Middle East

Middle East

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Middle East

Explore Middle East through our travel guides, destination notes, and firsthand stories.

Explore Middle East Guides

Regions and Geography

Main Regions

Arabian Peninsula, Levant, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Iran

Landscapes

Deserts, wadis, mountain ranges, oases and long coastlines

Climate Zones

Arid, semi-arid, Mediterranean and highland

Time Zone Span

UTC+2 to UTC+4:30 across the region

Oceans and Seas

Mediterranean, Red, Arabian, Caspian and Persian Gulf

Travel Seasons by Region

Arabian Gulf

Nov - Mar

Milder days for cities and desert trips.

Levant

Mar - May and Sep - Nov

Comfortable for cities and historic sites.

Turkey

Apr - Jun and Sep - Oct

Good for coasts, cities and interior routes.

Jordan and Israel

Mar - May and Oct - Nov

Mild windows for desert and cultural travel.

Oman

Oct - Apr

Cooler for wadis, mountains and the coast.

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Most Requested

The Best of Oman

Start with four of our most requested Oman travel stories.

Featured Guide

Top 20 Underrated Destinations for your 2026 Travel Bucket List

Looking for somewhere unique and unexpected to travel to next year? Our guide to 20 lesser known and visited places for the adventurous traveler.

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Top 20 Underrated Destinations for your 2026 Travel Bucket List

Middle East Guides

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The 10 Best Unique Honeymoon Destinations

Travel Guides

The 10 Best Unique Honeymoon Destinations

Honeymoon on a budget? Or looking for an original Honeymoon Idea? Here are some of the most unexpectedly romantic and unique places we have ever been - both near and far. And most are much cheaper than your standard honeymoon destinations!

Is it Safe to Rent a Car in Oman?

Travel Guides

Is it Safe to Rent a Car in Oman?

Should you get a rental car in Oman and self-drive your way through the deserts and ancient cities? Renting a car and traveling on your own in the Middle East might make you apprehensive - but it is by far the best way to travel this beautiful country.

Daymaniyat Islands Travel Guide: Beaches, Snorkeling, Wildlife, and Boat Tours

Travel Guides

Daymaniyat Islands Travel Guide: Beaches, Snorkeling, Wildlife, and Boat Tours

Muscat, Oman is known for its history, markets, luxury hotels, and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque - not for crystal clear aqua waters and white sand beaches. However, a visit the the city just isn't complete without a snorkeling tour to the Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve (or Ad Dimaniyat Islands, as they are sometimes called) - spend a day on a boat, in the water, and exploring the most surprising, stunning beaches I have ever seen.

19 Of The Most Unique and Unusual Beaches in the World

Travel Guides

19 Of The Most Unique and Unusual Beaches in the World

Unique beaches around the world that you won't believe exist. Whether it’s dramatic cliffs, unusually colored sand, hidden coves, or surreal landscapes, these one-of-a-kind beaches and a complete bucket list of ocean-loving travel.

The Wadi Shab, Oman Hike - Everything You Need To Know

Travel Guides

The Wadi Shab, Oman Hike - Everything You Need To Know

Just out of Muscat, Wadi Shab (Or Wadi Ash Shab) is a stunning gorge hike with crystal-clear water, secret rock pools and hidden caves, and incredible views. This gorgeous spot is a 2 hour out and back trail, with an end you can only get to by swimming the pools.

The 7 Best and Most Beautiful Road Trips In The World

Travel Guides

The 7 Best and Most Beautiful Road Trips In The World

The most scenic travels are seen from the road. From the United States to Europe, Africa, and even the Middle East - road trips around the world have been some of the best and most memorable adventures we have ever had. While being in a far off land all on your own might be scary, it is often the best and most freeing way to see and truly experience a destination. These are the 7 best, most photographable, and most life-changing road trips in the world.

The Perfect Oman Road Trip 7-Day Itinerary

Travel Guides

The Perfect Oman Road Trip 7-Day Itinerary

A self-drive journey through Oman is a travel experience of a lifetime. This 7-Day Itinerary (or 10-day if you have more time) Will take you to ancient cities, UNESCO heritage sites, white-sand islands, and deep into the sand dunes, efficiently and with the smartest route. This is the only travel guide you need!

Fragrance: The Original Christmas Gift. A Journey to its source.

Beauty

Fragrance: The Original Christmas Gift. A Journey to its source.

In the original Christmas tale, wise men offered fragrances from the East. In traveling to Oman, those ancient lands, I discovered that Perfume was the ideal holiday gift, and how much the smell of my Chloe Signature perfume will always remind me of this journey. In partnership with Sephora.