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Post-Coronavirus Travel Bucket List: The Arab World

By Michael Bamidele
26 April 2020   |   11:02 am
Like millions of people currently under lockdown across the world, you are probably wondering when the pandemic will end so that life can become normal again. There are so many things to do as well as many places to explore. For this bucket list, we would explore the Arab world. The Arab world mainly consists…

Amadiya, Iraq | Image: Wikipedia/U.S. Army/SGT Daniel Nelson

Like millions of people currently under lockdown across the world, you are probably wondering when the pandemic will end so that life can become normal again. There are so many things to do as well as many places to explore.

For this bucket list, we would explore the Arab world. The Arab world mainly consists of the Arabic-speaking countries and populations in North Africa and Western Asia. Throughout history, numerous civilizations, both local and foreign, settled in and ruled the Arab World each of them leaving its trace of monuments and landmarks.

Amadiya, Iraq
Some call it the home of the biblical three wise men. Amadiya is a city perched on the flattened summit of a mountain. The history of the city dates back to at least, 3000 BC, and the ancient Assyrians.

Musandam, Oman

Musandam, Oman | Image: Forbes

Also known as the Norway of the Middle East, Musandam is a peninsula and an Omani enclave within the United Arab Emirates, which means that it is a piece of territory which belongs to Oman but is separated from it.

Carthage, Tunisia

Carthage, Tunisia | Image: Short Trips

Carthage was one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world and spawned the powerful Carthaginian Empire which dominated much of the western Mediterranean. The ruins of this famed city can be found on the outskirts of modern-day Tunis.

Esfahan, Iran

Esfahan, Iran | Image: Travel Earth

Esfahan is reputed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the Middle East. It is famous for its Perso–Islamic architecture, grand boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, tiled mosques, and minarets. Isfahan also has many historical buildings, monuments, paintings and artefacts. Centuries ago, the historical city used to be an intellectual hub comparable to Athens, Alexandria, and Baghdad hosting poets, scholars, and philosophers.

Baalbek, Lebanon

Baalbek, Lebanon | Image: Lonely Planets

In Greek and Roman times, Baalbek was also known as Heliopolis (Sun City). It is home to the Baalbek temple complex which includes two of the largest and grandest Roman temple ruins: the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter. It was inscribed in 1984 as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can have the ruins to yourself, as it is one of the less-trodden destinations in Lebanon.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Camels in Wadi Rum, Jordan.

Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in the southern part of Jordan. Often called the Valley of the Moon, it is known for its red-pink sands, stunning natural arches and mountains, and prehistoric rock engravings.
Wadi Rum is probably the closest you’ll ever get to camping on Mars. Lawrence of Arabia, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Prometheus, Red Planet, The Last Days on Mars, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Passion in the Desert and The Martian were filmed in Wadi Rum.

Luxor, Egypt

Luxor Temple | Image: Sada El Balad

Luxor was the ancient city of Thebes, the great capital of (Upper) Egypt. It is called the “world’s greatest open-air museum” as the ruins of the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor stand within the modern city. Immediately opposite, across the River Nile, lie the monuments, temples and tombs of the west bank of Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

Jerusalem, Isreal

Jerusalem, Israel | Image: World Travel Guide

Jerusalem is a diverse, spirited and bustling city, which combines both old and new in a multifaceted way. It is one of the most important places for Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Jerusalem is a city that has perfectly combined tradition and history with a 21st-century city. You can explore the old city and its historical sites and as well enjoy the endless nightlife and food scene.

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