Introducing Middle East
The Middle East is quite simply extraordinary, one of the world's most fascinating and rewarding travel destinations. It was here that some of the most significant civilisations of antiquity rose and fell and where the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - were born. Left behind is an astonishing open-air museum of ancient cities and historic buildings, the stones of which still resonate with the sounds of the faithful.
Advertisement
The Middle East is home to some of the world's most significant cities - Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad and İstanbul. The ruins of the once similarly epic cities of history - Petra, Persepolis, Ephesus, Palmyra, Baalbek, Leptis Magna and the bounty of ancient Egypt - also mark the passage of centuries in a region where the ancient world lives and breathes.
The landscapes of the region are equally spellbinding, from the unrivalled seas of sand dunes and palm-fringed lakes in Libya's Sahara desert to the stunning mountains of the north and the underwater world of the Red Sea.
Above all else, however, your most enduring memory of the Middle East is likely to be its people. Their gracious welcome, many kindnesses and boundless hospitality speak of an altogether more civilised age.
From the gravitas of the Sahara to the blue tiles of Esfahan, this is a region for discerning travellers, for those looking for the story behind the headline, and where the bridges between ancient and modern civilisations are everywhere evident. If you believe what the media tells you and decide not to visit, you'd be missing out on the journey of a lifetime.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Experience Egypt & Jordan on a 17-day adventure
- Join an early-morning hot-air balloon expedition from Dubai
- Trek through Petra and Wadi Rum
- Explore Egypt on a budget
Last updated: Jan 22, 2013
Tips & articles
-
In defence of the ‘tourist trail’
15 April 2013
We’ve all met them on the road: the travel snobs who insist they’re not tourists and label major monuments as...
-
How to plan a trek along the Abraham Path
22 March 2013
A new series of walking trails through the Middle East is opening up trekking opportunities in a region more often...
-
Festivals of the world: where to go in February
20 January 2013
Festivals are a living, dancing museum of cultures and traditions in an increasingly globalised world. There is no better place...
Middle East
Things to do
- All things to do (3,044)
- Activities (400)
- Entertainment (365)
- Restaurants (773)
- Shopping (389)
- Sights (1,046)
- Tours (71)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Middle East
-
1 Esfahan, Iran
Shah Abbas's majestic capital, with its grand mosques, enchanting bridges and incomparable Imam Sq
-
2 Palmyra, Syria
Be spellbound watching the sun rise over these glorious rose-gold ruins in the heart of the Syrian desert
-
3 Jerusalem, Israel & the Palestinian Territories
Follow the spiritual path of pilgrims in what could be the world's holiest city
-
4 Beirut, Lebanon
Get into the groove of one of the Middle East's most sophisticated cities and certainly its most resilient
-
5 Madain Saleh, Saudi Arabia
Watch the wind-blown sandstone of Saudi's Little Petra melt like treacle in the setting sun