Kings Highway Tour
The best way to see East Jordan
Kings Highway Tour
The best way to see
East Jordan
One of the best ways of seeing East Jordan is by taking The Kings Highway Tour. The tour starts in Amman and goes to Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea, Wadi al Mujib, and then finally, Petra where you will finish the tour. It is a great way of seeing the sights along the King’s Highway whilst also slowly making your way down to Petra by the end of the day. To do this tour by a private taxi will cost around 120JD (about €156).
Madaba
Madaba is best known for its artistic beauty. It is called the ‘City of Mosaics’ and it lives up to its name. It is a colourful city with plenty of history to learn about as well as this, it is the perfect place to shop for your souvenirs or enjoy some local Jordanian food.
One of the most famous things to see in Madaba is St George’s Church which houses the largest mosaic map in the world. Other sites in the city include the Church of the Virgin and the Hippolytus Hall which both form part of the Archaeological Park and museum.
The churches are not included in the Jordan Pass and will cost 1JD (about €1.3) each to enter.
Mount Nebo
Only 10 km from Madaba city centre lies Mount Nebo which is a sacred mountain with stunning panoramic views. On a clear day, you can see the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, and even Jerusalem from the top.
Mount Nebo has a lot of religious significance as it is believed to be where Moses stood to view the sacred Promised Land before his death. Moses is believed to have died on Mount Nebo and was buried in Moab. A small monastery was built on the mountain peak in memory of Moses in the 4th century and this still stands today and contains some beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics.
This is not included in the Jordan Pass and will cost 3JD (about €3.9) to enter the site.
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, and it’s also one of the most amazing sights in Jordan. The water here is so salty that you can float without any effort at all. The place is perfect for swimming or just relaxing while enjoying the soothing breeze that surrounds you.
There are multiple ways you can experience The Dead Sea for all types of travellers’ budgets.
The most budget-friendly option is going to a public beach which is perfect for a quick dip in one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world.
Other ways to experience The Dead Sea would be either going to a private beach if you want to relax for a few hours or, if you have more time on your hands, booking a night or two at a resort.
It’s recommended that you do not spend more than 20 minutes swimming in The Dead Sea. Longer swims in such salty water can cause dehydration and other problems.
Wadi al Mujib
The Mujib Biosphere Reserve is the lowest nature reserve in the world and is located within the deep Wadi Mujib gorge. The Reserve extends from Karak in the south to the Madaba mountains in the north. There is a magnificent range of biodiversity here due to water flowing from seven tributaries and the variation in elevation in the valleys.
There are loads of different trails you can take like: the siq trail, canyon trail, malaqi trail, ibex trail etc. On each of the different trails you can see spectacular waterfalls, towering sandstone cliffs (like the ones as you enter Petra) and you will have the chance to go swimming in deep pools depending on the rainfall.
These trails all start at Mujib Adventure Centre and are best done with a guide as you don’t want to end up getting lost or getting caught in dangerous weather conditions. It is also only possible to do this activity in the summer in good weather conditions.
Other things to see along the King’s Highway:
- Dana Nature Reserve
- Kerak Castle
- Lot's Cave
Read more: Jordan: The Ultimate Travel Guide
