Wondering which are the most beautiful destinations to visit in the Middle East? Wonder no more, as Middle East Trips has the top 5 destinations in the Middle East you must visit.
These are the dream destinations many have their heart set on: the mesmerizing pyramids of Cairo, where you feel like a tiny peanut in the face of history; Petra, where there’s a kind of magic you can’t quite explain; Dubai, where you can experience every kind of luxury imaginable; and Istanbul, where Europe and Asia high-five each other across the water. They’re not just destinations — they’re life-changing trips that stay with you long after the trip ends.
Cairo, Egypt
Pyramids and Sphinx Majesty
Giza’s Pyramids, erected over 4500 years ago for pharaohs like Khufu, defy time with precise limestone blocks weighing tons each. The Great Pyramid, the last ancient wonder standing, invites camel treks around its base, while the Sphinx guards secrets with its lion-man gaze. Evening sound-and-light spectacles narrate pharaonic dramas under starry skies.
Grand Egyptian Museum Immersion
Spanning 490,000 square meters, this treasure trove exhibits Tutankhamun’s intact gold coffin alongside mummies in atmospheric halls. Virtual reality tours resurrect Nile life, and rotating galleries highlight Amarna art from Akhenaten’s era. Families love the children’s archaeology zone, digging replica finds.
Khan El Khalili Bazaar Vibrancy
This labyrinthine souk overflows with brass lamps, papyrus scrolls, and attar perfumes amid calls to prayer.
Middle East Trips crafts perfect Fes tours through this magical city. Master goldsmiths craft Bedouin jewelry on-site, and hookah cafes spill onto streets for mint tea rituals. Navigate by mosque minarets to avoid getting lost in the medieval maze.
Nile River and Saqqara Day Trips
Traditional feluccas slice through waters fringed by luxury hotels and pharaonic obelisks at dusk. Venture to Saqqara for Djoser’s Step Pyramid, the pioneering stone edifice with underground galleries of alabaster statues. Combine with Dahshur’s Bent and Red Pyramids for a full necropolis day.
Petra, Jordan
The Siq and Treasury Revelation
Jordan’s Siq, a 1.2 km fissure sculpted by earthquakes, dramatically frames the 40-meter Treasury, its Hellenistic columns and urns hewn by Nabataeans around 100 BC. Water channels carved into cliffs hint at ancient hydraulic genius sustaining this desert caravan hub.
Monastery and Royal Tombs
Ad Deir, the Monastery’s massive pediment, demands a rugged two-hour hike rewarded by mountain solitude. Below, the Royal Tombs’ facades glow pink at sunrise, evoking Indiana Jones’s cinematic arrival. Little Petra’s biclinia triclinia hosts intimate frescoed dinners.
Petra by Night Enchantment
Twice weekly, 1800 candles flicker across facades, turning the Siq into a river of light. Flutists echo off cliffs as stars emerge, creating an otherworldly Petra few forget. Reserve tickets early amid rising demand.
Dubai, UAE
Burj Khalifa Pinnacle
At 828 meters, the world’s tallest structure offers At the Top decks with telescopes scanning 100 km. Time fountain shows from levels 148, where champagne brunches overlook man-made islands.
Desert Safari Extravaganza
4×4 dune bashing crescendos into henna sessions and tanoura dances around campfires. Falconry demos showcase hooded birds, while quad bikes carve fresh tracks pre-dinner.
Miracle Garden Extravagance
150 million petals form the Boeing 747 and Disney castle amid umbrella tunnels from November to May. Floral clocks tick amid butterfly gardens, a cool escape from summer scorch.
Souks, Palm, and Aquaventure
Cultural Dubai tours explore Deira’s Gold Souk, handling nearly 40% of the world’s gold trade, and traditional abra rides across Dubai Creek. Modern highlights include Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis Aquaventure, home to more than 30 water slides, including the thrilling Leap of Faith.
Muscat, Oman
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Glory
This architectural poem boasts a 21-meter crystal lantern anda 70,000-nugget carpet for 20,000 worshippers. Women cover their heads; men remove their shoes to tread Italian marble.
Muttrah Souq and Corniche Stroll
Frankincense curls from stalls beside kumma caps and halwa sweets. The waterfront corniche arcs to Portuguese forts for sunset jogs and dhow silhouettes.
Nakhal Fort and Wadis
Clinging to volcanic plugs, this 500-year-old bastion reveals Omani weaponry. Nearby Wadi Ghul, Oman’s Grand Canyon, beckons hikers; hot springs bubble at Ain Ain.
Qurum Beach and Dolphin Cruises
Kite surfing rips turquoise waves with Hajar peaks looming. Half-day boats spot 20+ dolphin pods, often leaping playfully alongside.
Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia’s Empire Echoes
Justinian’s 537 AD dome, the largest for 1000 years, merges Christian icons with Islamic calligraphy post-2020 re-conversion. Whisper galleries amplify secrets.
Blue Mosque’s Iznik Symphony
160 domes and 20,000 tiles in cobalt hues frame a courtyard for 10,000. Non-prayer visits flow between minarets’ calls.
Grand Bazaar Labyrinth
61 streets host 4,000 vendors; nargile lounges precede copper hammer demos. Escape via the Egyptian Bazaar for lokum trials.
Bosphorus and Galata Magic
Public ferries hop from Ortaköy mosques to Rumeli Hisarı ruins. Galata’s 67-meter tower spins panoramas; rooftop bars buzz below.
