There are many places worth visiting in Bahrain and the first stop for most tourists to Bahrain is Manama, the capital. Here you can visit the fascinating National Museum. Also of interest is Beit Al-Qur’an, which boasts a valuable collection of Holy Qur’ans and manuscripts.

You should also make a trip to the Manama Souk (market). Here you will find all sorts of interesting goods on sale, from brightly coloured cloth, jewellery and gold, to spices and local products.

The beaches in Bahrain are beautiful, especially those on the Hawar Islands, but the waters are very shallow so if you want to swim, it is best to use the hotel pools. Golf and horseback riding are also popular pastimes here.

There are a wide range of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets in Bahrain and all international hotel chains are represented here. Prices for a double room in a mid-range hotel are similar to what you would pay in Europe but cheaper options are available for those on a shoestring.

Most people coming to Bahrain will arrive at Bahrain International Airport, which is on Muharraq Island, about 12kms from Manama. There are direct flights to Bahrain from most major international airports. The only land border with Bahrain is across the King Fahd Causeway into Saudi Arabia.

There is much to see and do in Iran for visitors. Visit Tehran, the nation’s capital, with its trendy restaurants, fine museums, decent choice of accommodation and art galleries. Explore Esfahan with its magnificent mosques and the stunning Imam Square. Or get wonderfully lost in the bazaars in Shiraz, Kerman and Kashan, sip tea in the courtyards or gardens of a traditional chaykhune (teahouse) or simply join the crowds for an evening stroll in Tabriz.

Explore the Alborz Mountains with its magnificent ski retreats, hidden valleys and hiking trails around the famous Castles of the Assassins. Visit Iran’s holiest site, the impressive Holy Shrine of Imam Reza or one of the world’s greatest ancient cities at Persepolis.

Accommodation is available in Iran to suit all tastes and budgets. Prices are reasonable for mid-range hotels, with single and double rooms costing practically the same. Guest houses are welcoming to tourists and less costly.

Most international flights arrive at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport; however, many travellers prefer to arrive in Shiraz to avoid backtracking. It is easy to get to either Tehran or Shiraz from all international airports in the Middle East. It is also possible to take a train or bus here from Istanbul via Ankara and Tabriz.

Baghdad is the ‘City of the Caliphs’ and is located on the River Tigris. The places to see in Baghdad are the old churches and monasteries such as the Church of Meskenta, Kadhimain Shrine and the walls and gates of the city: Mu’adham (North) Gate, Dhafariya (Wastani) Gate, Halaba (Talisman) Gate, and Basaliya Gate and Abbasid Palace.

In Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, there are many interesting sites such as the Great Mosque (Nuriddin Mosque), Mujahidi Mosque, Umayyad Mosque and Qara Serai (Black Palace). Basra is the third largest city in Iraq and it is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ because of the many canals that run through it.

At present accommodation in Iraq is geared mainly for military and aid workers. Hotel accommodation is limited and bookings should be made in advance. There are some small hotels available for those on low budgets but these have a low standard of facilities and don’t come with air conditioning. Hotels usually require payment in foreign currency and in cash. A 10 per cent service charge is normally added to the bill.

Royal Jordanian Airlines and Iraqi Airways has recently resumed their flights into Baghdad International Airport from Amman in Jordan. It is also possible to enter by land from Syria or Jordan as part of a group tour. A tourist visa is required.

Jerusalem is the most popular destination for visitors to Israel. Most of the sites can be found in the walled Old City. Here you find the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), a popular place for Jewish worship overlooked by Temple Mount. Also visit the historic town of Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity.

Tel Aviv, the capital city, is a great place to visit. The Yemenite quarter is the best place for walking around the markets, relaxing at coffee shops and vodka bars, or exploring the great beaches nearby. Don’t miss the fascinating Diaspora Museum, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

Eilat is a popular resort destination in the south and it is where to go for beaches and a good nightlife. Take a glass-bottomed boat over the coral reefs, relax on the beaches or have a go at water sports. Visit the Dolphin Reef, where you can swim with these delightful sea mammals and watch them being fed. And you shouldn’t miss a trip to the Dead Sea, where the high salt content of the water lets you float on the surface.

Israel is not a cheap country, so expect to pay standard Western prices for accommodation and food. Even staying in mid-range hotels can be quite costly. There are direct scheduled flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport from most major airports worldwide. It is also possible to cross by land from Egypt and Jordan.

Amman is Jordan’s capital. Here you will find several ancient Roman sites dotted about the city, including an odeon amphitheatre, the restored Roman Theatre and the Roman Citadel. Jerash, a beautifully preserved Roman city just 50kms north of Amman, is another must see.

Just a few hours south of Amman is the amazing city of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was built by wealthy Nabateans and the entire city is cut out of the rocky valleys and canyons of this incredible landscape. To enter Petra, you walk along a rock passage known as the siq until you arrive at the breathtaking fascia of the Treasury.

Aqaba is a small resort town on the Gulf of Aqaba. Here you can relax on the beaches or try scuba diving. About 40kms north of Aqaba is the remarkable desert landscape of Wadi Rum where you can take a camel ride and stay in Bedouin camps.

The most basic accommodation in Jordan comes in the form of shared rooms. A good mid-range hotel will cost you more while top of the range singles and doubles are priced on par with European hotels and come with all facilities. Big name brands such as Four Seasons are found in the capital.

There are direct flights to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport from most cities in Europe and the Middle East or you can take a ferry across from Egypt or travel over the border from Israel or Syria.

Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait and also the country’s largest city. Once home to the world famous National Museum, which was cruelly ransacked during the war, most tourists try and uncover the Tareq Rajab Museum, which is privately based in the basement of an enormous villa and hosts some of the world’s oldest ancient Islamic art.

