Middle East - Anthony Ham [2]
There are, of course, a few logistical matters that you should consider before setting out; primary among these is the question of visas. Although you can get visas on arrival in most countries, Syria could provide a road block if you don’t plan ahead. For more information, Click here. You should also consult the Visa sections of the Directory in each individual country chapter, or for a general overview, see the table on Click here.
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DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…
Checking the latest travel advisory warnings (see the boxed text, Click here)
Travel insurance (Click here) – accidents do happen
Driving licence, car documents and appropriate car insurance if bringing your own car (Click here)
Checking the status of border crossings in the region (see the boxed text, Click here)
A big appetite (Click here)
Warm clothes for winter – the Middle East can be cold; desert nights can be freezing
A universal bathplug – you’ll thank us when you emerge from the desert
An MP3 player – the desert can be beautiful but there are days when epic distances and empty horizons can do your head in
Mosquito repellent – that unmistakeable high-pitched whine in the ear is death to sleep
A small size-three football – a great way to meet locals
A Swiss Army knife with a bottle and/or can opener – you never know when you might need it
Photocopies of your important documents – leave a copy at home or email them to yourself before leaving
Ear plugs – wake-up calls from nearby mosques can be very early
Contraceptives – some local condoms have a distressingly high failure rate
A phrasebook – an ‘al salaam ‘alaykum’, or ‘peace be upon you’, works wonders in turning suspicion to a smile
Checking the status of visa rules for travel between Lebanon and Syria (see the boxed text, Click here)
A chic outfit if you’re planning a night out in Beirut, İstanbul or Tel Aviv
Hiking boots if you intend to get too far off the beaten track
Patience – most things do run on time, but the timetable may be elusive to the uninitiated
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If you’re planning to visit Israel and the Palestinian Territories, remember that any evidence in your passport of a visit to Israel will see you denied entry to Syria, Lebanon and possibly Iraq. For advice on how to avoid this problem, see the boxed text, Click here.
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WHEN TO GO
Although the timing of your trip may owe less to personal choice and more to the caprices of your employer back home, there’s nothing worse than arriving in the Middle East to discover that it’s Ramadan and stinking hot.
Climate
The best time to visit the Middle East is autumn (September to November) or spring (March to May). December and January can be fairly bleak and overcast in the region. Any time from October through to March can see overnight temperatures plummet in desert areas. Unless you’re like the ancient Egyptians and worship the sun, or you’re a watersports freak, the summer months of June through to September may be too hot for comfort. In July and August visitors to the Pharaonic sites at Aswan and Luxor in Egypt, or to Palmyra in Syria, are obliged to get up at 5am to beat the heat. Don’t even think of an expedition into the desert in summer.
The most obvious exceptions to these rules are the mountain areas. The northeast of Turkey before May or after mid-October can be beset by snow, perhaps even enough to close roads and mountain passes.
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For more details on weather conditions, see the Climate section in each individual country chapter and Click here.
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Religious Holidays & Festivals
Although non-Muslims are not bound by the rules of fasting