Arabian Peninsula

The Arabian Peninsula and its edges are travelled by car, on excellent roads across long distances. Two countries carry most itineraries: Oman for nature and authenticity, Jordan for archaeology, with the United Arab Emirates as a frequent stopover between them.

Oman is the most complete: a self-drive strings together the Wahiba desert, the inland wadis, the Jebel Akhdar mountains and the Musandam fjords, with a 4x4 essential as soon as you leave the tarmac. Jordan works on a shorter axis, from Petra to Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, where the Jordan Pass covers both the visa and site entries.

Season decides everything here. From May to September the heat makes daytime sightseeing punishing, with peaks above forty degrees. The useful window therefore runs October to April, the exact opposite of Europe, which makes this a winter destination. Entry rules have eased: Oman grants a fourteen-day exemption to many European nationals, and the Jordan Pass includes the Jordanian visa.