Middle East Trail

Tour Itinerary from Istanbul

Days 1 to 4:                Accommodation:

From Istanbul we begin our journey with a half day drive through olive groves and rural settlements to Gallipoli and the Straits of the Dardanelles. In World War I, on this blustery and exposed peninsula, ANZAC and British Forces struggled unsuccessfully for nine horrendous months to dislodge Turkish troops from the hills above the beaches. It is a moving experience to visit war graves and battle grounds where so much suffering and unnecessary loss of life took place. Australians and New Zealanders make a pilgrimage each year on ANZAC day to pay their respects to their fellow countrymen who died here.  We attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day. From here we cross the Straits, leave Europe and enter the continent of Asia. We visit Troy on our way to Ephesus and spend the next 2 nights camping on the coast. Built by the Greeks a thousand years before Christ and then rebuilt by the Romans, this immense ancient city boasts an amphitheatre that can seat 24000 and a harbour with no water - still in good condition after all these years. We then travel via Pamukkale where you can swim in warm, mineral-rich water, or take the more visually scenic route towards Marmaris and camp in the mountains.

Days 5 to 10:             Accommodation:

For most of the year we head to Olu Deniz or Olympus further down the Mediterranean coast. We stay in campsites or tree houses and spend the next couple of days relaxing on the beach. You can also take boat trips around the coast or hire small motor bikes and visit some of the small out of the way villages nearby. We then travel inland and upwards and stop on the way at Saklikent Gorge where there is the opportunity to go river tubing. From here we for a day to the visually powerful, windswept land form of Cappadocia. Over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded, volcanic rock. The Goreme Valley provides us with an astonishing setting in which to spend a few days investigating the region. We will take you to one of the underground cities where you can explore alone or with a guide this ancient and mysterious area!

Days 11 to 17:           Accommodation:

Driving through stunning mountain scenery in the crisp clear days of summer, and ice and snow in winter, we wend our way to Syria. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! Our first stop in this fascinating country is the market town of Aleppo. Nearby we visit Crac de Chevaliers - an 800 year old Crusader Castle - perched high on top of a mountain.  Then time permitting, we travel out to the oasis town of Palmyra we really get into the desert proper. Sleeping out in this vast wilderness, untainted by artificial light is an experience not to be missed. The night sky dazzles with stars, satellites and shooting stars. Then its onto Damascus, one of the friendliest and safest of capital cities.

Days 18 to 24:           Accommodation:

We spend three nights in this, the oldest inhabited city in the world. From here there is the option of taking a one day guided tour into Lebanon and Beirut. A one day drive then takes us into Jordan and the Dead Sea.  Here, therapeutic mud baths and not so therapeutic mud fights, are followed by an unusual swimming experience in this highly buoyant salt sea! We camp overnight on Mt Nebo which overlooks Israel, before visiting one of the main attractions in the Middle East – The Rose Red City of Petra. This stone carved city was only uncovered about 60 years ago after being forgotten for over 1000 years. Walking through an incredibly narrow, rocky defile brings you out to Petra’s most famous site -The Treasury - The Nabataeans who carved this vast red city in 3rd Century BC controlled the spice and slave caravans on their way to Arabia. On our way to Aqaba we desert camp over night at Wadi Rum - the desert headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia.  This remote area is best viewed from the back of a camel! But there is also the option of taking a 4WD jeep safari deep into the desert with Bedouin guides.  From Aqaba, we take the ferry across the Red Sea to the Sinai Desert.

Days 25 to 29:           Accommodation:

Dahab is our base for the next few days.  Here, you can snorkel or scuba dive to some of the best coral in the world or stay in a Bedouin village and just relax on the beach. For the energetic you can take a one day camel safari and trek off road down the desert coast line with experienced Bedouin guides and camels you will reach areas few tourists ever see. Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery are nearby deep in the desert. It was here, that Moses received the Ten Commandments.  It is a great place, if a little cold, to camp the night and watch the sunrise. Crossing the Suez Canal we may well see the amazing spectacle of huge ships seemingly passing through the desert sands.

Days 30 to 37:           Accommodation:

A days drive southward lies Luxor, here we have two full days to explore. Take your pick between Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple and its Sound and Light Show and Luxor Temple. The remarkably well preserved tombs of Ramses II and Tutankhamun have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem fresh after 3000 years.  We then travel onto Aswan, arguably, the most attractive city on the Nile. Here you can walk along the Corniche with its riverside restaurants, some of them floating, as well as the tremendous views of the Nile cataracts. We spend two days here which gives you enough time to take a trip out to the stone monuments of Abu Simbel built by the greatest of all Pharaohs Ramses II. On the third day, you have the opportunity to enjoy the Nile River from a traditional felucca sail boat for a two day trip to Kom Ombo. Just lie back and watch EgyptLuxor where we relax before heading to Cairo on an overnight train ride. With almost 20 million people this is a hectic, chaotic city. The finale of our trip is a visit to the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, with a local guide (this also includes a camel ride around the Pyramids), and we also visit the Egyptian History Museum in the afternoon followed by our last night party! glide by. We travel a short distance back to

Tour Itinerary from Cairo

Days 1 to 5:             Accommodation:

Days 6 to 8:             Accommodation:

It is then a short drive to Luxor is where we join our truck and pitch tents for the first time. The campsite has a swimming pool and is our base for the next two days to explore the city. Both Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple are within easy walking distance. On our second day in Luxor we organise a trip by donkey to Valley of the Queens and Valley of the Kings. Here, the remarkably well-preserved tombs of Ramses II and Tutankhamun have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem fresh after 3000 years.

