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Tours
By Region |
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Cultural
Tours and Travels to the Middle East
 A journey to the Middle East is nothing short of going back into the history of civilization - and yet it is here that history is still in the making. For many people this land is where it all began.
The small group concept we have adopted for tours will give you an opportunity to move more freely and thus be able to see more. It is also an ideal opportunity to get an insight into the various historical and cultural places you will visit and experience the life from the angle of the local peoples you visit.
Our tours to the Middle East have several possible combinations. They can be linked to each other thereby broadening your possibilities.
We have tours to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the
UAE and Yemen.
|
Welcome
to Bahrain Travel & Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Bahrain
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please select from
one of the following cultural tours we offer to Bahrain... | | Tour Name | Days |
Bahrain
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| The Arab Sheikdoms | 14 | A cultural tour of UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait |
| Saudi
Arabia: Behind the Veil |
14 |
A
cultural tour of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain |
 Bahrain's reputation as a relatively liberal and modern Persian Gulf state has made it a favorite with travellers in the region and is an excellent introduction to the Gulf. Bahrain diversified its economy and created some of the best education and health systems in the region. Years of British influence have made English widely spoken. Site of one of the oldest civilisations in the world and thought by some to be the site of the Garden of Eden, Bahrain is packed with archaeological sites, historical museums, dhow building yards and back-street souks, awaiting you to discover them. |  |
Welcome
to Iran Travel & Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Iran
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Iran... | | Tour Name | Days |
Iran
Tours and Travels - Countries
Visited |
| The Persian Route | 17 | A cultural tour of Iran | | A Passage to Persia | 11 | A cultural tour of Iran | | A Journey from Iran to Central Asia | 25 | A cultural tour of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan | | Sojourn in Iran | 9 | A cultural tour of Iran | | The Caspian from Baku to Tehran | 26 | A cultural tour of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Iran |  Iran, or as it was once known-Persia, has long been the seat of civilisation and high achievements in poetry, art, architecture, science and history. Names like Darius, Xerxes, Alexander the Great, Rustam, Omar Khayyam, Hafiz, Saadi, Shamsh Tabriz, Attar and Ibn Sina just to name a few, are all amongst the great achievers who left great contributions to the world we live in today.
Despite all the political developments in the last decade, most of the archaeological and historical sites have been very well preserved. Centres like Susa, Persepolis, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashad, Kerman, Bam, Hamadan, proudly portray rich history even today.
For various reasons, organising a tour of Iran is not easy to say the least. Our Persian tours are tours for lovers of history, culture and art, and for those who want to be able to see and experience the moulding of a nation. They are tours for the well travelled and, despite the fact that the quality of hotel accommodation may not meet the typical stereotype "deluxe" - and it is not meant to offer that - they offer very clean and comfortable facilities.
In October 1996, Bestway Tours & Safaris was amongst the first tour operators permitted to take a group of American and Canadian tourists to Iran and has been orgazing groups to visit the country ever since.
Our participants are always very cordially received and have come back extremely pleased with the arrangements. That original tour visited all the historical and cultural sites in the itinerary, and we were even invited to private homes. | | Welcome
to Iraq Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Iraq
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates,
please select from one of the following
cultural tours we offer to Iraq... | | Tour Name | Days |
Iraq
Tours and Travels - Countries
Visited |
| Mesopotamia: "Where it all began." | 12 | A cultural tour of Jordan & Iraq |  The territory of modern Iraq is roughly equivalent to that of ancient Mesopotamia, which fostered a succession of early civilizations, such as Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria. Later invasions by Alexander the Great and the Persians also left their mark.
The Arab-Islamic conquest of what is now Iraq started in 633 and from the mid-8th century to 1258 Baghdad was the capital of the Islamic realm. The Abbasid period was a golden age of Islamic power and culture. During that period Baghdad became the second largest city in the known world, after Constantinople, and the most important center of science and culture.
Iraqi architecture is best exemplified in the sprawling metropolis of Baghdad. The city's architecture is almost entirely new, with some islands of exquisite old buildings and compounds.
Despite all the political developments in the last decade, most of the archaeological and historical sites have been very well preserved. For various reasons, organizing a tour of Iraq is quite difficult to say the least. Iraq is an area for lovers of history, culture and art, and for those who are daring enough to experience a nation under pressure. It is a tour for the well traveled.
