Middle East

Jordan holds one of the world’s great ancient wonders and delivers far more beyond it. There’s also the stark beauty of Wadi Rum’s desert landscapes, the salt-rich waters of the Dead Sea, and a food culture that turns every meal into a feast. Bedouin camps welcome travelers with tea and stories, and the country’s compact size makes it easy to experience desert, sea, and ancient ruins in days.

Oman is the Gulf’s quiet alternative — less flashy than Dubai, more welcoming than its reputation suggests, and stunningly beautiful. Desert dunes roll into turquoise coastlines, mountain villages cling to canyon edges, and frankincense still scents the souks. Luxury here means desert camps under star-filled skies. Safe, sophisticated, and refreshingly low-key.

Bahrain is a small island nation with an outsized history — ancient burial mounds, a fort guarding turquoise waters, and a pearl-diving heritage that shaped the Gulf for centuries. Less expensive than Dubai, more open than Saudi Arabia, and with a cultural scene that includes contemporary art, Formula 1 racing, and a dining landscape blending Indian, Persian, and Levantine flavors.

Socotra is one of the planet’s most unique places. This Yemeni island in the Arabian Sea evolved in isolation, creating a landscape of dragon’s blood trees, umbrella-shaped bottle trees, and plants found nowhere else on Earth. The beaches are pristine and empty, the waters rich with marine life, and the sense of remoteness is extraordinary. A living museum of botanical wonders and raw natural beauty.