Days 9 to 13:           Accommodation:

We now drive for a day and a half through the desert passing under the Red Sea and the Suez Canal where we may well see the amazing spectacle of huge ships seemingly passing through the desert sands. We will stop off at Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery which are deep in the desert. It was here, that Moses received the Ten Commandments. It is a great place, if a little cold, to camp the night and watch the sunrise. Nearby is Dahab, on the Red Sea Coast which is our base for the next couple of days. Here, you can snorkel or scuba dive to some of the best coral in the world or enjoy the Bedouin hospitality and just relax on the beach.

Days 14 to 17:         Accommodation:

From Dahab we have a short drive to catch the ferry across the Red Sea to Aqaba in Jordan. From Aqaba we camp overnight in the desert at Wadi Rum - the desert headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia. This remote area is best viewed from the back of a camel, but there is also the chance to take a 4WD jeep safari deep into the desert. Petra - one of the main attractions in the Middle East is only a short drive away and is our next stop, this stone-carved city was only uncovered about 60 years ago after being forgotten for over 1000 years. Walking through an incredibly narrow, rocky defile brings you out to Petra's most famous site -The Treasury. The Nabataeans who carved this vast red city in 3 BC controlled the spice and slave caravans on their way to Arabia.

Days 18 to 24:         Accommodation:

From Petra we venture down to the lowest point on earth – The Dead Sea. Here, therapeutic mud baths and not so therapeutic mud fights are followed by an unusual swimming experience in this highly buoyant salt sea! In the late afternoon we have a short drive to Mt Nebo where we camp for the night with its dramatic views over Israel. Syria is close by and our first stop in this fascinating country is the capital - Damascus. We spend three nights in this, the oldest inhabited city in the world. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! From Damascus we visit Crac de Chevaliers - an 800-year-old Crusader Castle - perched high on top of a mountain. Before leaving Syria our final destination is market town of Aleppo.

Days 25 to 32:         Accommodation:

From the Syria border our next major stop is at the visually powerful, windswept landforms of Cappadocia. Over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded volcanic rock. The Goreme Valley provides us with an astonishing setting in which to spend a few days investigating the region. We will take you to one of the underground cities where you can explore alone or with a guide this ancient and mysterious area! We then head towards the Turkish coast and stop on the way at Saklikent Gorge where there is the opportunity to go river tubing. On the coast we stay at both Olympus and further up the Mediterranean coast at Olu Deniz. Our accommodation is tree houses and campsites and we spend the next couple of days relaxing on the beach. You can also take boat trips around the coast, tandem paraglide or hire small motor bikes.

Days 33 to 37:         Accommodation:

We then travel via either Pamukkale where you can swim in warm, mineral-rich water, or take the more visually scenic route towards Marmaris and camp in the mountains. We visit the well known ruins Ephesus where we spend 2 nights. Built by the Greeks a thousand years before Christ and then rebuilt by the Romans, Ephesus boasts an amphitheatre that can seat 24000 and a harbour with no water - still in good condition after all these years.  We then stop at the ruins of Troy before we cross the Dardanelle Straits and visit Gallipoli, where in World War I on this blustery and exposed peninsula, ANZAC and British Forces struggled unsuccessfully for nine horrendous months to dislodge Turkish troops from the hills above the beaches. It is a moving experience to visit the war graves and battlegrounds where so much suffering and unnecessary loss of life took place. Australians and New Zealanders make a pilgrimage each year on ANZAC Day to pay their respects to their fellow countrymen who died here. We attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day.

It is about a half day drive from here to the final destination of our trip - the exiting and cosmopolitan city of Istanbul where we have our final night’s party! Istanbul as an amazing city and staying for a couple of days after the trip finishes to  experience this safe and friendly city and paying a visit to at least the Aya Sofya Mosque, Topkapi Palace or the Grand Bazaar to name but a few is recommended. Our crew can provide you with details and information of hostels to stay at in the Sultanhamet area of central Istanbul.

NOTE: Adventure travel is not an exact science. It is this very unpredictability which makes it such a rewarding experience. Occasionally we must amend our itineraries to take into account changing local circumstances. In such situations we’ll always try to minimise any disruption, but you need to bear in mind that from time to time events occur outside our control. While our crew are experienced and knowledgeable of the countries through which we travel, they are not guides as such. The diversity and extent of the history and cultures in this region are second to none. At the most important historical sites we visit, we have the benefit of locally trained guides who have spent many years and have vast experience of such sites.

PLEASE NOTE: For most of the year on our trips from Istanbul to Cairo & Tunis and vice versa we camp approximately 70% of the time and the rest is spent in budget hotels, pensions, overnight trains & tree houses. From October to April we use budget hotels and pensions a lot more as nights are quite cold, especially in Turkey. Over the winter we will often spend less time on the Turkish coast, and more time in the countries further south.