Our final destination in Jordan was the only coastal city, Aqaba, ideally set between the majestic Wadi Rum mountains and the Red Sea. It has been settled for millennia because of freshwater springs in the vicinity; King Solomon’s port and foundry of Ezion-Geber lay nearby. With its...
Google Maps again took us through a lovely scenic, super narrow, and steep road to Shobak Castle, perched in a wild, remote landscape. So we got a few good shots, but on the way back, we used the other “correct road.” We also had to say that the brown signboards led cars to...
One of the most popular trails at Dana, and the only one without a guide, is the 14 km-long Wadi Dana Trail. First, we paid the entrance fee to the Dana Biosphere Reserve (🎟️ 10 JOD), and then we started our 5-hour hike from Dana to Feynan Ecolodge. This trail leads downhill but is not as...
We arrived at the charming 15th-century stone village of Dana, which dangles beneath the King’s Highway on a precipice, commanding exceptional views of the valley below. That valley and the surrounding area make up the Dana Biosphere Reserve. The village of Dana has been occupied...
Today, after yesterday’s visit to Kerak castle, we took another scenic route (different than last time) through the Moab Mountain Ridge and the Highlands, where slopes drop steeply 1,000 meters or more towards the Dead Sea Rift. We drove to the edge of Wadi Dana, shaped like a...
After so many troubles with narrow, steep roads in Jordan, we were unsure where to stop to visit Kerak castle, so we parked on the crossing next to the abandoned amusement park and took the local van to the castle (2 JOD). It was a good parking spot; even traffic police opened a...
The vast Wadi Mujib stretches 70km from the Desert Hwy to the Dead Sea, proudly called the ‘Grand Canyon of Jordan.’ The spectacular canyon is also significant as the historical boundary between the ancient Amorites (to the north) and the Moabites (to the south). Moses is...
We stopped at the Umm Ar Rasas site, which spans the expansive ruins of Kastron Mefaa (mentioned in the Bible as the Roman military outpost of Mephaath). The ruins encompass four churches (including the Church of Lions, with impressive namesake mosaics) and the city walls. Arches rise...
We drove a few kilometers from Madama to Mt Nebo (🎟️ 3 JOD), where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, a land he was forbidden to enter. It’s believed that he died at the age of 120 and was later buried in the area, although the exact location of the burial site is the...
Finding some exit from Desert Hwy towards the amiable market town of Madaba was difficult. Even the traffic police officers were unsure how to get off the highway, but we made it. We parked at a friendly gated visitors center, from where it’s an easy 1.5-hour walk to cover all main...