Having lived in the Middle East for nearly a decade with my family, I have extensively travelled the region from the big cities to much more obscure parts of the desert; crossing mountains and plunging to the lowest point on earth all with little kids ranging from tots to tweens in tow.
But which destinations would be at the top of my recommendations list for newcomers to the Middle East? Rather than picking out my personal favourites, I handed this question over to my well-travelled kids – affectionally referred to as Our Globetrotters – to see which holidays and experiences they remember most and would recommend to friends.
We managed to come up with 7 destinations that we think would perfectly showcase the Middle East on a family vacation.
Road Tripping around Jordan
For anyone nervous about visiting the Middle East or unsure what to expect we always recommend Jordan as a great starting point. There are so many stand out destinations in Jordan that kids and their parents will equally enjoy – an ideal destination for outdoor explorers and history buffs alike.
From the ancient Roman ruins of Gerasa to the vast plains of Wadi Rum, a road trip around Jordan makes for one incredible family experience. It’s an easy enough country to self-drive around (except for perhaps central Amman where nerves of steel are needed!), or alternatively you can hire a guide and driver to take you in between all the highlights.
Absolutely unmissable stops include the Lost City of Petra, the Wadi Rum Desert, driving the King’s Highway, floating in the Dead Sea and exploring Jerash. At a squeeze you could fit these highlights into a week’s vacation but ideally 2 weeks will allow you to add in Aqaba on the Red Sea and many more of Jordan’s historic cities, castles and religious sites.
Jordan doesn’t come without a few comfort and safety warnings for families, particularly those with younger children;
- Don’t underestimate just how large Petra is. Most adults could tackle the vast majority of the Lost City and the Monastery in a day, but be aware of just how much walking is involved. You will either need a good carrier or be prepared to hire donkeys or horses to help with part of the journey when little legs tire. Do also consider visiting neighbouring Little Petra (Siq a Barid) as a more manageable site for little explorers.
- And secondly, beware the Dead Sea. A magnificent phenomenon to visit but young children can be overwhelmed by the saltiness of the water. See if child minding can be arranged for this experience or be prepared for the squeals of distress!
Cruising the Nile, Egypt
Absolutely unforgettable, this ranked highly with our kids as one of their favourite experiences in the Middle East. Not only had they studied Egypt in school, but so many Egyptian landmarks are instantly recognizable from movie references and games.
An Egypt Nile Cruise allowed us to see all the highlights of Upper Egypt between Luxor and Aswan with the comfort of staying in one place. I won’t claim it’s the most luxurious cruise you’ll ever go on, but certainly the shore excursions are just incomparable to anywhere in the world.
One minute you are wandering through Karnak Temple, next interpreting hieroglyphics in Kom Ombo. During your rest breaks, your cruise boat is whisking you through the Nile Valley, watching the sunset and life go by on the fertile riverbanks.
You will undoubtedly want to tag on some time in Cairo before the start and end of a Nile Cruise as this is where most international flights depart from. It goes without saying a stop at the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx will cap off an incredible tour of Egyptian highlights.
It was one country we were pleased to have taken the private tour option. Relatively inexpensive compared to many other countries, an organized tour sees your logistics taken care of end to end. Although our drivers and guides changed at each stage of our journey throughout Egypt, we always had our own family-sized van and English guide with us, helping us through logistics as well as providing knowledgeable stories and background every step of the way – worth every penny of their baksheesh!
Explore Omani Forts & Wadis
Oman is such an incredible destination for little outdoor adventurers. The country has over 1,000 forts, many of which have been meticulously restored to their former glory. Largely found in the Eastern provinces of Oman, a road trip from Muscat, over the Hajar Mountains and through the former capital Nizwa and the Ad Dakhiliyah region will take you past many of the country’s most famous sites, including Bahla Fort and Nizwa Fort.
