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Plan
Each Middle East itinerary below is a tried shape for a luxury trip, day by day, from five days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to a Nile journey and the Holy Land; follow it as written or use it as the start of your own.
How to use these trip ideas
Every outline links to our city guides, where you will find the finest hotels with star ratings and official websites. Lengths are a guide: add a beach day, or join two trips together, since the Gulf, Egypt and Jordan connect easily by air. Check the best time to visit and the entry rules on each country page, and see the best airlines for nonstop flights from the US.
Days 1–2: Dubai: Burj Khalifa at sunset, the old creek by abra, Al Fahidi and the souks, then dinner at one of the city's MICHELIN-starred tables. Day 3: a private desert safari with falconry and dinner in the dunes. Day 4: drive to Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Saadiyat Island's Louvre and museums. Day 5: beach morning, or Yas Island for families, then fly home nonstop.
Our guide →Days 1–3: Riyadh: the National Museum, Masmak Fortress, the Edge of the World at sunset, and an evening in Diriyah, birthplace of the Saudi state. Days 4–6: fly to AlUla: Hegra's rock tombs at dawn, Elephant Rock, Maraya and a dawn balloon flight over the canyons. Days 7–9: fly on to the Red Sea resorts for island villas, reefs and complete calm, returning via Jeddah and its historic Al Balad.
Our guide →Days 1–3: Cairo: the Pyramids and Sphinx at opening time, a full day at the Grand Egyptian Museum with Tutankhamun's treasure, then Saqqara and Islamic Cairo. Days 4–5: fly to Luxor for Karnak, Luxor Temple by night and the Valley of the Kings. Days 6–7: sail the Nile south by luxury cruise or dahabiya to Aswan, with Philae and a felucca at sunset. Day 8: Abu Simbel by air, then home via Cairo.
Our guide →Day 1: Amman: the Citadel, the Roman theater and dinner in Jabal Amman. Day 2: Jerash and the King's Highway south. Days 3–4: Petra: the Siq and Treasury early, the Monastery climb, and Petra by Night. Day 5: Wadi Rum by 4x4 and a night in a luxury desert camp. Days 6–7: the Dead Sea for floating, mud and spa, with an optional visit to the Baptism Site.
Our guide →Days 1–2: Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque, then Rabat. Days 3–4: Fes and its medina, the world's largest car-free city. Days 5–6: south over the Middle Atlas to Merzouga and a camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Day 7: through the gorges to the Atlas Mountains. Days 8–10: Marrakech: the Medina, Jardin Majorelle and a day by the pool, or extend to Essaouira.
Our guide →Days 1–4: Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and a private yacht on the Bosphorus at sunset. Days 5–6: fly to Cappadocia for a dawn balloon flight, a cave hotel and the rock churches of Göreme. Days 7–9: fly to the coast for Bodrum and its beach resorts, or Antalya on the Turkish Riviera.
Our guide →Days 1–2: Muscat: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera House and Mutrah Souk. Days 3–4: Nizwa's fort and souk, then up to the cool terraces of Jebel Akhdar. Day 5: Wadi Bani Khalid and a night in a desert camp in the Sharqiya Sands. Days 6–8: fly to Musandam for dhow cruises through the fjords and a hideaway resort. In summer, swap the desert for monsoon-green Salalah.
Our guide →Day 1: arrive in Doha: the Museum of Islamic Art and its park, then Souq Waqif and dinner on the Corniche. Day 2: the National Museum of Qatar, Msheireb Downtown and an evening at The Pearl or Lusail. Day 3 (optional): a desert drive to the Inland Sea, or a beach morning before the flight onward. Qatar Airways makes a stopover easy on the way to Asia or Africa.
Our guide →Day 1: board at a Dubai marina (see marinas) and cruise the Palm and the skyline at dusk. Days 2–3: sail to Abu Dhabi and the quiet islands to its west for swimming and beach dinners. Day 4: return toward Dubai, or transfer by road to the east coast. Days 5–7: cruise the fjords of Musandam, with snorkeling, dolphins and village visits by tender. Our superyacht charter and yacht itineraries guides cover the details.
Our guide →Day 1: arrive in Tel Aviv, with old Jaffa at sunset. Days 2–4: Jerusalem: the Old City's four quarters, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Mount of Olives (see Jerusalem, holy city of three faiths). Day 5: Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity (see Bethlehem holy sites). Day 6: the Sea of Galilee and its Christian holy sites. Days 7–8: cross to Jordan for the Baptism Site and the Dead Sea, or continue to Petra.
Our guide →Use the trip planner to build an outline around your dates, or the destination finder if you are still choosing. For seamless arrivals, see Arrive Privately, and if you would like specialists to handle every detail, our guide to concierge and family travel can help. Many travelers who fall for a place return to look at homes: see Luxury Real Estate in the Middle East.
Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here
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
Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.