Mt. Nebo

Mt. Nebo is known as the spot where God showed Moses the Holy Land, and many scholars believe that the prophet later died here. Today's visitors come to see the views and visit the basilica here, which was built by Egyptian Christian monks in the fourth to sixth century and features a number of beautiful mosaics. Virtually all tours to nearby Madaba, known for its Byzantine mosaics, include a stop at Mt. Nebo, as do multi-day tours of Jordan. Some tours combine a Mt. Nebo visit with a stop at the Dead Sea, about 45 minutes away.

• Mt. Nebo is an important site for anyone with an interest in biblical history.

• Wear sunscreen and comfortable footwear.

• It's considered respectful to cover bare shoulders before entering the Mount Nebo Church.

Mt. Nebo is located just under an hour's drive south of Amman and 15 minutes from the town of Madaba. Many visitors arrive as part of half- and full-day tours from Amman that include round-trip transportation.

Mt. Nebo is a year-round destination and is best visited early in the morning (to avoid heat and crowds) or around sunset (when the views from the mountain are at their most fabulous). While rain isn't usually an issue here, there can be showers in the winter season; however, this is also the coolest time of year and thus ideal for those sensitive to the heat.

Jordan is full of biblical sites and attracts large numbers of Holy Land tourists, many of whom combine trips to Jordan with neighboring Israel. While Mt. Nebo is the most famous such site, there are plenty more, including nearby Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where many believe Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and Umm Qais, the site of the Gadarene Swine miracle in which Jesus is said to have cured a madman.