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Yemen
North Yemen is an almost perfect picture of medieval Arab life. It has a long history, buildings are ancient, unique and spectacular, the people are fierce but friendly, and social habits are curious. But until a few years ago tourists were not allowed to travel in this extraordinary country. Tourist dollars were the easiest and fastest way to replace the lost income. So, with the end of the Gulf War came the beginning of foreign travel. Although the infrastructure for tourism is not well developed, the attractions are clear. The most dramatic feature of the the country today, especially in and around the capital of Sana’a, is the buildings. Sana’a, 2,300m above sea level, is considered to be architecturally unique and has received $224m from UNESCO for its preservation. Many houses are over 400 years old, and most are built in the style of 1,000 years ago.
Qat is an another unique feature of the country. A narcotic bush, cousin to the coca plant in South America from which cocaine is produced, qat is chewed in some other countries, but not to the same degree as in Yemen. The whole country seems to be fueled by this legal drug, with 90% of the population chewing it for up to 5 hours a day. Afternoon or evening qat parties are a part of daily life where groups of men, or women - but not both together - gather on the top floor of a house, or in a cafe, or their workplace; they lean on cushions, drink cola, smoke, chat and chew the qat.
Turkey
It’s a huge country littered with interesting artefacts and populated by some of the friendliest people on earth. Flowers seem to burst from every crevice, the sun shines endlessly, transport systems are efficient and the beer’s good and readily available. Scenery ranges from dull to mind-boggling, beaches are fair, prices are low and shopping is excellent, especially leatherware in Istanbul. Driving is suprisingly safe, apart from mad Istanbul taxi drivers and night driving.
Asian continent is connected to Europe in Istanbul, with?two impressive brigdes across the Bosphorus, connecting european and asian parts of Istanbul. It is hardly surprising that sea side resorts like Antalya, Bodrum or Kusadasiare very popular with tourists from Europe. This may lead you to believe Turkey is very much oriented on the sea. You couldn’t be more wrong: “Anadolu", the anatolian high central plateau is where turkish culture is rooted. The soul of the country is to be found in the green pastures of the hinterland, where shepards still move their herds with the seasons.
This is why you shouldn’t be surprised that the Turkish Republic chose Ankara as the capital. The city is located centrally in Anatolia. For travellers, the city offers some interesting sights and attractions, the most imporant ones being the Museum of Anatolian Culture and the Mausoleum of Ataturk.
Istanbul is Turkey’s prime attraction, however; it has the most beautiful mosques and palaces of the country, it has Byzantine churches and Roman temples. Without fear of exageration one can say that Istanbul’s claim to the title of Eternal city is as justified as Rome’s
Cappadocia is another great sight: it is both a natural wonder and the result of human inventiveness. Soft volcanic rock formed a landscape of bizarre beauty, but it was man who made their homes, churches, shops and courtrooms in them. All of these are decorated in a highly original style.
In the East of Anatolia you find the strange rock statues at Nemrut Dagiwhich could remind you of the Easter Island, as well as ancient cities like Van, located on lake Van, and Dogubayazit. When you go west of eastern Anatolia you will find Turkey’s “sports city", Erzincan
Syria
Syria is often called “The cradle of civilizations” because there is no civilization in the east or west throughout the world history that didn’t pass through Syria to leave a mark, but also to be deeply affected by Syria’s long history. The place is full of them: wall-to-wall walls, cast-aside castles, teetering teatros and fallen-down fortresses. If you are interested in history and historical monuments, you cannot miss Syria. The country is literary packed with the ruins and monuments of almost all civilizations that passed through here. Today these ancient sites are still the most visited attractions.
There’s Palmyra, the ancient caravans stop between the Mediterranean world and the empires of the East - Mesopotamia, Persia and India. In the days of desert queen Zenobia it really was a cosmopolitan city, were east met west and exchanged exotics. It was here the gigantic temple of Baal rose up in the heart of the city. Now it’s a city in ruins, best known for the “Valley of Tombs”.