In Spring of 2001, Bestway Tours & Safaris was the first tour operator to take a group of American and Canadian tourists to Iraq. Our participants were surprisingly well received and have come back extremely pleased with the trip. As always the people are very different from their rulers and their regimes. | | Welcome
to Israel Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Israel
 For
detailed itineraries, prices
and dates, please select from
one of the following cultural
tours we offer to Israel... | | Tour Name | Days |
Israel
Tours and Travels -
Countries Visited |
| A Special Tour of Jordan, the Holy Land & Egypt |
12 | A cultural tour of Jordan, Israel & Egypt | | | | Welcome
to Jordan
Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels
to Jordan
For
detailed itineraries,
prices and dates,
please select from
one one of the following
cultural tours we
offer to Jordan... | | Tour Name | Days |
Jordan
Tours and Travels -
Countries Visited |
| From the Pyramids & St Catherine to Petra |
15 |
A cultural tour of Egypt & Jordan | | A Special Tour of Jordan, the Holy Land & Egypt |
12 | A cultural tour of Jordan, Israel & Egypt | | Jewels of Jordan & Syria | 12 |
A cultural tour of Jordan & Syria | | Jordan: Where it all Began |
07 |
A cultural tour of Jordan | | Mesopotamia: "Where
it all began." |
12 | A cultural tour of Jordan & Iraq | | From Petra to Baalbeck | 14 |
A cultural tour of Jordan, Syria & Lebanon |  Jordan conjures images of Bible stories, lost cities and Lawrence of Arabia. It's a country that ought to be filled with tourists, but the Middle East's problematic past has kept them away. Jordan is peaceful and one of the most welcoming, hospitable countries in the world.
It's also home to two of the most spectacular sights in the Middle East. Petra, the ancient city of the Nabateans is one of the world's most impressive ruins. For a slightly more contemplative experience, the startling desert scenery of Wadi Rum enraptured Lawrence of Arabia and will probably have the same effect on you. | | Welcome
to Kuwait
Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels
to Kuwait
For
detailed itineraries,
prices and dates,
please select from
one of the following
cultural tours we
offer to Kuwait... | | Tour Name | Days |
Kuwait
Tours and
Travels - Countries
Visited |
| The Arab Sheikdoms | 14 | A cultural tour of UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait |  Kuwait is an oil-rich Arab country with an area of 17,818 sq km situated at the north-western tip of the Arabian Gulf. Its territorial waters include nine islands and a coastline that is 290km long. The country is bordered on the north and west by Iraq, on the south by Saudi Arabia and on the east by the Arabian Gulf. After the Iraqis were driven out in early 1991 and reconstruction work began on the ruins of Kuwait City, the government is meticulously re-creating the country's pre-invasion appearance - right down to the pink marble steps at the entrance to Kuwait City's leading five-star hotel. With the war a fading memory, Kuwait is once again the prototypical oil state, and travellers looking for a relaxed entry into the Muslim world can expect beautiful mosques, souks and other sandy traces of bygone Bedouin days. | | Welcome
to
Lebanon
Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and
Travels
to Lebanon
For
detailed
itineraries,
prices
and dates,
please
select
from one
of the
following
cultural
tours we
offer
to Lebanon... | | Tour Name | Days |
Lebanon
Tours
and Travels -
Countries
Visited |
| Lebanon: From Pre-Biblical to Modern | 8 | A cultural tour of Lebanon | | From Palmyra to Baalbeck | 9 | A cultural tour of Lebanon and Syria | | From Petra to Baalbeck | 14 |
A cultural tour of Jordan, Syria & Lebanon |  Few places offer such diversity and interest in such a small space as Lebanon: ancient cities, Roman ruins, luxurious ski resorts, bucolic charm and Islamic architecture are just the beginning.
Beirut, once known as the Paris of the Middle East is quickly re-building itself to its former glory. History abounds and you can visit the old Phoenician ports of Sidon and Tyre in the South; Byblos, reputedly one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world and the magnificent Roman acropolis of Baalbek. Explore Tripoli and drive to the beautiful Qadisha Valley with Lebanon's famous Cedar trees, treasured for their durable, sweet-scented wood. Many of these lovely trees are more than 1500 years old.
If you're interested in the history of the region and want to see how Lebanon is striving to rebuild itself, now is a good time to visit. | | Welcome
to Oman Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Oman
For
detailed itineraries, prices
and dates, please select
from one of the following
cultural
tours we offer to Oman... | | Tour Name | Days |
Oman
Tours
and Travels
- Countries
Visited |
| The Frankincense Trail: Muscat, Ubar and Sana'a |
14 | A cultural tour of Oman and Yemen | | The Frankincense Trail and Socotra Island |
21 | A cultural tour of Oman and Yemen | | The Arab Sheikdoms | 14 | A cultural tour of UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait |
| African
Safari with Muscat & Dubai |
20 |
A
cultural tour of Kenya,
Tanzania, Oman & UAE |
 Long known as the hermit of the Middle East, the Sultanate of Oman is slowly emerging from its shell, revealing a land of friendly people, dramatic landscapes and many forts. The capital, Muscat, lacks the nouveau-riche feel that typifies much of the rest of the Gulf.
