The Middle East is a transcontinental region centred on Western Asia, Turkey (both Asian and European), and Egypt (which is mostly in North Africa). The corresponding adjective is Middle Eastern and the derived noun is Middle Easterner.
The idea of travelling in the Middle East may seem fraught with difficulties, given much of the region’s turbulent political climate – but Jordan is a country that offers a relatively easy introduction.
The history of the Middle East dates back to ancient times, with the (geopolitical) importance of the region being recognised for millennia. Several major religions have their origins in the Middle East, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; the Baha’i faith, Monadism, Unitarian Druze, and numerous other belief systems were also established within the region.
Dubai
Dubai is a stirring alchemy of profound traditions and ambitious futuristic vision wrapped into starkly evocative desert splendour. It’s hard not to admire Dubai for its indefatigable verve, ambition and ability to dream up and realise projects that elsewhere would never get off the drawing board.
Make the most of your time in Dubai with this trio of disparate and delightful activities: start off with a desert safari, complete with a delicious barbecue dinner and a belly dance show.
Jordan
If you’re on a tour of Jordan, this scenic valley is popular with climbers, trekkers and other adventure travellers, carved into the sandstone and granite rock in the south of the country about 37 miles east of Aqaba. Inhabited by human cultures since prehistoric times, Wadi Rum is home to wonderful rock formations, ancient rock paintings, temples and Bedouin tribes.
Israel
Jerusalem is a city divided. Claimed by four very distinct religious and cultural groups, the city is full of beauty, conflict and history. As you walk around the old city you can’t help but feel that very brick is steeped in very powerful cultural significance.
And in no place is this cultural collusion more evident then at the Western Wall plaza where the Jewish Holy site of the Western Wall sits almost literally in the Shadow of the Islamic Dome of the Rock.
Oman
The Sultanate of Oman. Just the name of this country transports you to an exotic ancient place full of jewels and Sinbad-like characters.
But Oman is also an upcoming travel destination that will give you so much variety of experiences: mountains, canyon, beaches, wildlife, history, and architecture. Discover some of the top places and things to do in Oman and pack your bags!
Turkey
Turkey is a nation straddling eastern Europe and western Asia with cultural connections to ancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Cosmopolitan Istanbul, on the Bosphorus Strait, is home to the iconic Hagia Sophia, with its soaring dome and Christian mosaics, the massive 17th-century Blue Mosque and the circa-1460 Topkapı Palace, former home of sultans. Ankara is Turkey’s modern capital.
