Introduction to Karak

The city of Karak has been inhabited since the Iron Age and at one stage was part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The skyline is dominated by the Karak Castle. Home to around 170,000 people, Karak has a number of restaurants and hotels as well as a number of Ottoman buildings from the 19th century that have been restored. These restored buildings can be found around the Castle Plaza.

There is still a large Christian population in Karak, many of whom can trace their origins back to the Arab tribes who lived here during the Byzantine period. There is also a shrine/tomb of the Biblical figure, Noah, that can be found in Karak.

Karak Castle

The ancient Crusader stronghold at Karak dates back to the 12th century AD. Its endless passageways and maze of stone vaulted halls serve as an impressive reminder of the Crusaders architectural military genius. Work started on the Karak Castle in around 1140AD. It was eventually captured by Saladin in 1189AD.

During the Ottoman period, Karak Castle held an important role due to is strategic location on the routes between Arabia, Greater Syria and Egypt.

Getting to Karak

Karak lies almost 100 miles south of Amman on the Kings Highway. We can arrange visits to Karak as part of a group tour or a private tailor made itinerary to suit you. To discuss your visit to Karak, please call on 0208 816 8789 or send us an email via the 'Contact Us' page and we'll get right back to you.