In the North you will find the big crusaders’ castle Le Crac des Chevaliers and the cities of Aleppo and Hama. And, adjacent to the Turkish border close to Hatay, there’s the ruins of the “Dead Cities” Al Bara, Serdjilla, Qalbe Lbrse and Qirbirze. Piles of rock that were once houses palaces and churches lay abandoned on the vast desolated plains of the Idleb Province.
Syria has been a crossroads of civilization, though often described as the cradle of civilizations. It has been the bridge connecting the cultures of Eastern Mediterraneans and Fertile Crescent, and the beginning of Silk Road joining West with East.
It was here that cultures of Mari and Ugarit rose and fell, where Assyrian, Sumerian, Phoenician, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires and cultures met and influenced each other.
Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city and was the major eastern political and cultural center of Roman empire in the times of prophet Jesus (pbuh). St. Paul underwent his conversion to Christianity “On the road to Damascus". Religions, philosophies, language of trade, systems of urban development; all were developed in the Ancient geographical Syria. Syria has stunning natural scenery, rugged mountains, deserts, beautiful swimming beaches, green valleys, and mountain peaks; perpetually covered with snow. Throughout the country there are magnificent ancient ruins, Medieval castles and fortresses, and wonderful Islamic mosques.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian peninsula. Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, the Gulf of Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen border it. Today’s Saudi Arabia is still a land of mystery largely due to its fundamentalist Islam state form and its rigid admission policy. Saudi Arabia is incredibly difficult to visit, there’s no tourist visa in this country. Best way to get in is by invitation of a Saudi person or company, or, if you’re a Muslim, on a pilgrimage to one of the holy cities.
The region also includes the city of Jeddah, until recently Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic capital, which remains the most important commercial and cultural gateway to the country. Mecca is the spiritual centre of the Islamic world. Places of significance to Muslims include the Kaabah Enclosure and the House of Abdullah Bin Abdul Muttalib, where Muhammad was born. About half of Saudi Arabia consists of uninhabitable desert. Here there are no permanent rivers and lakes and the average temperature in July is about 40ºC. These unfriendly circumstances have deeply influenced the Arab way of life. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East. The Saudi Arabian state was first established in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula in the early 18th Century, but king Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud founded the present day state only in 1932.
Saudi Arabia is a fairly rich country, due to its vast oilfields, but this wealth is not evenly divided. The royal family effectively owns the country. There is minimal political freedom and little tolerance for opposition groups.
Both cities are strictly off limits to non-muslims. The non-muslim architect of a Mecca Hotel had to supervise construction through a telescope. Nearby Jeddah the major Red Sea port of the country can be visited and gives a unique insight in the culture and history of the West of Saudi Arabia.
The whole of the Middle East is tilted, so the southwest of Saudi Arabia has mountains as high as 3000 meters while the east has lowlands. The mountain area is the greenest and freshest climate especially compared to the deserts in the east. Extensive irrigation projects now gradualy transform these deserts into farmland, yielding dates and grains.
Top Destinations in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Khobar, Dammam, Medina, Dhahran, Jubail, Qatif, Jeddah, Mecca, Yanbu, Khamis, Ithra
Qatar
Qatar is a small peninsula in the Persian Gulf. It looks like a big thumb ‘way up’.
The country is small but offers quite a few interesting things to the visitors. Doha, the capital is a nice town with good beaches nearby and lively markets.
Khor Al Udeid, or the Inland Sea, in the extreme south-east of the country is of great natural beauty. This is a large area of natural sand dunes, surrounding a calm inlet of the Gulf. The dunes are quite stunning - tall, shapely sand masses formed by the prevailing winds and subject to radical overnight changes of shape.
There are several forts worth visiting in Qatar, giving a glimpse into the past history of the country.
Travel Destinations in Qatar
Doha
Khor
Zubara
Al wakrah
Oman
Situated on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the West, and the Republic of Yemen to the South. The United Arab Emirates lies on the North West, and to the East lies the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The land area is 309,500 sq. kms.
Since the discovery of massive oil deposits, Oman has seen spectacular economic growth and modernization. The country has kept faithful to its Islamic traditions, however.
