Since Jordan is a perfect destination for road tripping, unsurprisingly, there are many famous and picturesque roads you can drive and exciting places to stop by along the way.

Three highways connect north with south, and King’s Highway being one of them, is by far the most popular one. No wonder. Since the Highway allows you to explore Crusader castles, biblical sights, higher altitude villages or historical mosaics, it also leads through two mountain ranges with amazing views. 

In this blog post, we will tell you all the important information you need to know about driving King’s Highway, the top attractions along the way and tips for your smooth planning. 

The best way to explore Kings Highway

Same as Jordan, King’s Highway is best enjoyed by a car. The easiest way is to rent a car straight at the airport. Just book your car before you arrive to make sure they are available for you. We rented a car through Discovercars.com two days before our arrival. Winter prices are much lower than in summer, so it might be a perfect opportunity to save some cash if you arrive in December/January as we did. 

If it is not a possibility for you to rent a car, then travelling in Jordan will be pretty hard and time-consuming but still doable. Busses are leaving the Queen Alia International airport just in front of the building. Find Sariyah Express, where you can buy bus tickets and check the current bus schedule. The busses go either to Amman or Madaba. 

Get your quote with Discovercars.com

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Madaba vs Amman, where should you go first after arrival

Like us, if you arrive at Amman International Airport, it makes sense that your first stop will be Madaba. This byzantine city is a famous stop on King’s Highway and let us tell you why. 

We thought we would start in Amman when we planned our Jordan trip. But once we had a closer look at the map, it really made no sense to drive first to Amman, and there are more reasons for that. 

First, the traffic is crazy, and you might need time for acclimatisation to a new driving style (which, by the way, is very chaotic). Second, the airport lies on the direct, not that busy road towards Madaba, which is also our starting point on King’s Highway.

Also, our two weeks itinerary is a loop, so it makes sense to leave Amman as the last stop. 

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Insurance 

Don’t forget to get yourself proper insurance, especially when you plan on driving a car in a foreign country. True Traveller is a perfect choice for Europeans. They provide excellent coverage and customer service.

Regardless of country of residency, IATI is a great insurance option for Jordan. Readers of Broken Navigation get an exclusive 5% discount.

Get your 5% discount with IATI.

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Kings Highway – Things to know

King’s Highway was used as an ancient trade route in the last 3000 years. To follow the road today, you have the opportunity to step back in time with some significant landmarks along the way. 

King’s Highway, alias Highway 35, is in the heart of Jordan and stretches from Irbid in the north to the sacred city of Petra in the south. However, we drove it from Madaba, which is a total of 220 km but bear in mind that only to drive it takes around 4 hours without any stops.

Since the days are short in winter, we split the attractions along King’s Highway into two days. Firstly, on day 3 of our itinerary, we drove from Madaba to Wadi Mujib (Petra). Along the way, we stopped on many viewpoints and villages and visited Kerak castle. After a long day of driving, we spent the night in Wadi Musa to visit Petra early the following day. 

We spent the following days in Wadi Rum and Aqaba. It means that we left the visit of Little Petra, Shobak Castle and Dana to day 8 when we were already returning from Akaba towards north and Dead Sea Highway.

If you come in the main season, you will for sure have more time during the day to manage more than we did. 

Maybe you expect Kings Highway to be a deserted road where you barely see anyone for days. This is very far from the truth. Even though the heavy traffic takes the Desert Highway, it is still pretty busy most of the time. 

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Top places to visit on King’s Highway

Madaba

Madaba is known as a Mosaic city of Jordan, and you soon can tell why. This is the list of the best places you can visit in Madaba city centre.

Saint George’s Church

Saint George’s Church (or Greek orthodox Saint George’s Church) is just opposite Moab Land hotel. If you’re interested in Byzantine-era, go straight inside as there you find the famous mosaic map on the floor. There are also many pictures and decorations made of mosaic too. If you stay in Moab Land hotel, you will get a gorgeous view over the church during the night, and it is worth it. It is not included in a Jordan Pass, and the entry fee is 1 JD. The church is open from 8am to 5pm in the off-season and from 8am to 6pm in the high season.

Archaeological park I and II

Another stop is Archaeological park I and II – rather than park, this open-air museum features some of the finest mosaic collections and ruins.

Carpet city

There are signs in the city centre which leads to carpet city. In fact, it is just one shop with carpets and probably the best place if you want to buy some handmade rugs. 

