5 country guides
Jordan packs Petra, the desert of Wadi Rum, Roman cities and the Dead Sea into a country the size of Portugal, with good roads between them. A one-week loop from Amman covers the main sites comfortably. It is more expensive than its neighbours, largely because of site entry fees and accommodation.
Oman is the quiet alternative to the Gulf's city-states: mountain wadis, a 3,000 m range, empty desert and a long coastline with turtle beaches. Self-drive is straightforward on excellent roads, with a 4x4 needed for the mountain tracks. Dress and behaviour expectations are more conservative than in Dubai.
Qatar is a small peninsula state where almost everything sits within an hour of Doha, from the corniche and museums to inland sea dunes on the Saudi border. It works well as a stopover of two to four days. Summer heat is severe, so the season runs from November to March.
Türkiye covers Greek and Roman ruins on the Aegean, Ottoman cities on two continents, volcanic valleys in the centre and a Mediterranean coast of beaches and mountains. Domestic flights and long-distance buses make a two-week loop realistic. Food changes noticeably between regions, from Black Sea to south-eastern kebab country.
The UAE runs from the towers and malls of Dubai to the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah and the desert interior of Abu Dhabi. It is a short-stay destination for most visitors, often as a stopover, with high summer heat pushing activity indoors from June to September. Distances between emirates are covered easily by road.
