The Best Private Trips to Book in the Middle East

The cinematic landscapes of Jordan make for quite the adventure to embark on your with your favourite travel companions. Our eight-day itinerary is a pretty comprehensive tour of the country, starting in Amman, where you’ll get to go on a guided street food tour and discover the underrated Jordanian wine scene. From there it’s onto the ancient city of Petra, which you’ll explore on foot and by 4×4, following an authentic Jordanian cooking class. Next up is Wadi Rum, the red-rock desert valley that Hollywood can’t get enough of. You’ll be staying in a luxury desert campsite and will be treated to a bouncy 4×4 tour of the valley, including plenty of time to scramble up sand dunes and discover incredible viewpoints. We’ll return to modern civilisation in the coastal city of Aqaba, where you’ll get to snorkel in the Red Sea, before rounding off our truly otherworldly adventure in the Dead Sea, where floating is more the vibe.

There’s a reason that Egypt has topped bucket lists for as long as travel has existed. This place is truly fascinating, and our nine-day tour shows you a hidden side to the country, as well as the sightseeing classics, of course. We’ll get those out of the way on an unforgettable first day that includes the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx and the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum. After that you’ll get a guided tour of Cairo’s bustling bazaars and hidden alleys, before we follow the river Nile south, first by sleeper train and then on a four-night luxury river cruise. Explore the ancient Luxor Temple while illuminated by candlelight, discover famous tombs in the Valley of the Kings and paddle down the Nile as we explore the islands of Aswan by kayak.

Some people might argue with us on this one, as many traditional takes don’t acknowledge Morocco as a Middle Eastern country. Geographically it’s hard to argue, since this nation is further west than France, but the North African nations that make up the Maghreb region are very much an extension of the Middle East, as part of the Arabic world. Much of the cultural touchstones, natural landscapes and city atmospheres here capture a similar feeling, as our remarkably varied 11-day trip proves. You’ll visit Africa’s largest mosque in Casablanca, discover old world charm in Fes and spend a night camping under the stars of the Sahara desert. Awake to a sunrise camel ride before heading up into the Atlas Mountains to visit rural Berber villages, before eventually reaching our final destination, Marrakech. The bustling medina captures the energy of a classic Middle Eastern city, and you’ll be treated to a stunning street food tour, as well as traditional cooking masterclass, before our Moroccan adventure comes to an end.