Middle East
21 curated road trips
LegendaryKings Highway, JordanOne of the world's oldest continuously used roads, the Kings Highway from Amman south through Madaba's Byzantine mosaics, the Crusader castle of Kerak, the rose-red city of Petra's rock-carved temples, and the vast sandstone wilderness of Wadi Rum where Lawrence of Arabia waged his desert campaign. Three thousand years of trade routes in one drive.
IconicMuscat to SalalahThe classic Oman desert drive on Highway 31, from Muscat south via Nizwa's gateway mountains, then across 360-degree desert skyscapes through eight coastal waypoints to the extraordinary Dhofar Mountains and Salalah's beaches. The monsoonal Khareef (June–September) transforms Dhofar into remarkable greenness.
IconicJebel Hafeet Mountain RoadFrom Dubai across the desert to Al Ain, then up 60 switchback hairpins to the summit of the UAE's highest peak, consistently ranked among the world's greatest driving roads, with the whole Arabian plain at your feet.
IconicAlUla to Tabuk and the Red SeaThis desert-crossing drive links AlUla’s sandstone wonders with the mountains and port city of Tabuk, then continues west toward the Red Sea coast for a striking contrast of oasis, canyon, and shoreline scenery. It’s a classic Saudi road trip for big landscapes, heritage stops, and open-road driving.
IconicAncient Phoenicia, LebanonThe most compact extraordinary drive in the Middle East, Beirut's resilient cosmopolitan energy, the Jeita Grotto (the largest stalactite cave in the Middle East), the Phoenician city of Byblos (possibly the world's oldest continuously inhabited city), the cedar forests of Bcharre, and the Roman temple complex of Baalbek (the largest Roman temples ever built). Lebanon in a loop.
NotableAsir Mountains and AbhaThis highland loop links Abha with the cool ridges, stone villages, and terraced slopes of the Asir Mountains. Expect switchback descents, juniper-covered peaks, panoramic viewpoints, and roadside fruit markets, with the route best enjoyed as a slow two- to three-day mountain drive.
Hidden GemBahrain Heritage LoopA compact island loop through Bahrain’s key heritage sites, from the UNESCO-listed Qal'at al-Bahrain to old-town Muharraq, traditional dhow yards, and restored merchant houses. It finishes with desert-side forts and a sunset drive back toward Manama, blending history, coast, and easy highway links.
NotableCaspian Coast to Persian Gulf TransectThis north-to-south transect links Iran’s humid Caspian lowlands with the Zagros range and the warm Persian Gulf, showing the country’s dramatic ecological and cultural range in one drive. Expect rice fields, forested passes, historic cities, desert plateaus, and finally palm-lined coastal roads.
IconicDakar Rally TerritoryFollow the world's most demanding rally through the Empty Quarter's boundless ergs, the Hejaz lava fields, and the ancient Nabataean trade routes to Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia at its most elemental and most extreme.
IconicEastern Anatolia RouteThis cross-country loop links eastern Turkey’s greatest landscapes, from the volcanic skyline of Mount Nemrut and Lake Van to the Armenian churches of Kars and the alpine valleys around Erzurum. Expect long mountain drives, big skies, strong local food, and historic towns shaped by Silk Road and frontier heritage.
IconicIran Classic RouteA classic cross-country drive from Tehran to Shiraz via the heart of Iran’s historic plateau, linking imperial capitals, desert towns, and some of the country’s finest Islamic architecture. Expect long but rewarding highway stretches, mountain scenery, and city stops rich in museums, bazaars, and courtyards.
IconicIraqi Kurdistan Mountain RouteThis mountain drive showcases the best of Iraqi Kurdistan, linking Erbil’s plains to the limestone canyons, waterfalls, and high valleys around Shaqlawa, Rawanduz, Barzan, and Amadiya. Expect dramatic cliff roads, Kurdish villages, and wide views across the Zagros foothills.
IconicJerusalem Dead Sea Negev Galilee CircuitThis loop threads through Jerusalem’s stone streets, the stark cliffs above the Dead Sea, the red desert expanses of the Negev, and the green highlands of the Galilee. It blends major holy sites, desert panoramas, and lake country into one classic Middle East road trip.
NotableLut Desert and KermanThis loop through southeastern Iran links Kerman’s historic caravan heritage with the stark, otherworldly landscapes of the Lut Desert. Drive from Kerman toward Shahdad and the Kaluts, then return through desert towns and fortified oases, with sand sculpted by wind, empty highways, and dramatic sunset stops.
Hidden GemQatar Desert and Northwest Coast LoopThis looping drive leaves Doha for Qatar’s wild southeast deserts, then traces the island-dotted northwest coast back toward the capital. Expect shimmering sabkha flats, sculpted dunes, fishing villages, and quiet shoreline viewpoints, with plenty of stops for dhow harbors, mangroves, and sunset desert scenery.
IconicSouth-East Arabia, OmanMuscat's eastern loop through the dramatic landscapes of south-east Oman, the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, the dhow-building port of Sur, the world's most important nesting beach for green turtles at Ras al Jinz, and the luminous blue pools of Wadi Bani Khalid hidden in the Hajar Mountains. Oman's quietest and most rewarding road trip.
Heritage RouteAl Salmi Desert RoadA straightforward westward desert drive on Kuwait's Route 30, the Al Salmi Road links Kuwait City with the open sand plains near the Saudi border. The landscape is stark and low-lying, with long sightlines, big skies, and occasional service stops rather than towns or attractions.
NotableDead Sea and Jordan ValleyFollow the Jordan Valley from Amman to the Dead Sea, then continue south along the shoreline to the Mujib area and the lush farms of Ghor al-Safi. This easy drive mixes dramatic escarpments, salt flats, and wide views across one of the lowest places on Earth.
Hidden GemKuwait Bay Heritage CircuitThis easy coastal loop traces Kuwait Bay from Kuwait City’s restored heritage core to the waterfront landmarks that frame the capital. Expect smooth highways, sea views, and a mix of old souqs, modern skyline stops, and museum-style landmarks that tell Kuwait’s story in one compact day trip.
Heritage RouteMutlaa Ridge and Northern KuwaitA compact day drive from Kuwait City into the open northern desert, this route climbs Mutlaa Ridge for broad views before looping past old pearl-diving coastlines, salt flats, and windswept plains near the Iraqi frontier. It pairs empty horizons with straightforward roads and easy fuel stops.
IconicCity to Desert: Dubai to LiwaFrom the hypermodern towers of Dubai across the Abu Dhabi desert to the Liwa Oasis on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted sand desert on Earth. The Moreeb Dune (300m, one of the world's highest natural dunes), the ancient falaj irrigation system of the oasis, and the vast silence of the Rub' al Khali beyond the date palms are the rewards.