Even so, Oman has managed to create a relative open society, more open to influences from the outside than other Gulf countries. In 1970 when the current Sultan took over the government in a bloodless palace coup, Oman was barely out of the Middle Ages. Now, a mere 30 years later, women drive, can be elected – or appointed – to the Majlis as-Shura, Oman’s quasi-parliament, which advises the Sultan – and run many successful businesses around the country.
The Gulf has been an important waterway since ancient times bringing the people who live on its shores into early contact with other civilizations. In the ancient world the Gulf peoples established trade connections with India; in the Middle Ages they went as far as China; and in the modern era they became involved with the European powers that sailed into the Indian Ocean and around Southeast Asia. In the Twentieth Century the discovery of massive oil deposits in the Gulf region made the area once again a crossroads for the modern world.
In Oman, high mountain ranges running parallel to the coast effectively cut off the Interior from the rest of the country. The highest peak, Jebel Shams (Sun Mountain), is just over 3,000 meters, and is a favorite destination of locals, expatriates, and tourists alike. It’s also a good place to go to escape the stifling heat of the summer.
Travel Destinations in Oman
Muscat, Al khuwair, Hamriya, Barka, Salalah, Sur, Sohar, Jabrin, Buraimi, Masirah Island, Musandam peninsula, Ibri
Kuwait
Kuwait offers something rarely seen by the average traveler. Far from the poverty of the “third world", thanks to the discovery of oil, Kuwait is a modern bustling country mixed with old world traditions and desert bedouin tribes. The Islamic Middle Eastern state of Kuwait, situated at the northwest extreme of the Persian Gulf, is somewhat overshadowed and overwhelmed by its neighbours Iran, Saudi Arabia, and especially war-torn Iraq. Those visiting Kuwait today are imbued with a lust for adventure that has nothing to do with adrenalin-producing experiences, but rather a yen to explore a not too radical fundamentalist Muslim culture and witness a country undergoing post-war reconstruction.
The ruined capital, Kuwait City, has risen from the ashes of war to become a buzzing metropolis with gleaming high rises, numerous luxury hotels and lush parks set along wide avenues. The city’s major landmark is the Kuwait Towers, visible from the harbour where oil tankers come and go, docking alongside hundreds of cargo ships and pleasure craft. Kuwait is now regarded as a relatively safe destination with plenty to interest the traveller, not only in Kuwait City itself but throughout, from its arid desert plateau to the fertile coastal belt and the nine small offshore islands over which it has sovereignty.
Kuwait Major Destinations:
Kuwait city, Hawalli, Salmiya, Chillan, Failaka, Ahmadi, Green Island, Al jahra, Al-Ahmadi
Kuwait Major Attractions
Kuwait National Museum, Tareq Rajab Museum, Sadu House, modern Grand Mosque, Kuwait Towers, Sief Palace, Oil Display Centre, Red Fort, Doha Village
Jordan
Situated between Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Jordan is unexpectedly peaceful amid the turmoil of its neighbouring countries and is a wonderful place to visit, made more so by its hospitable people whose immediate reaction to travellers is ‘Welcome to Jordan’. With a reputation for being one of the most friendly countries on earth, it is sad that so few people dare to explore its immense sense of history, as well as two of the most magnificent sights in the Middle East: the ancient rock-hewn city of Petra and Wadi Rum’s spectacular desert scenery.
Jordan is a kingdom layered in antiquity, from the work of Nabataean stonemasons to characters such as Moses and Lawrence of Arabia; from ancient cities and Biblical sites to desert castles, Crusader forts and Byzantine mosaics. This ancient culture belies the fact that it is also a modern country, with a good infrastructure, a thriving business and arts scene, and first class hotels, restaurants and shopping opportunities. The contradictions between the old and new are astonishing.
Jordan is a relatively small country of varied landscapes, where the fertile Jordan Valley, bordering the entire western side of the kingdom, is separated from the immense desert stretching to the east by the populated highlands. As part of the Great Rift Valley, the Jordan Valley incorporates the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface and most famous for its heavy salt and mineral concentrations, while the main towns are strung out along the length of the highland plateau, including the friendly capital, Amman, as well as plenty of historical sites from ancient civilisations.
