The Kings' Highway

One of the oldest continuously used roads on Earth, the Kings' Highway has connected civilisations for more than 5,000 years. Stretching roughly 280 kilometres through Jordan's central highlands from Amman southward to Aqaba, it is referenced in the Old Testament's Book of Numbers (20:17) as the road the Israelites sought to travel during the Exodus. Over the millennia it carried Nabataean spice caravans, Roman legions — who rebuilt it as the Via Traiana Nova under Emperor Trajan — and later served as the principal Hajj route for Muslim pilgrims travelling from Syria to Mecca.

The modern drive follows Highway 35 through a succession of extraordinary sites. Madaba preserves a 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map believed to be the oldest cartographic depiction of the Holy Land. Mount Nebo, just 15 kilometres away, offers panoramic views across the Jordan Valley. Further south, the 12th-century Crusader fortress of Kerak looms over the valley, followed by the wildlife-rich gorges of Wadi Mujib and the remote ridgeline of Dana Nature Reserve before the highway descends toward Petra.

The Kings' Highway demands at least two to three days to appreciate properly. Most travellers base themselves in Madaba for the northern stretch and Wadi Musa or Petra for the south. The route is best driven independently by car, particularly between October and April when temperatures are mild and the highland scenery is at its greenest.