ADVENTURE: Off-roading from Muscat to Salalah – Oman
For a vacation with a difference, get off your cushy seat and take the off-road treks across serene desert expanses running along the breathtaking coasts of Oman. Meet with quiet herds of camels and shy Bedouin children making their way along shifting sands. Hike up rugged trails in the Hajar range, going through mountain villages, terraced fields and date palm patches. Water babies can camp at beaches, dive into crystal-clear wadis, and go snorkelling or scuba diving to see the country’s rich marine life. Exhilarating drives across the dunes, sleeping under the stars, sighting oryx, gazelle, turtle nestings and leaping dolphins will make a holiday to remember forever.
FAMILY: Delight in Dubai – UAE
They mean it when they say there’s no place like Dubai, an emirate which has an obvious penchant for the superlative – tallest, biggest, and definitely, most family fun. With a range of accommodation available to suit every traveller’s preferences, Dubai is a holiday-maker’s dream. If you’ve already scaled the Burj Khalifa and whizzed down the slopes of Ski Dubai, get lost in the theme parks that make for cherished family times. While Legoland is a world of excitement for young ones with adventurous rides, rollercoasters and interactive play, Motiongate is a giant, magical park created jointly by Dreamworks Animation, Sony Columbia Pictures and Lionsgate. Themed on well-known Hollywood hits, visitors can revel in an entertaining experience full of extreme rides, movie tours and meeting your favourite silver screen characters. The sprawling IMG Worlds of Adventure offers muti-sensory escapades with much-loved superheroes from Marvel and Cartoon Network as well as life-size dinosaurs and a Haunted Hotel.
NIGHTLIFE: Party on in Beirut – Lebanon
This is the original party place – where celebrities like Marlon Brando and Brigitte Bardot swung by for real revelry in the swinging 60s. Today, the nights are still riotous, with bars and clubs having no official closing time, and club-crazy guests partying hard enough to catch the sunrise, even on weekdays. The Biel waterfront, also known as the New Corniche, is the spot where night clubs head to in summer, the nights go on and on, and venues are buzzing with the newest techno beats and the most happening crowds. Karantina is a spot where old warehouses are the nightlife haunt, like the well-known venues, Grand Factory and Discotek. Armenia Street on Mar Mikhael is another place to make merry like there’s no tomorrow. In this area, you’ll find Mothershucker, an oyster bar that’s usually high on the list of nocturnal pleasures of the city.
HISTORY: Fascinating Tales of Petra – Jordan
Open your eyes to a world steeped in antiquity and witness an ethos that has stood the test of time. The land where ancient civilisations once thrived, Jordan makes for an enchanting experience. Of course, Petra is most talked about. This ancient sandstone city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been popularly voted as one of the new seven wonders of the world. A walk through a stunning canyon eventually opens out to an imposing stone façade which is a fine specimen of skilled craftsmanship. It is the entrance to what is believed to be a treasury, but is the final resting place for Nabataean royalty. Walking on, the Royal Tombs of Petra look stunning bathed golden during sunset. Another intriguing attraction is the ruined city of Jerash where Romans once built columned pathways, temples and grand theatres in this former imperial centre.
CULTURE: Amazing Abu Dhabi – UAE
The capital Emirate of the UAE is also its cultural heart. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with its numerous marble domes, artistically created, bejewelled pillars and manicured lawns, is a place for quiet reflection. It’s one of the few religious places open to those outside the faith. The newest attraction is Louvre Abu Dhabi, which opened its gates in 2017. The art and civilisation museum is a first-of-its-kind cultural project that is a fruit of congenial relations between France and the UAE. Rooted in ‘universal human values’, it attempts to showcase the cultural achievement of mankind, from prehistoric times to today. Twelve museum galleries walk visitors through ancient artefacts and contemporary artworks, some on loan from world-renowned French museums.
NATURAL BEAUTY: Breathtaking Turkey
Well yes, only the Asian portion of Turkey is deemed part of the Middle East, but we cannot ignore this country for its exquisite scenic beauty. A trip here affords views of gorgeous, diverse landscapes – from pristine beaches to thermal springs and mystical rock formations. Besides the Ottoman and Byzantine structures, the natural phenomena in the country are quite unlike anywhere else.
Pamukale – meaning ‘Cotton Castle’ – is a calcite landscape, with pure white layered terraces that look frozen, but are brimming over with warm, mineral-infused water. You can soak yourself in the healing liquid while walking down the travertines. Cappadocia is known for its dwellings carved into hills and towering boulders. Climb up the rock castle of Uchisar for the best other-wordly views you might ever witness. Oludeniz is the town where one can enjoy the best of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, and for those who seek to lose themselves among rocky peaks, the North Anatolian Mountains are your paradise.
