Running most of the length of Jordan, The King’s Highway stretches from Madaba down to the Red Sea. This post covers the smaller sights seen along the way, with the big ticket sights of Petra, Wadi Rum, Red Sea, Jerash, and the Dead Sea covered separately.

Madaba was a peaceful place to end my trip, a relaxed market town relatively close to Amman. It is home to one of the largest Christian communities in a predominantly Muslim country, and is known for the quality of its mosaic, both of which are demonstrated at the St George’s Greek Orthodox Church.

I didn’t go inside St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church but enjoyed the exterior.

Personally I prefer mosques though as more welcoming and relaxed places, typified by King Hussain Mosque.

Kerak Castle was built in the 12th century as one of a series of crusader castles occupying strategic points. It is now surrounded by the town but restoration gives a good idea of what life would have been like then.

Mt Nebo is where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. The views are certainly impressive…

In the fourth century a church was built on top of the hill, and in the fifth century some wonderful mosaics added.

At a nearby shop they explained how mosaic are made, and sold, along with every other conceivable tourist souvenir.

Jordan is a surprisingly varied country despite over 85% of it being desert. These photos hopefully give an idea of the different landscapes travelled through in half a day of driving.

It isn’t uncommon to see herds of camel in the road.

Or mother and daughter camels on the back of trucks…