Home to breathtaking desert-scapes, colourful coral reefs that are unequalled anywhere else in the world, and sweeping vistas towards the Promised Land, Jordan is full of charismatic beauty, both in scenery and in the genuine Arabic welcome afforded to strangers.
Jordan Major Destinations
Jerash, Amman, Irbid, Petra, Shobak, Umm Qais, Ma’in, Wadi rum, Karak, Iraq al amir, Madaba, Salt, Umm Al-Jimal
Jordan Major Attractions
The Desert Castle Loop, Qasr al-Hallabat , Roman theatre, Odeon, Nymphaeum (Fountain), Roman citadel, National Archaeological Museum, Folklore Museum, Traditional Jewels & Costumes Museum, Monument to the Unknown Soldier, Triumphal Arch, Temple of Zeus, South Theatre, colonnaded street, Temple of Artemis, Temple of the Winged Lions, Madaba Archaeological Park.
Israel Travel Guide
Israel is bordered by Egypt in the south, Lebanon in the North and Jordan and Syria in the East. Jerusalem will be high on any list of favorite destinations and with good reason: in the old city there is a church or convent on every corner, there are beautiful mosques and many other holy places.
Tel Aviv is the place to party. It has good beaches, top cuisine restaurants and excellent nightlife, probably the best to be found within a circle of a few thousand kilometers.
The north of Israel is worth to explore: the Sea of Galilee,
Nazareth, the Golan Heights and the towns of Tiberias, Acre (aka Akko), and Haifa are the most important stops on your itinerary to the North.
The south offers the enormous Negev desert and the Dead Sea. In the southernmost point of Israel, the Red Sea beach resort of Eilat is a touristic hot spot. Located at the very bottom tip of Israel, this is a popular fun-in-the-sun vacation spot.
Within the state of Israel you will find the Palestinian Authority which has some form of autonomy. Cities like Nablus , Jenin , Hebron (in arabic called al Khalil), Bethlehem and Ramallah are dealt with in the guide about the Palestinian Authority.
Israel Attractions
Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem
Israel Museum Jerusalem
Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
Chagall Windows - Jerusalem
Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
Rockefeller Archaeological Museum - Jerusalem
The Tower of David Museum - Jerusalem
Yad Vashem - Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion Museum - Tel Aviv
Beth-Hatefutsoth (The Diaspora Museum) Tel Aviv
Eretz Israel Museum - Tel Aviv
National Museum of Natural History at Tel-Aviv University
Baha’i Shrine and Gardens - Haifa
National Maritime Museum - Haifa
Hecht Museum - University of Haifa
Getto Fighters House - Beit Lohamei Haghetaot
Archaeological Museum - Kibbutz Ein Dor
Scrolls From the Dead Sea
The Ghetto Fighters’ House
Travel Warning
Tourist should consider carefully their need to travel to Israel at this time. Tourist in Israel concerned for their safety should consider departure. The risk of terrorist attack remains high. These attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any locations where large numbers of people gather, including tourist areas. Conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinians in these areas is continuing and political tensions are high.
Iraq Travel Guide
Iraq is the country of Mesopotamia or Land Between the Rivers in classical times. It has a subtropical climate, with a tendency in direction of continental climate in the north. Iraq is very dependent on water from Tigris and Euphrates, as there is little rain falling here. The west and south is mostly stone desert. The country became known as Iraq in the 7th century. It’s the land were paradise allegedly once was. The region’s extensive alluvial plains gave rise to the world’s earliest civilizations, though in recent times it was not all that civilized. The modern Iraq was created in the aftermath of World War I and gained independence in 1932. Since then there was war on Iran, Syria, and most recently the invasion of Kuwait that led to the Gulf War. Internally the country has known violent uprising of Kurdish minorities answered by bloody suppression. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1958 there was a period of political instability with coups and countercoups until Saddam Hussein seized power in the 70s.