Visitor centre

If you don’t stay in Madaba overnight, therefore just search for a parking spot, you can park your car here every day during opening hours for free. Another place to see the mosaic and small museum with some information boards. You can pick up a city map here or watch a short film to understand Madaba’s history better. 

King Hussain Mosque

We didn’t go inside, but it’s pretty impressive with its golden roof from the outside. The mosque is located in the middle of the city centre so you can get a fantastic view if your accommodation has a rooftop terrace. 

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church is another impressive church to explore. At this point, you probably notice how culturally rich Madaba is. Even though the population in Jordan is Muslim here, you find one-third of the people being Christians. You can climb up the tower to get a 360° view of Madaba city. There is also an underground museum with mosaic art and narrow tunnels. 

Church of the Apostles

Another church with mosaic. Slightly off the city centre but still within walking distance. Open for visitors between 9am-4pm (oct-apr) and 8am to 5pm (may-sep). 

Other options in the area: pilgrimage site Mount Nebo, stone structures (dolmens) in Wadi Jadid or Roman ruins Mukawir. 

Where to eat in Madaba

Most hotels and locals will send you to Fokar&Bhar restaurant, which we also tried. Unfortunately, the food was not very impressive. We recommend you find a local restaurant on Al-Yarmouk St. We found the best falafel and hummus in the tiny eatery just under Mount Nebo Hotel.

Where to stay in Madaba

Budget I Moab Land Hotel – we stayed here. The location is perfect, and there is even a rooftop terrace with a view over the city centre and King Hussain Mosque. Traditional breakfast is included, and the owner Simon is very helpful. 

Mid-range I Pilgrims guesthouse – centrally located guesthouse with breakfast and comfortable rooms 

Luxury I Mount Nebo hotel – rooms with beautiful design and restaurant at the spot. They also have rooms with a nice view over the city. Breakfast is included. 

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Kerak castle

Crusader Kerak castle is the place that once witnessed the fights between Crusaders and Saladin Islamic armies. Today, an important historical site that holds the treasure of history. 

The entrance to Kerak is 1 JD, or if you have a Jordan Pass, it is included. Opening hours in winter are from 8am to 4pm (Oct-Mar) and from 8am to 7pm in summer (Apr-Sep). 

Local guides by the entrance give you a tour for around 10 JD. If you are not interested, just explore by yourself as there are many signs with information all around. It took us 2 hours to fully explore the Kerak castle as the complex is quite extensive, and there are many underground parts to be explored. 

The entry to the complex is through the Ottoman’s gate, which you reach through the bridge. Then you get inside the complex, where you can admire what is left of the castle. Also, thanks to a strategic position on the hill, the views are magnificent. A big part of the complex is actually underground, with many rooms, halls and passages. We appreciated this section as on the day of our arrival was nasty weather and strong winds with rain. 

Once you’re done with exploring, make your way to the streets of Kerak, as this city has a great quirky vibe. 

You can park your car in the streets around Kerak castle, or there is paid car park with CCTV for 3 JD on Khaled Ben Al – Walid St. There is a nice falafel place just down the street for 0.75 JOD. 

Where to stay in Kerak

If you want to spend a night in Kerak, check one of the hotels we recommend:

Budget I Cairwan Hotel – this hotel is five minutes away from Kerak Castle. There is also a hotel restaurant and 24h reception.

Mid-range I The Old House – guesthouse with a beautiful terrace with an even better view. 

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Petra

For many, the ancient Nabataean city of Petra is the number one reason to come to Jordan. No wonder we have to admit it is a pretty fascinating experience. You can easily spend a day or even two or three wandering around this vast complex built by Nabataeans many centuries ago. 

Read more: How to visit Petra and Little Petra in Jordan

Where to stay around Petra

Petra complex is in the town of Wadi Musa. Most hotels are within walking distance from the entrance, but it is better to go by car since it is a hilly town.

Budget I Petra Cabin Hostel – the best budget option in the area. Comfortable futon beds and some of them include windows with amazing views. 

Mid-range I Petra Heart Hotel – we stayed here. Centrally located hotel with private parking, which you will appreciate in this hectic town. Traditional Jordanian breakfast is included.

Luxury I Petra Moon Hotel – right by the entrance to the ancient city of Petra, this hotel features a pool to dip in a hot summer, a restaurant and a terrace with great views.