Discover its surprising scenic variety: dramatic sand-dunes and wadis, fertile highland villages and an incredible coastline. Famous as a frankincense centre of antiquity, its past is linked with ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt and India. | |
Welcome
to Qatar Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural Tours
and Travels to Qatar
For
detailed itineraries, prices
and dates,
please select from one of
the following
cultural tours we offer to
Qatar... | | Tour Name | Days |
Qatar
Tours
and
Travels
- Countries
Visited |
| The Arab Sheikdoms | 14 | A cultural tour of UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait |  Best known for being unknown, Qatar has a habit of falling off the outside world's radar screens. Most foreign maps of Arabia drawn before the 19th century don't show the Qatar peninsula. Not among the world's prime tourist destinations, it began issuing tourist visas in 1989, but after a slow start Qatar has begun to reap the benefits of its new openness. Albeit it is not as developed as the tourist centres of the UAE, Qatar is definitely worth a look. | | Welcome
to
Saudi
Arabia
Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours
and Travels
to Saudi Arabia
For detailed
itineraries, prices and dates, please select from one of
the following cultural tours we offer to Saudi Arabia...
|
| Tour
Name |
Days |
Saudi
Arabia Tours and Travels - Countries
Visited |
| Saudi
Arabia: Behind the Veil |
14 |
A
cultural tour of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain |
 Arabia has intrigued travellers for centuries. Today's Saudi Arabia has held on to its mystique by being incredibly difficult to visit. But it is worth coming here for the diverse desert landscapes and rugged mountain scenery, and some of the Middle East's best archaeological sites. Vast, complex and fascinating, Saudi Arabia has a rich collection of historical sites, such as the Nabatean remains of Madain Saleh and two of Islam's holiest cities - Mecca and Medina.
Saudi Arabia is host to vibrant and thriving, oil as well as history-rich cities. Jeddah, for example is one of the few cities in the region to have built around, rather than over, its history. Although it's definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. It has some great museums and one of the best souks (markets) in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city.
The Saudi people are deeply traditional and respectful to visitors and as always extend the greatest courtesy to the guests. Be amongst the first travellers from the West into Saudi Arabia in recent years with our journey into this fantastic kingdom.
| |
Welcome
to Syria Travel & Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Syria
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please select from
one of the following cultural tours we offer to Syria... | | Tour Name | Days |
Syria
Tours and Travels - Countries Visited |
| The Wonders of Syria | 8 | A cultural tour of Syria | | Jewels of Jordan & Syria | 12 |
A cultural tour of Jordan & Syria | | From Palmyra to Baalbeck | 9 | A cultural tour of Lebanon and Syria | | From Petra to Baalbeck | 14 |
A cultural tour of Jordan, Syria & Lebanon |  A journey through Syria is a journey through time. Syria is the cradle of the great civilization, and the accomplishments of her ancient peoples are renowned throughout the world. It was here that agriculture began ten thousand years ago, that settlement commenced and civilization emerged. Houses, not caves, became man's dwellings, and he embarked on a journey of self-discovery. If you are interested in history and historical monuments, you cannot miss Syria because there is a monument around every corner and there is no civilization in the east or west throughout world history that didn't pass through Syria, leave a mark there as well as be effected by its long, long history. This is why Syria was called rightfully "The cradle of civilizations".
The kingdom of Ugarit offered mankind the first alphabet in history. At Ebla, a royal palace was discovered containing one of the largest and most comprehensive documentary archives of the ancient world.
The Amorites, the Kanaanites and Phoenicians inhabited the coastal regions, the Arameans were the highlander, and the Nabateans inhabited the south.
Successive invasions by Hittites, Persians, Greeks and Romans left their mark. The Islamic conquest of 636 A. D. only gave the country its Arab identity. When you enter the old souks you realize that history is alive and tangible, something you can see and touch.
Syria is probably one of the most under-advertised yet important countries in the world. It is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world and the Syrian people are very friendly and peaceful. | | Welcome
to Turkey Travel & Tourism page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Turkey
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates, please
select from one of the following cultural tours
we offer to Turkey... | | Tour Name | Days |
Turkey
Tours and Travels - Countries
Visited |
| Turkish Delight | 13 | A cultural tour of Turkey |
| The
Black Sea Coast & Eastern Turkey |
13 |
A
cultural tour of Turkey |
| Grand
Turkey |
22 |
A
cultural tour of Turkey |
 Turkey is a country with a multiple identity, poised between East and West, where mosques coexist with churches, and remnants of the Roman Empire crumble alongside ancient Hittite and Neolithic sites.
