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.

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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$2239

Next available from 23rd May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Cairo, Egypt

ENDS AT

Aswan, Egypt

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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turkey-cappadocia-hot-air-balloon-ridwan-meah-_wtP2TIJLuA-unsplash

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$2699

Next available from 1st Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Istanbul, Turkey

ENDS AT

Antalya, Turkey

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Holiday Sale

Two people sitting atop a sand dune and watching the sunset in Merzouga, Morocco

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$2369

Next available from 10th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Casablanca, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip 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 — and this is still in our DNA today. 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 certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.