Madaba - Libb - Mukawir - Hammamat-Ma`in - Ma`in - Madaba

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.