Latest Middle East Headlines

Donning a headscarf, Anna Rudycheva crosses into Iran – and walks into an unexpectedly warm welcome. This is her guide as to what to see and do.

The latest installment from Charlie Walker’s three-year bike-ride around the world sees him pedal through Iraqi Kurdistan, dodging fast imported cars and endless cups of tea.

Somehow I don’t think Michael Bucaria intended to visit Morocco. I think he bolted it onto his travels around Spain. But his daytrip into Africa proves an outstanding success.

Officialdom aside, Andy McGinlay finds travelling in Iran refreshingly easy. As ever, its the Iranians themselves who make everything work.

Charlie Walker’s epic bike ride continues through the Middle East’s most hidden society, the shrouded rural areas of Iran. Though the authorities are routinely suspicious, amongst ordinary Iranians he finds nothing but friendliness.

In the relatively relaxed early days of the Arab Spring, before Syria’s uprising got serious, Andy McGinlay busses into Damascus and shoots off some photographs of city-centre buildings. Including, incredibly, the view from the top of the Ministry of Defense. This turns out to be somewhat unwise.

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It’s hardly a usual destination for a cyclist. But getting a visa is easy so Charlie Walker seizes the opportunity to visit a country that may soon, once more, close its doors to the West.

Egypt’s tourist industry is suffering as politicians plot. Shame, as it’s a perfect time of year to visit. Nolan Mascarenhas heads south to explore the the world’s greatest relocated temple.

Of all the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has by far the most extravagant facilities. Monica Martinez discovers a range of stunning restaurants, amid the clouds and amongst the fish.

A thousand years ago the sultanate of Oman was a world power, with colonies across the Indian Ocean and Africa. Habeeb Saloum searches for a glimpse of past power in it’s historic capital but has to be content with a nice cup of tea.

In 1930 Mary Bruce became the first person to fly from the UK to Japan. But she nearly didn’t make it, when an oil leak over the Gulf of Oman brings her biplane tumbling down into an Iranian desert. Biographer Nancy Wilson describes how the ‘Queen of Speed’ was slowed.

Not many trekking expeditions head off into the wilds of Iraq. But when Levison Wood heads off into the snow-covered peaks of the Zagros Mountains he finds a warm welcome amongst the mountain Kurds.

Jason Smart does a three-year stint in Qatar. As a westerner he’s sheltered from the worst aspects of life in the Gulf but even oil dollars can’t make Doha better than dull.

After 44 years away, Jackie Abramian’s husband decides to return to his birthplace to celebrate winter. In Lebanon, she finds, they do this with style.

Troubled times in Syria don’t stop Nick Redmayne’s drive to Jordan. He finds a warm welcome – but with undercurrents of worry – as he passes through Aleppo.

Whatever the problems of the Middle East, it’s still possible to walk right the way across one country. Sara DeGregoria hikes the National Trail from one side of Israel to the other.

Pre-revolution and Libya was an attainable – if expensive – tourist destination. As European bombers fly in, Tom Coote finds himself on one of the last passenger flights out of Tripoli.

Western governments demonise Iran. But Roy Locock, rounding the world in an elderly MG Midget, is met by friendly hospitality. This account is excerpted from his book ‘Not in That Car’.

Sussex Egyptologist Jane Akshar has lived in Luxor for the last eight years. Here she introduces one of her favourite temples, off the beaten track amongst Egypt’s ancient ruins.

Holidays with children are very different to holidays without. Sophie McGovern takes a look at a leading Cypriot resort to see how it caters for families and couples.

Lebanon has something of a reputation: for civil war and hostage-taking. Undeterred Helena Frith Powell decides to visit – and takes her young family.

The ‘Arab Spring’ has all but strangled tourism to Egypt. World-famous icons of the ancient world are all but deserted. Mike Jones says that now is a great time to visit.

Late April 2011 and government warnings are out in force. Stay away from Syria, they say. But with more than 80 years experience of travel Dorothy Conlon is quite old enough to form her own opinion: she visits Jordan and Syria and lives, quite easily, to tell the tale.

It’s ironic that the Middle Eastern revolutions were inspired by the desire for more jobs but as tourists stay away they’re resulted in less jobs. Iain Miller outlines some very compelling reasons to escape to Egypt for a beach break.

James Sinclair spends some time in the fragile heart of Israel and then breaks out to explore the highlights of Jordan. This earns him a thorough search when he comes to fly home.

Not all the Middle East is in a state of insurrection. Alanna Allen finds there’s not a dictator in sight at the Mount Lebanon resort of Farya Mzaar – and the skiing is superb.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not places you’d expect to be friendly to dogs. But when Michele La Morte-Shbat goes to live in the Middle East there’s no way she’s leaving her two miniature poodles. At their first experience of lapdog life, surprised locals are soon smitten.

Armed with a Lonely Planet guidebook and an open-jaw plane ticket Matthew travels from Marakesh to Agadir.

On her first day in Morocco, Tara Donaldson is momentarily taken aback by the speed and determination with which the locals seek to part her from her freshly-changed dollars.

Oblivious to Israeli assassination squads tramping through his hotel, Anthony Toole finds a single-night stopover in the Middle East’s holiday hotspot is quite long enough.

Most travellers to Jordan travel on tours – and miss half the experience. Sam Harris gets about by bus but still catches the highlight sights.

Even the brochure writers struggle to sell Dubai, in the summer, as a good place to be. Expat worker Allen Rindfleisch escapes the suffocating heat to drive across the border into the deserts of Oman.

Three students, no problems. Chris Barrett finds an enterprising ex-soldier running the world’s smallest school, dedicated to bringing the light of knowledge to a fishing village in Iran.

In 2009 Jordan celebrates a hundred years of statehood. This seems rather modest, as its historical roots reach back for millennia. Jacqueline Beach reports on Amman, ancient and modern.

Max le Grand takes a tour of pre-election Iran, and finds a welcoming country where the secrets in the past continue, hidden, to underpin life in the present day. Axis of Evil? We think not.

Sezgi Yalýn finds her meeting with Esfahān, a spirited and insightful Iranian woman, is a highlight of her time in Iran. The fulcrum of America’s ‘Axis of Evil’ clearly has hidden depths.

Marika Hill camps out at a Syrian beauty spot, and meets with the nomads who call this desert home.