The King's Highway

The King's Highway follows the line of a route named in the Book of Numbers and used continuously since, running along the top of the plateau from Amman south to the Gulf of Aqaba, and the modern road that follows it passes Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Mujib gorge, Karak, Dana and Shobak on the way to Petra. It is far slower than the Desert Highway and it is the way to travel if the point is what lies between.

Highlights

• The Mujib crossing - the road dropping into and climbing out of the gorge.
• The string of sites - Madaba, Karak, Dana and Shobak along the route.
• The plateau country - farmland and escarpment along the top of the rift.
• The route's age - a line named in the Book of Numbers and used ever since.

When to go

March to May and October to November are the best months. Winter brings snow and closures on the higher sections. Summer is hot but manageable at altitude.

What to expect

The road is slow and winding and the Mujib crossing alone adds an hour. Snow closes sections in winter. Public transport along it is very limited, so a car is effectively required.

Nearby

Madaba is the northern end, and Petra is south.

Key facts