As fascinating as all these stops are, kids can get “forted out” after a few days too, so it’s good to break up an eastern Oman road trip with some other stops. If you can drop down as far as Ras Al Jinz during turtle hatching season (April to August) you’ll be in for a real treat, or another simply magical experience for kids is visiting the Al-Dimaniyat Islands.
Wadis are another fascinating geographic feature of Oman. These are essentially valleys that may or may not be filled with water at varying times of the year. Some of the most beautiful (though not necessarily accessible) include Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani Khalid and Wadi Dayqah.
Oman’s roads are generally in quite good condition and traffic doesn’t move too fast, so it makes for an ideal country to self-drive on a road trip. (Bear in mind some locations mentioned here will require access to a 4WD).
Sail through Musandam, Oman
Yes, two mentions for Oman! We are including Musandam separately as the Musandam Peninsula is an exclave of Oman, separated from the mainland by the United Arab Emirates. This corner of Oman strategically sits at the very tip of the Arabian Peninsula, spilling dramatically into the Strait of Hormuz.
Due to its proximity to Dubai (around 2 hours plus border crossing), it makes for a relatively easy side trip for those on short stopovers still wanting a taste of more of the Middle East. The sensational mountainous route will see you drive through the northern Emirates of the UAE before the road precariously wraps itself around the tip of the Hajar Mountain range.
The tiny regional city of Khasab awaits at the end of your drive where you can board a traditional dhow boat to explore deeper into the khors that have earned this area the nickname “the Norway of Arabia”. There is nowhere in the Middle East quite so tranquil and abundant with wildlife, most notably dolphins that dance through the waters around Kumzar.
It’s also possible from Dubai to head to the east coast emirate of Fujairah and join a dhow cruise that will take you into the Gulf of Oman to explore the Musandam Peninsula from the water without the need for an international border crossing.
Yas Island Theme Parks, Abu Dhabi
At quite the opposite end of extremes for family travel experiences, the theme parks of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi rank highly on many kids wish lists when they see the choice of activities on offer in the Middle East. The current theme park trio on Yas include Ferrari World, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld – each of them award-winning theme parks well worthy of a stop in the Middle East in their own right.
Ferrari World is for your thrill seekers with the World’s fastest roller coaster, the World’s tallest inverted loop coaster and many more record-breaking fetes. Yas Waterworld has some of the most hair-raising and extreme water park rides in the world and Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi has bragging rights as the largest indoor theme park in the world.
Yas Island is conveniently located only minutes from AUH airport making it a great stopping point for families simply flying through the Middle East and looking to break up the journey. You can still experience a mix of cultural activities in Abu Dhabi in the morning such as a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the stunning Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace then the rest of your day can be spent with thrills and spills of the theme parks.
The Baalbek Temples, Lebanon
I struggled on whether to include this one. It’s certainly no theme park and in comparison to many of the other cultural and beauty spots of the Middle East it’s not easy to access. Only because it ranked so highly in the Globetrotters highlights of travelling the Middle East, I really felt it was still worthy of a mention as a “Wishlist” destination.
The UNESCO World Heritage Listed Baalbek Temples are some of the most complete Roman ruins from Hellipolis – “Sun City” dating back to around the 1st century AD. The Temple of Bacchus (pictured) is vastly intact, having survived several earthquakes. It sits alongside the larger, though largely destroyed Temple of Jupiter and Temple of Venus. It’s an incredibly extensive archaeological site where you can explore freely with or without a tour guide.
Undoubtedly what keeps Baalbek off most travellers agendas is its location. Sitting just 10 miles from the Syrian border in the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon, the area frequently appears in Foreign Office no-go warnings, or the roads to Baalbek can be blocked making it inconducive to most traditional family tours.
A trip out to Baalbek with a privately hired, experienced driver can be arranged if political conditions are OK. Combine your journey with an incredible drive across the mountains, stopping in at the beautiful, picturesque town of Zahle or try wine tasting at Chateau Ksara, one of the premier wine growers in the Beqaa Valley.
