Journey through Jordan
The curiosity prevailed and we went on an adventure, taking in some of the most unbelievable scenery with chasms and mountains all…
Lining both sides of this 280-kilometre thoroughfare is a rich chain of archaeological and religious sites – prehistoric villages from the Stone Age, biblical towns, Crusader castles, some of the finest early Christian Byzantine mosaics in the Middle East, early Islamic towns, and the rock-cut Nabataean capital of Petra.
The 280 kilometre long King’s Highway is the most ancient and scenic route in Jordan and of great historical and religious significance. It winds its way through forested highlands, open farmland plateaus, deep ravines, the edge of the desert, and the warm Gulf of Aqaba. It is also the back door route to Petra. Not to be overlooked for the more modern Desert Highway which marches through Jordan’s sandy core.
Undoubtedly the highlight of any trip to Jordan and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. From here they dominated the trade routes of ancient Arabia, levying tolls and sheltering caravans laden with Indian spices and silks, African ivory and animal hides.
The kingdom endured for centuries and became widely admired for its refined culture, beautiful architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels. By the 16th century, however, Petra was completely lost to the western world and remained so for 300 years until it was rediscovered by a Swiss traveller in 1812. Today you can see literally hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls and temples. Our selection of elite guides will make your experience of this impressive sight, one of the most memorable experiences of your visit to Jordan.
The King’s Highway starts a short distance outside of the capital sprawl of Amman, at Madaba. Eight kilometres west of Madaba is Mount Nebo, where, in the Old Testament, Moses saw the Promised Land from its peak. The view stretches over the Dead Sea to Israel. Further south is the mighty Crusader castle of Kerak and just short of reaching here is the fabulous lookout over Wadi Mujib Gorge on the way. Shobak Castle is another Crusader masterpiece just ahead of the modern town of Wadi Musa, on the doorstep of Petra.
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