Gap Year: Middle East

If you are spending an extended period of time in the middle East I would consider taking some kind of Arabic classes while out there, which should help you immerse yourself into the culture.

Make sure you visit Israel last, as an Israeli passport stamp may stop you entering some countries within the Middle East.

For Jordan accommodation, food, a bit of local transport and entrance fees are going to set you back around 20-30 Canadian $ per day. Petra and Wadi Rum are going to cost significantly more. For budgets for other countries look at the specific threads for that country, it is a common question.

Due to the situation in Syria and Iraq and the fact that tourist visas for Saudi Arabia are pretty much non-existant, if you want to travel to anywhere else in the Middle East other than Egypt, Jordan and Israel you are going to have to fly. Again this is going to cut into your budget.

It may make more sense to do your trip in reverse (due to the Israeli passport stamp). Start in Europe, then Turkey - Iran - Iraqi Kurdistan overland. Then flight to Jordan - Israel- Egypt. You could add Lebanon in as a side trip (you will need to fly in and out), however this would have to be before Israel so maybe flying in from Erbil and out to Amman if this is possible, saving you a flight.

$8000 CAD is about $50 USD per day which seems like a reasonable budget. Most days you won't spend anywhere near this but I think by the time you factor in visas and flights and some of the more expensive things (language lessons, Petra, Wadi Rum etc.) $50 per day seems reasonable.

Thank you for the information!

I have narrowed it down to the following countries that I would like to visit:

Germany
France
Great Britain
Greece
Ireland
Spain
Turkey
Morocco
Israel
Egypt

Which of these should I reconsider? What order should I visit these places in? What country should I spend the most time in? I currently live in Winnipeg, Manitoba if that helps.

Thanks so much!

Since you mention that you'll be starting in January it's worth bearing in mind that it'll be winter in Europe which in the northern parts is dark, cold, wet and miserable so I'd organise a route going from south to north so your weather will be as mild as possible. On that basis the following order makes the most sense to me:

Spain - Morocco - Egypt - Israel - Turkey - Greece - Germany - France - Great Britain - Ireland

That way you're doing a sort of loop around the mediterranean during Winter and Spring and heading north as it gets into Summer.

As for what country to spend the most time in - it really depends on what you're interested in. If you can give us some specific interests you have we could better pinpoint where to go i.e. adventure sports/history/art/food/hiking/music etc

Good to know! I never thought of doing it that way. My only concern is what james2020 mentioned earlier, about Israel and the passport situation.

I am not interested in going to relax or for comfort. I don't want it to be much of a 'touristy' experience.
I am always interested in adventure, and trying new things/foods. I am very interested in culture and history.
I am somewhat of a religious person, so paired with my interest in history that is my main reason for wanting to visit the middle east.

You will be spending a lot more money in Western Europe so that's something to consider. Regarding the Israeli stamp thing - it's an issue if you're planning on visiting a number of Muslim countries (Iran, Sudan, Lebanon... that kind of place) though not all (you're ok for Jordan, Egypt and Turkey - of course things can change).

Yeah I assumed from the OP that you would be travelling around the Middle East, but you only intend to do Egypt and Turkey so Isreali stamp will not be a problem.

You say you don't want it to be "touristy" but have selected two of the most touristy Middle East destinations in Turkey and Egypt.

Expect Western Europe to cost around 90 CAD per day, so around 3000 CAD per month. If you intend to travel for 6 full months, I think you are going to have to either divide your time so you spend longer in the Mddle East than Europe, or increase your budget.

Personally I would limit where you visit in Europe,especially at the start of your trip (January). Too cold/wet (especially here in Britain) and frankly too expensive. Leave it for another trip.

In 6 months, I would average roughly one country per month, to give you enough time to enjoy each place you are in.

Also, consider your route, you don't want to be hopping back and forth.

Why not try something like this...

A few weeks in Spain. Then hop over to Morrocco (a common route is the ferry).

A month in Morrocco.

Fly to Egypt and spend a month there. (You can do Egypt independently very very easily and is much more preferable to the tour groups).

Spend a couple of weeks in Sinai (mount Sinai, desert, hurghada for a bit of relaxing, trust me the change in scenery for a few days will be nice) then hop over to Petra in Jordan (one of the new wonders of the world and a must see).

Head to Israel for a month.

Fly to Turkey and spend your last month there. Fly home.

That is a rough, dodgy U ish shaped arc through that region and will not involve zig zagging all over the place and allow for some ferry border crossings as well as flights (saving you money).

Israel are now no longer stamping passports, so there is no issues with travelling elsewhere in the region/requesting no stamp/getting a second passport etc which were all huge hassles in the past.

Your budget is okay (I am assuming US$?) IF you travel on a budget and does not include flights. I would up it if possible by a couple of grand.

I hope this helps and gives you a few ideas? Please come back if you need any more info.

Wow, thanks for all the help everyone. I am now considering cutting out a few european countries to save money on flights and whatnot.

Are there any other places in the middle east that you would recommend that are NOT too touristy?
I have also heard stories about tourists being kidnapped in Mount Sinai; is that still going on? Would it be safer to go with a tour group for that portion of my trip?
Any advice for a young female travelling through the middle east? (Asides from dressing modestly, which I do already.)
Finally, what would be a good and cheap method of accommodation? Have any of you tried couchsurfing?

Thanks!