The Kuwait Towers are Kuwait’s most recognisable landmarks and were constructed back in 1979. The largest of the towers spans nearly 190m and the lower floors have coffee shops, restaurants and meeting rooms while the upper floors have an observation deck which allow you to look all around the city.

If you are a keen historian hoping for some Gulf War nostalgia, Al-Jahra is where you should be heading as it was a major site during the infamous ‘turkey shoot’. Al-Jahra was also famous before that as the place where Kuwaitis defeated an invading Saudi army back in 1920.

The best place to stay in Kuwait is in the capital, Kuwait City. Here you have a range of accommodation options and you can get a room in a top luxury hotel for less than similar hotels in the West. There is of course more modest accommodation in the area also if you look around and have an eye for a bargain.

Kuwait International Airport is less than 20kms from Kuwait City and you can easily get there on bus too buy coming from Cairo, Agaba or Dammam in Saudia Arabia. For direct flights from Europe, use Kuwait Airlines who have flights between London, Kuwait and Bangkok on a regular basis.

After a long civil war which threatened to tear the country apart, Lebanon is bouncing back in style and attracts travellers around the world who come to visit Beirut, the capital city reputed as the ‘Paris of the Middle East’. In this vibrant cosmopolitan hub you can enjoy the sunset at Pigeon Rocks. The city of Bcharré is where many head to enjoy Lebanon’s breathtaking scenery before arriving at the area’s popular Gibran Museum.

Tripoli is less than 100kms north of Beirut and is the country’s second largest city and also its main port. Tripoli is more modern than Beirut but there are still examples of just how old it is with exhibits of famous Mamluk architecture found throughout the city. The famous attraction here is the Citadel of Tripoli but while in the area, a lot of tourists head off to Rabbit’s Island, which boasts an impressive nature reserve that is home to turtles and rare birds.

There are plenty of places to stay in Lebanon no matter where you are, although the best accommodation is found in either Beirut or Tripoli, where you can find luxury five-star hotel chains offering rooms with every conceivable facility.

Due to the amount of Lebanese that have immigrated to Australia, Australian airlines such as Qantas have flights directly to Lebanon but you can also get to Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport from London with BMI. Be warned that travelling around the this region has to be well planned given the current political climate.

Muscat is Oman’s capital and it is a traditional yet charming place, which plays host to popular tourist attractions such as the Sultan’s main palace, the old city walls and the Jalali and Mirani forts that guard the city’s harbour entrance. Other popular spots which have tourists flocking to them in their thousands include the aquarium, the National Museum, the Oman Museum and the recently restored Mutra watchtower which, if climbed, offers breathtaking panoramic views of the capital.

It is safe to say that most of Oman’s tourist destinations are scattered up and down its coastline. Salalah in the south is where the ancient ruins of Zafar are found alongside popular beaches and Job’s Tomb. If you are in the centre of Oman at any point, visit the popular town of Sur, which delights all who visit it with its impressive Marine Museum, large forts and golden beaches.

The best accommodation in Oman is found in its largest cities meaning that if you want to stay in five-star luxury, it is best to head off to Muscat or Salalah. For dining out, this is where most of the best restaurants and charming little cafés can be found in the country.

Muscat International Airport has hundreds of flights coming to it everyday and they come directly from the capitals of European countries and other famous cities. Once you land at the airport, it’s easy to get into town as the shuttle bus outside the main terminal is frequent and reliable.

All the ancient biblical cities are located in Palestine and who has the right to these cities is a fact of major dispute between Palestinians and neighbouring Israelis. Bordering the West Bank, Jerusalem is full of history and its Old City area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a holy place for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. As well as this, it has plenty of options for tourists and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to enjoy once you’ve had a day seeing the sights.

Bethlehem is another popular city that lies within Palestine and is also an important and famous religious site for followers of numerous faiths. Once you have visited the famous Rachel’s Tomb, walk along Manger Street and into Manger Square, which is the city’s main centre home to the Church of the Nativity.

Although some would have you believe that Palestine has become run down to its political problems, there are numerous examples of luxury accommodation found throughout the country. Most of it is found in Jerusalem and the iconic King David Hotel is reputed as being the most lavish hotel in Israel. If you prefer staying at a Novotel, you can find international chains in Jerusalem.

It is impossible to fly directly into Palestine due to the current political climate in the region. Your best bet is to fly into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport from mainland Europe or the US and then sort out your visa and papers to enter Palestine. Be aware that this process can take some time and you will be thoroughly checked and questioned by authorities as to your exact plans.

Doha is the famous capital of Qatar and it has a number of attractions worth noting. These are namely the Doha Fort, the Qatar National Museum and Ethnographic Museum however thrill seeking tourists come to visit Aladdin’s Palace, which is one of the only theme parks in this part of the world.

If you travel just 40kms north of Doha, you can find a field which is packed full of ancient graves which date as far back as the third millennium before the birth of Christ. Also in this part of the country is Al-Khor, which has a few ancient watchtowers and a mosque which offers a beautiful view of the ocean for all to enjoy.

In terms of places to stay, Doha boasts luxury hotels which live up to this area’s famous representation of luxury accommodation. For a reasonable amount you can enjoy some of the Middle East’s best five-star hotels, which can be found in the heart of the capital city near the attractions or further away from everything if you prefer to have privacy.

Doha International Airport is a famous stop-off for Qatar Airways flights coming from London and Manchester on their way to countries in Asia such as Thailand and Malaysia. Bearing this in mind, you could plan to stop here for a few days if you were flying from either direction and preferred something completely different.