 650 fish bred in captivity were returned to restored pools.

The visitor centre, Azraq Wetland Reserve, Jordan

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05 · Start here

Start at the visitor centre

The visitor centre at the entrance, built of black basalt, has the ticket office, displays about the oasis and its wildlife, and a nature shop.

Guided trails and local cultural experiences can be booked with the RSCN.

TicketsDisplaysNature shop

Look for

The basalt domes of the building
The displays about the oasis

Nature & conservation

An oasis lost and restored

For thousands of years the springs of Azraq fed the only permanent wetland in Jordan’s eastern desert. Pumping drained it in the 1980s, and since 1994 the RSCN has been restoring part of it.

Umayyad periodThe basalt enclosure of ʿAyn Sawda is built
AD 1977The Azraq Oasis is listed under the Ramsar Convention
AD 1978The RSCN establishes the reserve
AD 1980Water is pumped from Azraq to Amman
AD 1992The springs stop flowing
AD 1994The RSCN begins to restore the wetland
AD 2020About 650 killifish are returned to restored pools

ProfileAzraq Wetland Reserve: the full storyThe history, the drying and the restoration of the Azraq oasis.Read the profile →

Plan your visit

Everything you need to know before you go

The reserve is on the eastern edge of Azraq South, about 100–115 km east of Amman, and is signposted from the main road. Qasr Azraq is about 5–7 km to the north.

Good to know: the trail is flat and easy, partly on boardwalks, but there is little shade.

Opening hoursOpen dailyUsually 09:00–16:00 · confirm before visiting

Entry ticket8 JODResidents 6 JOD · Marsh Trail included

Time to visit1 hrAbout 1 hour, longer for birdwatching

From Amman110 kmAbout 1 hour 30 min by road

LocationAzraq South31.8338° N, 36.8206° EGet directions

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

On site

What you’ll find at Azraq Wetland Reserve

Visitor centre
Ticket office
Toilets
Free parking
Museum
Guide available
Food & drinks
Market / shop
Hotels

Access: no 4x4 needed

Activities

With the RSCN at Azraq

Wetland trailsAl Waha, Marsh and Water Buffalo trails, up to 2 hours

Biking trailsMudflat trail 2–3 hours, village trail 4–5 hours

Community experiencesChechen, Druze and Bedouin experiences

Azraq Lodge16 rooms in the reserve

Book with the RSCN at least 24 hours ahead. Prices and availability are on the RSCN site.

All activities and prices

When to go

December to April is best for birds. Come early in the morning, when birds are most active and it is cooler.

BestGood, cooler or warmVery hot

Tip: come early in the morning and walk quietly: the birds are easier to see from the hides.

Before you go

Shops and restaurants are in the town of Azraq.

BinocularsFor the birds on the pools
A hatLittle shade on the trail
WaterIt is hot in the desert sun
Cash in Jordanian dinarsFor tickets and the shop

Common questions

Quick answers before you set off.

How long do I need at the Azraq Wetland Reserve?

About an hour for the Marsh Trail and the visitor centre. Birdwatchers often stay longer.

When is the best time to see birds?

From December to April, when migrating and wintering birds stop at the pools. Early morning is best.

Is the Marsh Trail suitable for children?

Yes. The trail is short and flat, partly on boardwalks. Keep small children close near the water.

Can I combine the wetland with the desert castles?

Yes. Qasr Azraq is about 5–7 km to the north, and our Black Desert, Azraq Oasis and Desert Castles tour stops at the wetland.

Combine with

The wetland is at the heart of the Azraq oasis, with the basalt fort and the desert castles nearby. Drive times are from the reserve.

Open the route in Google Maps

Qasr AzraqBasalt fort7 km · ~10 min drive · Tour2

Shaumari Wildlife ReserveWildlife reserve20 km · ~25 min drive 3

Qasr AmraDesert castle26 km · ~20 min drive · Tour4

Qasr Ain Es-SilUmayyad farmhouse8 km · ~12 min drive 5

Qasr UweinidRoman fort12 km · ~25 min drive 6

Qasr UsaykhimRoman hilltop fort24 km · ~30 min drive

Tour 1 Black Desert, Azraq Oasis & Desert Castles. Compare the tours

Private tours

A private day tour that includes Azraq Wetland Reserve

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

Black Desert, Azraq Oasis & Desert Castles Full-Day Tour

from$170per group (1–3) · 120 JOD

Route map: Black Desert, Azraq Oasis & Desert Castles

Tour 1 · Full day · Private

Black Desert, Azraq Oasis & Desert Castles Full-Day Tour

Journey deep into Jordan’s eastern desert on this private full-day adventure that combines remarkable history with unique desert landscapes. Scattered across the region are the mysterious Umayyad Desert Castles—impressive complexes dating back to the 8th century that once served as palaces, caravan stations, and administrative centres during the early Islamic period.

HistoryArchitectureNatureCultureArt5 Desert Castles

Duration7–8 hr

Pick-up8 or 9 AM

Group1–3, private

Included