Middle East

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

1. 01

   Amman

   Jordan · Daily budget ~$59

   Jordan’s white-stone capital has ancient roots and serves as a base for exploring the country. Its Citadel and Roman Theater add major historical sights to a busy modern city.

   Amman →to Petra

   Transport details are not recorded.

2. 02

   Petra

   Jordan · Daily budget ~$74

   Rose-red Nabataean architecture unfolds from a dramatic sandstone Siq to the Treasury, tombs, and the high Monastery. Bring time and stamina for steep trails, while keeping an eye on touts, tickets, and animal welfare.

   Petra →to Wadi Rum

   Bus~2 h~$6.84

3. 03

   Wadi Rum

   Jordan · Daily budget ~$142

   Wadi Rum is a UNESCO-listed mountain desert known for red sandstone cliffs, dramatic rock formations, and reddish-orange sands. Its landscape has appeared in films including Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, and Dune.

   Wadi Rum →to Jerusalem

   Transport details are not recorded.

4. 04

   Jerusalem

   Israel · Daily budget ~$117

   One compact Old City concentrates major Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy sites, while markets and neighborhoods widen the experience. Walk the ramparts, browse Mahaneh Yehuda, and use light rail or buses between hillier areas.

   Jerusalem →to Tel Aviv

   Train~$6.17

5. 05

   Tel Aviv

   Israel · Daily budget ~$166

   This liberal Mediterranean metropolis combines a lively beach scene, nightlife, and the UNESCO-listed White City. Markets, vegan dining, cycling paths, and easy regional rail links fill out the urban itinerary.

   Tel Aviv →to Haifa

   Train~$8.04

6. 06

   Haifa

   Israel · Daily budget ~$101

   Mediterranean slopes, Baha’i terraces, restored Templar houses, beaches, and a lively food scene make this a varied northern base. Public transport climbs the hills while the German Colony and Wadi Nisnas reward slower wandering.

   Haifa →to Bethlehem

   Transport details are not recorded.

7. 07

   Bethlehem

   Palestine · Daily budget ~$66

   Bethlehem pairs pilgrimage landmarks with Palestinian culture in a compact, walkable old city south of Jerusalem. The Church of the Nativity, barrier art, souq, and nearby valleys make it a rewarding base for heritage-focused travelers.

   Bethlehem →to Ramallah

   Bus~1 h 15 min~$5

8. 08

   Ramallah

   Palestine · Daily budget ~$77

   Ramallah is a lively West Bank cultural hub with walkable streets, cafés, museums, and a noticeably relaxed social scene. It works well as a base for nearby heritage trips while offering easy access to falafel, shawarma, and Palestinian beer.

   Ramallah →to Beirut

   Transport details are not recorded.

9. 09

   Beirut

   Lebanon · Daily budget ~$82

   Beirut is a cosmopolitan capital on the Mediterranean with an outdoor café culture and European architecture. It is also Lebanon's commercial and financial hub, making it a lively base for urban exploring.

   Beirut →to Byblos

   Bus~2 h~$3.66

10. 10

    Byblos

    Lebanon · Daily budget ~$102

    Byblos brings Stone Age through Ottoman ruins together with a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Crusader castle, Phoenician temples, and a picturesque port. Its compact historical center is easy to explore on foot, with Beirut close enough for a day trip or overnight stay.

    Byblos →to Tripoli

    Bus~1 h 15 min~$6

11. 11

    Tripoli

    Lebanon · Daily budget ~$43

    Lebanon’s northern port pairs Mamluk architecture and Ottoman-era khans with a relaxed Mediterranean waterfront. Its old-city experience is especially rewarding for travelers drawn to oriental sweets, souks, mosques, and family life by the shore.

    Tripoli →to Muscat

    Transport details are not recorded.

12. 12

    Muscat

    Oman · Daily budget ~$79

    Oman’s capital combines a long maritime history with scattered districts, grand religious architecture, museums, beaches, and desert-edge day trips. Winter is the comfortable season for exploring its old quarters and surrounding landscapes.

    Muscat →to Nizwa

    Drive~1 h 30 min~$12

13. 13

    Nizwa

    Oman · Daily budget ~$67

    Nizwa combines a preserved fort-and-souq quarter with a deep history as Oman’s former capital and a center of Islamic scholarship. Its dates, silver craft, lively goat market, and nearby Hajar landscapes make it a strong base for cultural day trips.

    Nizwa →to Dubai

    Transport details are not recorded.

14. 14

    Dubai

    United Arab Emirates · Daily budget ~$107

    Dubai combines futuristic towers and luxury with merchant quarters, creek crossings, beaches, and desert excursions. Its public transport and international air links make it an easy base for a wide range of day trips.

    Dubai →to Tehran

    Transport details are not recorded.

15. 15

    Tehran

    Iran · Daily budget ~$48

    This vast capital at the foot of the Alborz combines major museums, parks, restaurants, and a cosmopolitan city rhythm. Efficient public transport makes a few days of urban exploring practical.

    Tehran →to Isfahan

    Transport details are not recorded.

16. 16

    Isfahan

    Iran · Daily budget ~$30

    This former Safavid capital is a showcase of Persian civilization, with a historic center, craft traditions, and Armenian-quarter food. It works well as a base for architecture, carpets, and cultural stops.

    Isfahan →to Shiraz

    Transport details are not recorded.

17. 17

    Shiraz

    Iran · Daily budget ~$53

    This Fars capital layers Zand-era history, Persian poetry, Islamic architecture, and garden culture. Persepolis and Pasargad extend the itinerary into the Achaemenid landscape.

    Shiraz →to Yazd

    Transport details are not recorded.

18. 18

    Yazd

    Iran · Daily budget ~$40

    This UNESCO World Heritage city in central Iran's desert is known for windcatchers that cool its historic buildings. Its old-town passages, gardens, bazaars, and Zoroastrian heritage reward slow exploration.