Shawbak CastleWith fewer visitors than Kerak and still in needof restoration, Shawbak is in some ways a more rewarding stop on the Kings' Highway. It is more of an adventure to explore, wanderingaround ornately decorated towers, pastcrumbling churches and underneath vaultedpassageways. The truly intrepid, equipped with a torch, might care to descend the 350 stepsunder the castle to the well that allowed theCrusaders to hold out for two years before itfell to Saladin in 1189 AD.Lot's CaveAnother site of biblical renown, Lot's Cave iswhere the prophet reputedly sheltered followingthe destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Found at the southern end of the Dead Sea, the artefacts recovered from the site are linkedto various different periods of history and thesite itself is worth a visit for its dramatic location.Accessed by 300 steps, the cave is protected by the remains of a church, which houses fiverestored mosaics dating to the 6th century AD.It was originally designed so that Jewish andMuslim pilgrims could also enter the cavewithout needing to pass through the churchthreshold. The views over the town, thesurrounding countryside and to the Dead Seaare breathtaking from here.www.audleytravel.com/jordan ?01993 838 415 ?Jordan35Kerak CastleAs you approach Kerack Castle, which towersover the modern town, it is immediatelyobvious why all the powers involved in theCrusades wanted control of this bastion. Kerakwas established in the 12th century andremained in Crusader hands for just forty years.Its already excellent defensive features werefurther refined by the Mamluks, with theaddition of a lower courtyard and a deepermoat. The castle is certainly a highlight of a tripalong the Kings' Highway with a number ofinterior halls and chambers to explore.Jordanian man by the Kings' HighwayKerak CastleShobak Castle

Petra No matter how many times you have seen Petra on television or in films, nothing preparesyou for the first time you exit the tiny cleft of the Siq, the narrow canyon leading into the city,to be confronted by the enormous splendour of the Treasury Tomb. Built by the Nabateans,who grew rich through their control of thefrankincense trade routes through Arabia, Petra fell into obscurity about 1,000 years ago,with its existence and location kept a closely-guarded secret by the local Bedouin. In 1812,Johann Ludwig Burckhardt tricked his way into the site, paving the way for generations ofawestruck visitors.36The Treasury at night, PetraVisiting the sitePetra merits two full days (and a three nightstay), to give you enough time to see thecentral areas of the site and also exploresome of the more remote areas such as theMonastery, the High Place of Sacrifice andAaron's Tomb. If you are short on time, youcould stay just two nights in Petra, with onefull and long day to be spent in the site,although it is possible that you will be soentranced that you will want to return for asecond visit in the future. Petra ArchaeologicalPark is spread over 264 square kilometres, sothere is a fair amount of walking to be doneand you will need to pack sturdy walkingshoes and take plenty of water with you.There is no particularly quiet time of year orday to visit Petra. The site attracts thousandsof visitors each year and is busy even in thesummer months, which are extremely hot inJordan. By starting early in the day, or takingan alternative route into the site, we can helpyou avoid the largest of the crowds.The Treasury and the MonasteryThe Treasury and the Monastery are two of Petra's most iconic structures. The Treasuryis the first monument that you encounterhaving passed along the Siq, a winding, narrow gorge which forms the gateway tothe site. What is remarkable about theTreasury is that it was created in situ, itstowering structure hewn from the sandstonerock, and therefore required no support orfoundations. The carvings on the Treasury'sfaçade show Nabatean, Greek and Egyptiangods, as well as lions and eagles. The buildingis thought to date to the 1st century BC. The Monastery lies at the other end of thesite. Although less ornate than the Treasury,its location in a relatively quiet part of Petraand the spectacular views make the longwalk up here well worth the effort. You canactually walk right up above the Monasteryfor an even closer look at the urn carvingwhich marks the top of the structure, but this is only advised for those who have ahead for heights. The High Place of Sacrifice, PetraThe Monastery, Petra