Middle East travel advice
Cultural advice
“With so many religious sites to visit and an inherently conservative outlook, women should cover up as much as possible, so long sleeve shirts and baggy pants are recommended. Saturday is the Jewish day of rest and it starts at sunset on Friday and finishes at sunset on Saturday. This means shops will be shut and no buses will run. And learn a few words of Hebrew, it helps break the ice.”
Our Middle East Holidays
Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
A week to explore the spectacular sites and scenery of Jordan
Egypt Nile and Red Sea Tours
Cairo, Giza, Luxor & Aswan Nile Cruise & Red Sea Holiday
Egypt cultural holiday, small group
Discover Egypt on this amazing 10 day tour
Family culture & adventure holiday to Egypt
An Egyptian adventure the whole family will remember
Exciting family holiday in Jordan
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Jordan
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
Jordan highlights & camel safari, small group
Taste the real life of Bedouin at Mars on Earth, Wadi Rum!
Tailor made tours of Oman
Privately escorted mystical trip of stunning Oman
Israel holidays, small group tour
Israel, a hidden gem this 8 day tour hits all the main spots
Highlights of Lebanon holiday
Discover Lebanon in one week
Iran holiday
Discover the rich culture and famed hospitality of Iran
Iran holiday, Persian Explorer
A 10 day trip to some of Iran's most fascinating highlights
Petra and Wadi Rum trekking holiday
Some of the most spectacular desert scenery in the world
Petra and Wadi Rum by bike, Jordan
Cycling trip through stunning desert scenery
Jordan and Egypt budget holiday
Adventure through historical landscapes of Jordan & Egypt.
Jordan self drive holiday
Be independent & explore Jordan at your own pace
Tailor made tour of Jordan & Israel
A tour of Jordan & Israel with breathtaking sites & fascinating history
Iran holiday, private departure
A private, tailor-made tour of historic Iran
Jordan holiday, small group
Visit Jordan from cities to mystic desert landscapes
Iran holidays, small group tours
Trace the magnificent legacies of the Persian Empires
Nile cruise holiday in Egypt
Discover ancient temples & tombs & travel by Nile cruise boat
Red Sea diving holidays
Best shore diving @ Dahab, super private with our 4-1 ratio
Iran tour, the best of Persia
Join us to discover Iran's rich culture and history
Highlights of Jordan, small group tour
The most amazing highlights of Jordan in one go!
“Iran is surprisingly easygoing. Female visitors in particular must adhere to the dress code but at no time was the atmosphere oppressive or threatening and I was thanked on occasion for respecting the local traditions. The people are very warm and welcoming and seemed genuinely pleased to see visitors in their country. As tourists we were not aware of any political tensions or anti-Western sentiment.”
“Egypt is Africa, which is important to remember – the people are so calm and relaxed and friendly that not necessarily everything happens to a rigid timetable or as you would expect. Be inquisitive. Don’t be afraid to ask local people questions – if you have a question about Islam or about what it was like to live during the revolution, ask your guide; they’ll tell you. Another thing to bear in mind is that not all of Egypt is Islamic; we have many guides that are Coptic Christians, which opens a whole new avenue for interesting discussion. Don’t be scared to find out information – you won’t get an angry response and it shows that you’re interested. Egyptians won’t shut you down; they’ll let you have a conversation.”
“Having led tours in over 50 countries, my trip to Palestine was amongst the most rewarding and insightful I’ve ever had. It offered an incredible diversity of scenery and historical wonders over such a small area, and more importantly a window into the rich cultural heritage of a people whose voice is all too often associated with conflict and suffering rather than warmth and hospitality. Come with an open mind and you’ll be sure never to view the Middle East the same way again. I would certainly suggest reading up on the Israeli-Palestinian situation (ideally from both sides) although it can be quite challenging to find balanced sources. Good films include ‘The Lemon Tree’ and ‘Five Broken Cameras.”
Itinerary tips
“If you have time whilst in Tel Aviv definitely walk along the promenade to the small town of Jaffa, perched on a headland close to central Tel Aviv. The walk might take around an hour (maybe a bit less) but the contrast to Tel Aviv is immense. There’s also a small (but high-tech) underground museum in Jaffa and a great fish market to have a wander around.”
“Oman is such a special place but is sometimes perceived as being a five star beach holiday only, with people not being aware of what the country has to offer. I really advise people to look beyond the sun and sand as there is so much more to the country than this. In the fjords in the North you can see dolphins and whales, and the region is ideal for scuba diving.”
“My favourite place in Palestine is actually Jericho, probably because it is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the entire world, dating back to about 5000 BC. And it is an amazing old site. It is also one of the places where Israelis and Palestinians get on incredibly well and no one interferes with any of them. But Jericho is a fab town, and there are great restaurants there too. It really is an amazing place.”
Food tips
“Iranian food is generally very good – though I’m vegetarian and in the smaller places it’s always a bit of an issue. Sometimes we were on the road and we’d stop at little truckers’ cafes and I’d just eat rice and salad. In the towns and cities they are big on rice dishes and there are lots of aubergine and vegetable stews, chickpeas… there are a lot of kebabs. There are some nice delicate flavours using the spices. They’re big on their saffron as well.”
“If you do find yourself in Jordan’s Wadi Rum, try a dinner cooked in a zarb. It is a traditional Bedouin cooking practice using an underground oven with layer upon layer of baked potatoes, seasoned vegetables and slow cooked meats. The food is buried and placed upon a bed of hot coals, with the sand sealing in the heat.”
“There are a couple of things that I think people should definitely try when they visit Egypt, but they are often a bit scared to. The first one is shisha – which was originally invented in India – ask your guide to explain what it is and give it a go. Definitely try local foods and snacks too. I always recommend that people try kushari, which is a pasta and lentil based dish that’s virtually free it’s so cheap. You get a bowl with rice, lentils and pasta in it and then they give you chili oil, garlic sauce, béchamel sauce, tomatoes – whatever you prefer flavour-wise and then you just mix it all up and eat it. It’s delicious, filling and very nutritious.”
Accessible tourism
“Many tours are accessible these days in Egypt. Boat trips are adapted to disabled passengers with assistance always available. Even the ancient sites in Egypt are now accessible to wheelchairs and walking with just a few limitations at certain sites. The Red Sea resorts also offer a range of activities which disabled clients can also be involved in with diving and snorkelling. Accessible tourism is much higher in demand these days due to disabled people being more adventurous in travelling, so adapting to suit their needs has become commonplace. Standards have improved greatly over the last 10 years.”
Health & safety in the Middle East
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top Middle East Holiday
Tailor made tours of Oman
Privately escorted mystical trip of stunning Oman
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
Middle East tips from our travellers
We have selected some of the most useful Middle East travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.


– Lesley Wallace in Jordan
"Dress is more liberal than you might expect. Hair covering is compulsory but hair can show, and a woolly hat or turban covering a reasonable amount of hair is fine. Tight trousers are fine if worn with a top that covers your bottom - mid-thigh length tunics are ideal. Take wet wipes for toilets." – Julia Turkinson, travelling in Iran
“Just be aware of the FO advice for travelling to this area and then, as we did, notice that the experience is pretty much the opposite of what you're supposed to expect . . you think you'll have to be somewhat wary / on edge of potential problems and then find nothing other than a wonderfully friendly and relaxed atmosphere.”– Nigel Lamb, diving in the Red Sea