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Little Petra 

As the name suggests, Little Petra is a little sister of Petra, but don’t get confused – to actually visit Little Petra, you need to go by car another 20 minutes or hike 8 km from the Petra complex. Either way, make sure to add Little Petra to your itinerary as well. Not only the road towards it is super scenic, but the place itself also has great energy. Less touristic, which means we’ve been entirely alone during our visit, it makes extra plus points. 

Where to stay around Little Petra

Budget I Little Petra Bedouin Camp – stylish Bedouin tents with a proper bed inside. The campsite is magical with the lights in the rocks and lounge you can relax in. It is located within walking distance from Little Petra. 

Mid-range I The Rock Camp Petra – perfect alternative if Bubble Hotel is out of the budget. Beautiful tent accommodation with pool and restaurant on the spot.

Luxury I Petra Bubble Luxotel – if you desire a real luxury, look no further. Bubble Hotel with magnificent views, hot tub and breakfast included. 

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Dana 

Dana is the perfect base for hiking in Dana Biosphere Reserve, a protected area full of birds and animal species and rich flora. What is interesting about Dana is its ecosystem, with altitudes of 1700 m to minus 50 m. One of the most famous hikes which start in the village is called The Wadi Dana Trail, which is 16 km long and leads to Feynan Ecolodge. 

So yes, hiking is the number one activity you can do in the area, but what about coming in winter as we did? Don’t worry as there are still amazing things you can see. 

Dana – what to expect

First of all, Dana is a very small village, and you can explore it in as little as one hour. You can start the day by going to the viewpoint overlooking the canyon scenery for sunrise. Dana is very specific as it is a stone village from the 15th century. Accommodation, restaurants, and even mosques are made of stones, so it seems time stopped here. 

Don’t forget to bring enough food&water as there are no shops where you can buy it, only hotels that sell overpriced snacks. You can have dinner in hotel’s restaurants, and it usually costs around 5-7 JD per person, but the host always makes sure what you want to eat and cook it just for you. 

If you come in the low season, your host might send you for breakfast to a different hotel as it is common that just one hotel prepare breakfast for guests from other places and the next day, they change. 

It is worth it to stay overnight in Dana. First of all, it has a perfect starting position if you continue to Dead Sea Highway, but it is also a very traditional stone village which won’t disappoint. 

Where to stay in Dana

Budget I Dana Moon Hotel – we stayed here, and even though we usually pick a place with a good review, this one is slightly different. We met the owner, and he was so sweet and welcoming and went the extra mile to make us feel at home, which was successful. Don’t be discouraged by the review. This place really feels so authentic. There is even a Bedouin seating area with a fireplace. 

Mid-range I Dana Tower Hotel – rooms in traditional old stone houses. This place is the one where you meet all fellow backpackers. When we arrived, it was fully booked even though it was winter. 

Mid-range 2 I Dana Gate lodge – another option to experience the old stone houses stay. Authentic accommodation with beautiful decorations. 

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Shobak Castle

Once again, another impressive Crusader castle. Shobak is a very romantic castle strategically located on the hill with magnificent views. It is more damaged than Kerak castle, but the remaining parts are still beautiful to admire. Once again, you can explore underground rooms and passages. At the time of our visit, the site was partially under construction, and some signs with descriptions should be added. 

When you approach Shobak through the one-way road from Shobak village (Musallath), it is worth stopping as there are many beautiful viewpoints from where you can take the first snaps of the castle. 

Shobak Castle feels very romantic, and since Jakub is a history lover, he imagined how it must have been to live here in the past. The site consists of 2 churches, a baptistery, court, market and even prison. Christian carvings are still visible in catacombs, and with some imagination, the pile of rocks you will see by the catacomb entrance used to be a Saladin’s throne. 

Even though Shobak Castle is not as well-preserved as Kerak, the ruins still offer a lot to explore. The car park is by a visitor centre on the little hill opposite, and even though there is also a car park by the castle entrance, it is not possible to park there. It means you have to walk uphill for another 5 minutes to reach the entrance. The entry fee is 1 JD, or it is included in Jordan Pass. 

Where to stay in Shobak

Budget I The Smallest Hotel in the World – this accommodation is not on a booking, but we can’t resist telling you about it. The owner claims he runs the smallest hotel in the World, it is located just below Shobak Castle, and it is basically a cute car with a bed inside with a view of the castle. Funny place. Just check it on Google maps for location. 

The best place to search for a hotel near Shobak is either Dana or Wadi Musa.