Madaba - Libb - Mukawir - Hammamat-Ma'in - Ma'in - Madaba
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 45.14 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,976 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,904 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,766 ft
- TrailRank
- 25
- Min elevation
- -170 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 9 hours 18 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1001
- Uploaded
- December 29, 2009
- Recorded
- December 2009
near Mādabā, Madaba (Jordan)
Viewed 5437 times, downloaded 31 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This track proposes a ride starting from Madaba village to the hot springs of Hammamat Ma'in for a relaxing 50°C water bath; and return to Madaba taking another route. On the way is possible to stop in the ruins of Mukawir, where John the Baptist lost his head, but using your helmet don't worry; you just have to take care not lose too much time. Another incentive in the route is the awesome landscape views to the Dead Sea.
The track starts with the challenge of get out Madaba village taking the King's Highway, South direction. The highway is busy, but with a comfortable wide verge. The rest of the route is not busy at all, but it's true that was not weekend when we did it. Only before Ma'in village the road is under construction for few km., but at night and even without lights was fine... We met some scary dogs in this area.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Avoid end of spring, indeed summer and beginning of autumn; this route was done on December 29, below the sea level and without a breath of air it was quite unbearable. With the track there are some 'critical' stores to get food and water, between them (33 Km) there is nothing except stones and the mini-supermarket inside the Hammamat complex where you have to pay the entrance fee (10 JOD). Madaba is very well known for its strong winds, the worst weather condition for cycling, hopefully winds come from the West, so it stops you on the way down and "helps" you on the way up.
The profile is really hard and we were not sure if leaving the hardest part at the end was the best option; so maybe doing the circuit starting from the Hammamat can be better. This information has a price, the price to keep your environment clean: taking only pictures, leaving tireprints.
The track starts with the challenge of get out Madaba village taking the King's Highway, South direction. The highway is busy, but with a comfortable wide verge. The rest of the route is not busy at all, but it's true that was not weekend when we did it. Only before Ma'in village the road is under construction for few km., but at night and even without lights was fine... We met some scary dogs in this area.
RECOMMENDATIONS. Avoid end of spring, indeed summer and beginning of autumn; this route was done on December 29, below the sea level and without a breath of air it was quite unbearable. With the track there are some 'critical' stores to get food and water, between them (33 Km) there is nothing except stones and the mini-supermarket inside the Hammamat complex where you have to pay the entrance fee (10 JOD). Madaba is very well known for its strong winds, the worst weather condition for cycling, hopefully winds come from the West, so it stops you on the way down and "helps" you on the way up.
The profile is really hard and we were not sure if leaving the hardest part at the end was the best option; so maybe doing the circuit starting from the Hammamat can be better. This information has a price, the price to keep your environment clean: taking only pictures, leaving tireprints.
Waypoints
Waypoint
2,723 ft
First Store
29-DEC-09 17:50:39
Waypoint
49 ft
Hammamat Ma'in
29-DEC-09 13:18:37 - More info about this place here: Hammamat-Ma'in. Just to add that the entrance fee is 10 JOD per adult (non negotiable) and there is a mini super market inside the complex.
Waypoint
2,530 ft
Police Station
29-DEC-09 12:14:49
Waypoint
2,523 ft
Store
29-DEC-09 12:12:27 - Almost the last chance to get some drinks and food before to arrive to Hammamat Ma'in.
Comments (4)
You can add a comment or review this trail
Great route, 72Km! It's a shame it's out of my league... but beautiful anyway.
Ire a Jordania en una semana, espero poder hacer como mínimo parte de esta ruta...
Un saludo
Terminamos muy tarde y hechos polvo... Si haces la mitad te recomiendo hacer la bajada, con parada en Mukawir y en las aguas termales (no olvides bañador y toalla). La subida es sólo una machada deportiva, pero debes pactar un taxi abajo. Suerte!
Hola Carlos, mi nombre es Javier y soy español. Estoy viviendo en Amman y soy un amante de la bicicleta y cualquier deporte al aire libre. Te paso mi email y móvil por si haces alguna salida y puedo acompañarte a descubrir este país que veo que conoces. Un saludo.
javigonzale13@hotmail.com
0795082774
Hola Javier, te contesté en el otro track. Ya no vivimos en Jordania y de verdad una pena, porque no teníamos mucha gente con quien salir. Hay 2 empresas que hacen salidas regulares; Bike Rush y Jordan Cycling (con el dueño de Bike Rush hice amistad), dime si quieres que te pase los contactos.
No tengo la ruta, pero una vez hicimos Petra - Wadi Rum en bici. Terminamos con tormenta de arena; nunca la repetimos y una pena. Muy bonita, pero bastante isolada. La hicimos en 2 días con coches de apoyo, con amigos poco deportistas en plan relajado. GPS imprescindible.
También puedes hacer Wadi Rum - Aqaba por el desierto; nunca lo hicimos, pero nos han dicho que hay que bajarse mucho y empujar por la arena. GPS imprescindible.
¿Tienes buen nivel? Plantéate hacer Dead2Red:
http://www.dead2red.com/
tienes 2 meses y medio para entrenarte... He participado 4 veces; 2 corriendo, una en bici y una como entrenador del colegio donde trabajaba. Si estuviera ahí me apuntaba otro año: toda una experiencia. En bici el equipo es entre 1 a 5 ciclistas; la hice con mi mujer: 242 km en 10 horas y media acabamos 'doblaos'. Algunos colegas la hicieron solos y acabaron peor :) pero volvería a hacerla.
Mi email es carlos@aupa.net
Un abrazo