Istanbul, the country's cultural and commercial centre, straddles the Bosphorus straits and the Marmara coast. The city is a mix of old and new and also visibly the old imperial capital, and would take months of exploration to truly do it justice.
On the Sea of Marmara are the two earlier Ottoman capitals, Bursa and Edirne, and just beyond, the World War I battlefields of the Dardanelles.
On the Aegean Coast small country towns are swathed in olive groves, while the area is full of ancient sites like Assos, Bergama and Ephesus, which have been a magnet for travellers since antiquity. The Aegean coast is Turkey at its most developed, with resorts like Cesme, Bodrum and Marmaris.
On the interior of the Anatolian Peninsula you can explore the spectacular attractions of Cappadocia, with its famous rock churches, subterranean cities and landscape studded with "fairy chimneys", as well as the Selcuk architecture and dervish associations of Konya.
Turkey is an immensely rewarding place to travel, not least because of the people, whose reputation for friendliness and hospitality is richly deserved.destinations in the world and the Syrian people are very friendly and peaceful. | |
Welcome
to the UAE Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to the UAE
For
detailed itineraries, prices and dates,
please select from one of the following
cultural tours we offer to the UAE... | | Tour Name | Days |
the
UAE
Tours and Travels - Countries
Visited |
 A
Journey In Diversity |
20 |
A
cultural tour of Ethiopia,
Uganda & UAE |
| African
Safari with Muscat & Dubai |
20 |
A
cultural tour of Kenya, Tanzania,
Oman & UAE |
| The Arab Sheikdoms | 14 | A cultural tour of UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait |
| The
splendours of Dubai, Serengeti,
Victoria Falls & Mauritius |
20 |
A
cultural tour of Tanzania, South
Africa, Zimbabwe, Mauritius & UAE |
 The United Arab Emirates is a union of seven sovereign shaikhdoms, formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971. The Sun always shines here, it's naturally desert climate and its convenient location in the Arabian Gulf has endowed it with warm seas and cozy beaches. Together with a booming economy, where trade and tourism are encouraged, it also makes for the ultimate shopping destination. Every year, tourist attractions are constantly being upgraded and added - from one of the world's largest aqua parks to cultural and wildlife museums. From Wind Towers to Towering Skyscrapers, the country has a unique blend of the traditional Arab, Islamic culture combined with the modernity of a cosmopolitan living environment.
Its state-of-the-art tourist infrastructure with numerous world-class hotels, sports events and shopping spectaculars held annually, ensures its position as the Middle East's number one tourist destination. | |
Welcome
to Yemen Travel & Tourism
page
Cultural
Tours and Travels to Yemen
For
detailed itineraries, prices
and dates, please select from
one of the following cultural
tours we offer to Yemen... | | Tour Name | Days |
Yemen
Tours and Travels - Countries
Visited |
| The Frankincense Trail: Muscat, Ubar and Sana'a | 14 | A cultural tour of Oman and Yemen | | The Frankincense Trail and Socotra Island |
21 | A cultural tour of Oman and Yemen | | Socotra Island | 12 | A cultural tour of Yemen | | Yemen: A Living Museum | 11 | A cultural tour of Yemen |  Since ancient times Yemen has enchanted travelers, merchants, philosophers and kings with its secrets and its wealth. At the crossroads of spice and incense routes, Yemen is one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in the world that has not yet been touched by the winds of modernity. This fascinating country stretching from the shores of the Red Sea to beyond the shores of the Arabian Sea is extraordinarily rich in historical sites. The ancient sites are refreshingly free of commercial ventures with an atmosphere of uncluttered authenticity no longer present at better-trodden historical locations. One of the most striking features of Yemen is its astonishing architecture. The country is covered in ancient skyscrapers made from stone and mud - where people live on top of their animals.
Every visitor is fascinated with the variety and contrasts in landscape, architecture and people: From gigantic mountains with fortress-like villages on the top of the peaks to picturesque urban settlements with houses of clay, bricks and stone; from deserts to fertile valleys; from dreamlike beaches to colorful markets filled with the sounds, fragrances and faces from 1001 Nights, you will meet the old wisdom and the art of the Land of the Queen of Sheba everywhere.
A trip to Yemen is considered an experience of a way of life long since lost to the modern world, a dream destination of unusual record, a destination of a different age. | | |
|
| © Copyright 1999-2008 Bestway
Tours & Safaris |
Site last updated May 02,
2008 |
| Photographs by Peter
Langer & Mahmood
Poonja |
Site by antoinette |
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