Cruise ships sailing from the Mediterranean to the Far East or on world cruises often include ports of call along the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. These ports are in the countries of Egypt (Sinai), Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar.
Popular Middle Eastern Ports: Haifa, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Kusadasi, and Tel Aviv.
The Middle East is a crossroad of three continents, a natural land bridge and migratory route connecting Europe, Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. Scattered sparsely throughout this timeless expanse are life-sustaining rivers, mountains and oases where pastoral wanderers and desert nomads congregate among great civilizations that have achieved enduring legacies. Middle East travel connects you with magnificent monuments, places of worship and architectural wonders constructed by ancient kings, pharaohs, Nabataeans, Phoenicians, Nubians, Greeks, and Romans.
Highlights of Middle East Destinations
Egypt - the ancient wonders of Egypt attract millions of tourists each year to the pyramids, temples, mosques and great monuments of the Nile Valley, as well as the stunning diving resorts of the Red Sea.
Israel - Viewed as the holy land by several religions, it is a world-class destination with outstanding cultural, archaeological and religious attractions, spas and beach resorts, as well as a unique ancient-and-modern atmosphere. Israel is a world-class destination with cultural attractions that range from ancient to modern. Israel has more museums per capita than any country in the world and a fabulous club scene that can be enjoyed all night. Hiking is popular in the varied landscape of Israel while Tel Aviv and Eilat have great swimming, windsurfing and sailing.
Turkey – Istanbul may not be the capital of Turkey, which is Ankara, but it is the historic center that bridges the two continents of Europe and Asia. The coasts and beaches of Turkey bring water sport enthusiasts to try their hand at yachting, water-skiing, snorkeling and diving. Western Turkey is the most visited and developed part of the country with the historical and cultural city of Istanbul in its midst. The capital of Turkey, Ankara, has much ancient history that can be discovered while visiting the old quarter.
Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia is by far the largest of the Gulf States. More than half of the country is covered in sand; making it something of an almost empty desert. Many people travel to Saudi Arabia on business and others to visit historical sites or to make a religious pilgrimage. Arabia has intrigued travelers for centuries. Its vast swathes of desert were the swaddling clothes of infant Islam, the Arab race and of Arabic, a language considered holy by Muslims. It's also home to Islam's two holiest cities and a host of modern, thriving, oil-rich metropolises. However, following attacks on foreigners, western governments are warning against non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. If you are staying in the country, avoid public places where Westerners are known to congregate, ensure that your hotel has a good reputation for maintaining high security precautions and stay abreast of travel advisory updates.
