Is it safe to travel to the Middle East?


Our Middle East Holidays
Jordan self drive holiday
Be independent & explore Jordan at your own pace
Israel holidays, small group tour
Israel, a hidden gem this 8 day tour hits all the main spots
Egypt Nile and Red Sea Tours
Cairo, Giza, Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise & Red Sea Holiday
Iran holiday, Persian Explorer
A 10 day trip to some of Iran's most fascinating highlights
Petra and Wadi Rum by bike, Jordan
Cycling trip through stunning desert scenery
Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
A week to explore the spectacular sites and scenery of Jordan
Family culture & adventure holiday to Egypt
An Egyptian adventure the whole family will remember
Jordan highlights & camel safari, small group
Taste the real life of Bedouin at Mars on Earth, Wadi Rum!
Jordan and Egypt budget holiday
Adventure through historical landscapes of Jordan & Egypt.
Iran holiday
Discover the rich culture and famed hospitality of Iran
Highlights of Lebanon holiday
Discover Lebanon in one week
Egypt cultural holiday, small group
Discover Egypt on this amazing 10 day tour
Tailor made tour of Jordan & Israel
A tour of Jordan & Israel with breathtaking sites & fascinating history
Tailor made tours of Oman
Privately escorted mystical trip of stunning Oman
Petra and Wadi Rum trekking holiday
Some of the most spectacular desert scenery in the world
Oman small group tour
Ancient spice trails, Wahiba Sands, superb coastal scenery
Jordan holiday on a shoestring
Great value tour covering all Jordan's major sites
Exciting family holiday in Jordan
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Jordan
Red Sea diving holidays
Best shore diving @ Dahab, super private with our 4-1 ratio
Nile cruise holiday in Egypt
Discover ancient temples & tombs & travel by Nile cruise boat
Iran cultural holiday
A captivating land dripping with history and culture
Iran holidays, small group tours
Trace the magnificent legacies of the Persian Empires
Jordan holiday, small group
Visit Jordan from cities to mystic desert landscapes
Oman holiday, Forts and Deserts of Oman
Explore the dramatic mountains and deserts of Oman
Highlights of Jordan, small group tour
The most amazing highlights of Jordan in one go!
The Fear Factor
From the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, to today’s horrors in Syria and Yemen, to long-standing troubles in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, it’s easy to be fearful about a visit to the Middle East. However, don’t let problems in some areas colour your perception of an entire region – these are the exception rather than the norm, and some countries are entirely trouble free. When it comes to crime, rates are generally low, even in major cities, and muggings and theft are rarely a problem – with rates lower than in many major European and North American cities.What’s more, experienced tour operators will always be aware of the situation on the ground and can take steps accordingly should any problems arise. And in many places, the tourist police are out in force. In Egypt, for example, tourist buses and taxis travel in convoy on certain roads.
What does the UK Foreign Office say?
As of November 2018, the FCO advice warns against all but essential travel to the Gaza strip, the Golan Heights border areas with Syria and Lebanon, the Iran/Afghanistan and Iran/Pakistan border regions, eastern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, and Egypt’s North Sinai region. It warns against all but essential travel to Iraqi Kurdistan, Egypt’s South Sinai (except for the perimeter around Sharm el Sheik) and the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions. Dual Iranian-British citizens are advised not to visit Iran unless absolutely necessary. Most of these areas are well away from popular tourist sites; Oman has no travel warnings at all, for example, and Jordan is only out of bounds within 3km of the Syrian border.Be aware that each government issues its own advice for its travellers, and this can vary widely; check the advice from your home country before planning your trip.
What about insurance?
What about visas?
In some countries, such as Egypt, Jordan and Israel, visas are available on arrival, but it’s always safer to arrange them in advance, and in many cases your operator will be able to help you with this. Other countries will need advance preparation; the process to gain a tourist visa for Iran can be slow and painful, taking up to eight weeks, so you’ll need to plan a trip here well in advance. If you have an Israeli stamp in your passport you’ll be denied entry to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.Our top Middle East Holiday
Petra and Wadi Rum by bike, Jordan
Cycling trip through stunning desert scenery
2021: 1 May, 15 May, 22 May, 5 Jun, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 27 Nov, 11 Dec, 22 Dec
2022: 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 13 Apr, 30 Apr, 14 May, 21 May, 4 Jun, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 26 Nov, 10 Dec, 21 Dec
Middle East safety tips
“I think what people get wrong before they travel, is that they expect to see an army presence everywhere. And you don’t see that in places like the Sea of Galilee, Caesarea, or some of the old sites. It is only in places like Bethlehem, or you go into the Old City of Jerusalem, maybe around the Dome of the Rock, where you will see the Israeli Defence Force. Usually around Friday prayer time. But the military certainly isn’t everywhere. However, I would suggest never going out after dark in any of the major cities on your own. Ever. Simple as that. Never hire an Israeli hire car and drive into the West Bank. And if you do, you should take all the hire car stickers off it as soon as you have hired it. Because if you go into a Palestinian area, it may get stoned, or if you park it, all the tyres might be removed.”