The Best Places in the Middle East to Visit in 2024
With vast stretches of barely touched land and cultures as rich and historic as any on Earth, the sprawling deserts and ancient cities of the Middle East are endlessly explorable. Begin your adventure with Culture Trip by joining one of these small-group adventures in 2024.
Spring Sale
Giza – Ultimate Egypt
The city of Giza and, more notably, its world-famous array of archeological and architectural wonders, have wowed adventurous travellers for centuries upon centuries. 2024, however, is set to breathe new life into this iconic bucket-list destination with the highly anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Our nine-day tour of Egypt includes a full day in Giza, as you get guided visits to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, as well as entry into the museum itself. If that’s not enough history for you, then we’ll also explore the old streets of Cairo before cruising down the Nile to explore the temples, tombs and ruins of Luxor and Aswan.
From US$2048
Next available from 26th Sep 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Cairo, Egypt
ENDS AT
Aswan, Egypt
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Spring Sale
Cappadocia – Majestic Turkey
Turkey acts as Europe’s gateway into the Middle East, starting in Istanbul, where only a few bridges lie between Europe and Asia. Our 12-day tour of this epic nation starts with a few days in its most famous metropolis, but soon heads inland for scenery more synonymous with the Middle East. Our adventures largely take place in the extraordinary region of Cappadocia, most notable for its arid landscapes, surreal rock formations and the hot-air balloons that often float above them. You’ll have the opportunity to go up in one of those balloons yourself, while other activities include a pottery workshop, a wine tasting and a visit to the underground city of Kaymakli. You’ll also hike in the Red and Rose Valleys and discover the sacred city of Konya en route to our final destination, the Turkish Riviera.
From US$2798
Next available from 16th Aug 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Istanbul, Turkey
ENDS AT
Antalya, Turkey
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Spring Sale
Sahara Desert – Epic Morocco
Okay, forgive us for the technicality on this one. Morocco, obviously, isn’t part of the Middle East. In fact it stretches further west than any point of mainland Europe. However, the Maghreb region of North Africa is very much an extension of the Middle East. You can trace this culturally, with Arabic and Islamic heritage dominating much of the region and, as a result, the architecture, local traditions and general ambience of cities in particular is very similar to that of Middle Eastern countries. Geographically, meanwhile, you have the Sahara Desert, which stretches all the way from Egypt in the Middle East to Morocco, the Maghreb’s westernmost nation. That’s our justification for including Morocco in this list, but more importantly we’re talking about the world’s largest (and most famous) hot desert. Our 11-day Epic Morocco itinerary includes a visit to this sprawling sandy landscape, as you visit a rural Gnawa village to learn about Saharan culture, before zooming across dunes to reach our desert campsite. That’s where we’ll spend an evening of wine tasting and stargazing around a campfire in the heart of the Sahara, before waking early the following morning for an unforgettable sunrise camel ride – is there a travel experience more quintessentially Middle Eastern than that?
From US$2343
Next available from 12th Apr 2025
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Casablanca, Morocco
ENDS AT
Marrakech, Morocco
DURATION
11
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.
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