Lebanon is quite a compact country with the capital Beirut sitting at its centre, so making a series of small day trips a great way to explore; other highlights kids will love in a Lebanon itinerary are the Jeita Grotto (incredible underground lakes), the Teleferique du Liban, a breath-taking cable car ride up to Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and the ancient city of Byblos.
I think you can see the growing trend of castles, forts and ancient temples on the Globetrotters lists!
Dubai
It would be hard to have a list of incredible family-friendly destinations in the Middle East and exclude Dubai. I really wanted to emphasise that there are so many places to visit in the Middle East aside from Dubai, but it’s undoubtedly one of the crowning jewels of family vacations.
Whilst yes, many do just come for the sunshine, shopping and showiness of Dubai, there is far more to Dubai if you dig beneath the surface. You CAN simply relax and enjoy the sparkling beach resorts along the Gulf coast with endless slides, pools and kids’ clubs. You will find some incredible value for money resorts along Jumeirah Beach and the Palm Jumeirah. JBR and the Dubai Marina are also very popular with families seeking holiday apartments.
Alternatively, spend some time in the desert and the mountains. Make space in your itinerary for a desert tour (these don’t have to be destructive dune bashing events, there are now many operators focused on desert wildlife and conservation and operate in protected desert reserves). Get yourself a car for a day and head to Hatta, explore the ghost town of Al Madam and get out on a kayak at Hatta Dam.
If the beaches and the desert aren’t enough, throw into the mix theme parks, canal cruises, fountain shows and wandering the streets of the historic Al Faihidi Historical Neighbourhood before crossing the Dubai Creek to the Old Souks. Shiny high-rises – the Burj Khalifa of course – and some of our favourites with young kids, Dubai Miracle Garden and the nightly Dubai Garden Glow in winter.
You can check out this absolute bumper guide to Dubai with Kids for planning out your itinerary.
A few closing thoughts on visiting the Middle East with kids
The Middle East can be an intriguing destination but never one to be dismissed for “when they’re older” or simply too difficult to tackle with kids. Every one of our regional trips within the Middle East has been such a fabulous learning experience, no matter what ages we have travelled. There are a few things newcomers to the region should bear in mind:
Timing your trip to the Middle East
Do think about your timing when travelling to the Middle East as it can make or break the experience. Much of the region can simply be too hot to be properly enjoyed over the hottest summer months of the year. The cooler winter months – roughly November to April – are ideal for most of the destinations listed here, though do check for individual locations.
Safety and driving in the Middle East
Driving conditions in the Middle East can be quite variable! All countries drive on the right-hand side of the road (steering wheel on the left) and traffic can be fast and erratic on the freeways yet grindingly slow in the cities. I’d recommend only confident drivers self-drive; taking a tour or hiring a driver can be a more convenient and less stressful way to get around. And I’d highly recommended you bring your own car seats for infants and toddlers, they are essential. You can see more Middle East travel safety tips for families here.
Religion & dress code
You do need to be mindful of dressing and behaving with respect towards the Muslim culture in the Middle East. None of the destinations listed here require female tourists to be fully covered or wear a head scarf of Shayla. However, it would be best to wear conservative clothing that suits the weather and at a minimum cover shoulders and knees. There is a higher standard expected in religious sites, but you will be signposted and warned if this is the case. Children are free to dress as they please.
About the Blogger
A Brit/Aussie growing up in Australia, Keri has spent most of her adult life abroad, moving to Abu Dhabi in 2012. Here she swapped her corporate career for a keyboard and began blogging her family’s global travel adventure at Our Globetrotters. She is the Editor of the online publication Family Travel in the Middle East, encouraging families to fearlessly explore the Middle East region.
You can follow along on Instagram @familytravel_middleeast or join her Facebook group to discuss your travel plans with like-minded families at Family Travel Middle East