Iraq used to be one of the world’s leading oil producers. In recent decades a steady cash flow generated by the black gold was the engine behind ambitious building projects and development programs and to build one of the largest and most powerful armies in the Middle East. Its strength was demonstrated during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) and in the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Everyone that has seen the images of missiles and bombs falling on the capital Baghdad will understand that this is not a holiday destination for the mentally sane. Economy has been totally disrupted by the war and reconstruction is slow. Tension between US and UK troops are still high.
Theoretically there’s the possibility to cross the northern borders from Turkey or Jordan, but the ongoing struggle for Kurdish independence also makes this area hazardous. There are no commercial flights to Baghdad and the borders to Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and of course Kuwait are closed of.
Should it become easier to visit Iraq then the highlights of your visit would include Mosul in the north, with the big Assyrian cities of Ninevah and Nimrod close by, Baghdad , the capital, Karbala and An najaf just south of Baghdad, with the tombs of Ali and Husain, two very important Shiite religious leaders and Basra in the south.
Travel Warning
The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq, which remains very dangerous. Remnants of the former Baath regime, transnational terrorists, and criminal elements remain active. Attacks against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq continue. Targets include hotels, restaurants, police stations, checkpoints, foreign diplomatic missions, and international organizations and other locations with expatriate personnel. These attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries of American citizens, including those doing humanitarian work. In addition, there have been planned and random killings, as well as extortions and kidnappings. U.S. citizens have been kidnapped and several were subsequently murdered by terrorists in Iraq. U.S. citizens and other foreigners continue to be targeted by insurgent groups for kidnapping and murder. Military operations continue. There are daily attacks against Multinational Forces - Iraq (MNF-I) throughout the country.
There is credible information that terrorists are targeting civil aviation. Civilian and military aircraft arriving in and departing from Baghdad International Airport have been subjected to small arms and missiles. Civilian aircraft do not generally possess systems, such as those found on military aircraft, capable of defeating man-portable, surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS). Anyone choosing to utilize civilian aircraft to enter or depart Iraq should be aware of this potential threat, as well as the extremely high risk to road transportation described below. Official U.S. Government (USG) personnel are strongly encouraged to use U.S. military or other USG aircraft when entering and departing Iraq due to concerns about security of civilian aircraft servicing Iraq. Currently, USG personnel are only authorized to travel commercially on Royal Jordanian Airlines.
All vehicular travel in Iraq is extremely dangerous. There have been numerous attacks on civilian vehicles, as well as military convoys. Attacks occur throughout the day, but travel at night is exceptionally dangerous. Travel in or through Ramadi and Fallujah, travel between al-Hillah and Baghdad, and travel between the International Zone and Baghdad International Airport is particularly dangerous. Occasionally, U.S. Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to select areas depending on prevailing security conditions. There continues to be heavy use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and/or mines on roads, particularly in plastic bags, soda cans, and dead animals. Grenades and explosives have been thrown into vehicles from overpasses, particularly in crowded areas. Travel should be undertaken only when absolutely necessary and with the appropriate security.
The U.S. Embassy is located in the International Zone. The Embassy can provide only limited emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq. At present travel to and from the International Zone is extremely limited. The U.S. Embassy does not provide visa services to the general public. American citizens who choose to visit or reside in Iraq despite this Travel Warning are urged to pay close attention to their personal security, avoid crowds, especially rallies or demonstrations and to inform the U.S. Embassy of their presence in Iraq. All Americans in Baghdad are strongly encouraged to register with the Embassy at the following website : https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp.
American citizens may obtain the latest security information or other information about Iraq by calling the U.S. Embassy, located in the International Zone, at: 1-240-553-0584 x4354, or by e-mail: usconsulbaghdad@state.gov or via the U.S. Embassy’s website : http://iraq.usembassy.gov. Their after-hours number is 1-914-822-5493.
Updated information on travel and security in Iraq may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or, from overseas, 1-317-472-2328. For further information, please consult the Consular Information Sheet for Iraq , the current Worldwide Caution and the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcements , all of which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.
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