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Plan a Trip

The Summer Vacation in the Middle East: Where to Escape the Heat

A summer vacation in the Middle East is about altitude, monsoon mists and sea breezes, because when the Gulf cities reach their hottest, the region's mountains and coasts are at their best. These are the cool escapes where Gulf families and seasoned travelers spend June to September.

Updated

At a glance

The Summer Escape at a glance

Gulf summer
June to September, often above 105°F on the coast
Khareef season
Salalah, roughly late June to September
Mountain air
Taif, Abha and Jebel Akhdar often 20–30°F cooler than the coast
Holidays
Gulf school holidays and Eid bring peak demand; book early

Why everyone moves in summer

The Gulf summer is long and hot, and for generations families have moved to cooler places, once to the mountains and oases, today by short flights. The good news for travelers is that the region has its own cool corners: green monsoon hills in southern Oman, rose-scented highlands in Saudi Arabia, and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Many Gulf cities themselves remain wonderful indoors, with great malls, museums and hotel deals.

For month-by-month advice, see when to go. Families should also read family travel.

A jade-green pool beneath travertine cliffs and greenery at Wadi Darbat, near Salalah in Oman.
Photo: Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Cool escapes within the region

Seasonal

Salalah and the khareef

Dhofar, Oman

Each summer, monsoon mists turn the hills of Dhofar green, with waterfalls, grazing camels and temperatures in the 70s Fahrenheit. A beloved Gulf getaway; see our Salalah guide.

Official site ↗

Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara

★★★★★ Salalah, Oman

A beachfront resort beside the frankincense-era ruins of Al Baleed, with pool villas and a fine spa.

Official site ↗

Jebel Akhdar

Jebel Akhdar, Oman

Oman's Green Mountain rises 2,000 meters, with pomegranate and rose terraces and cool summer evenings. See Jebel Akhdar.

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar

★★★★★ Jebel Akhdar, Oman

A cliff-edge resort with one of the world's most dramatic infinity pools and a refined spa.

Official site ↗

Taif

Taif, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's summer capital in the Sarawat Mountains, famous for its rose harvest and fruit farms. See our Taif guide.

Official site ↗

Abha and the Asir

Asir, Saudi Arabia

Cool highlands with terraced villages, juniper forests and cable cars, and the new Soudah Peaks project above the clouds. See Abha and Soudah Peaks.

Official site ↗

Musandam

Musandam, Oman

Fjord-like inlets off the Strait of Hormuz; summer is hot but the sea breezes and dhow cruises make it a popular escape for swimmers and divers. See Musandam.

The Atlas Mountains

High Atlas, Morocco

Kasbah lodges in Morocco's High Atlas offer cool air, walks through Berber villages and long dinners on terraces. See the Atlas Mountains.

Kasbah Tamadot

★★★★★ Asni, Morocco

Sir Richard Branson's Atlas retreat in Asni, with gardens, a spa and views of Mount Toubkal.

Official site ↗

Cappadocia

Cappadocia, Türkiye

Dry, mild summer days and cool nights among fairy chimneys, with dawn balloon flights. See Cappadocia.

Sea-breeze coasts

The sea-breeze coasts

Bodrum

Bodrum, Türkiye

Türkiye's chic Aegean peninsula of yachts, beach clubs and whitewashed villages. See Bodrum.

Mandarin Oriental Bodrum

★★★★★ Bodrum, Türkiye

A hillside resort above its own bay, with beach clubs and an excellent spa.

Official site ↗

The Turkish Riviera

Antalya, Türkiye

Antalya and Belek combine family resorts, golf and ancient sites on a sparkling coast. See Antalya.

Limassol and Paphos

Cyprus

Cyprus offers long beaches, vineyards and a lively marina, a short flight from the Gulf. See Cyprus.

Egypt's North Coast

North Coast, Egypt

Ras El Hekma and El Alamein are Egypt's summer playground, with fine white sand and new luxury resorts. See El Alamein and Ras El Hekma.

Tangier and the Strait

Tangier, Morocco

Atlantic and Mediterranean breezes keep Tangier pleasant all summer. See Tangier.

And across the Mediterranean

Many Gulf travelers continue west each summer to the islands and coasts of Greece, Italy, France and Spain. Our sister site TheMediterranean.com covers the whole sea in the same spirit, from the Amalfi Coast to the Greek islands.

Summer homes are a long Gulf tradition. If a mountain retreat or a seaside villa appeals, see Cyprus property investment, Istanbul and Bodrum Luxury Real Estate and Egypt's North Coast Luxury Real Estate.

Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here

From a stay to a home of your own

Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.

Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate

Luxury Real Estate in the Middle EastEvery guide, country by country.The 66 TerritoriesEach with its Founding Partner Agency and Developer.Branded ResidencesHomes run to the standard of the world's finest hotels.Can Foreigners Buy Property?The rules in all fourteen countries.

Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.