22 days in Middle East Itinerary

Few places in the world boast such a long history and such a rich multiethnic culture as Jerusalem, a city sacred to Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

Western Wall and Temple Mount will appeal to history buffs. Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center and Shrine Of The Book will appeal to museum buffs. Take a break from Jerusalem with a short trip to Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, about 1h 5 min away. There's lots more to do: see the interesting displays at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, explore the ancient world of Mount Zion, admire the striking features of Eglise du Saint-Sepulcre, and explore the world behind art at L. A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art.

For where to stay, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Jerusalem trip itinerary builder website.

Fort Lauderdale, USA to Jerusalem is an approximately 15-hour flight. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time to Israel Standard Time, which is usually a 7 hour difference. Expect slightly colder evenings in Jerusalem when traveling from Fort Lauderdale in May, with lows around 64°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Fri) so you can travel to Tiberias.

On the shores of Lake Kinneret, a vacation in Tiberias offers plenty of water sports and biblical walks.

Get a sense of the local culture at Church Of Annunciation and Mount Of Beatitudes. Popular historic sites such as Sea of Galilee and Nazareth Village are in your itinerary. Take a break from Tiberias with a short trip to Centre International Marie de Nazareth in Nazareth, about 46 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: pause for some serene contemplation at Church of the Primacy of Peter, explore the ancient world of Magdala, take in the spiritual surroundings of Yardenit, and steep yourself in history at Church of the Multiplication.

To see maps, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, use the Tiberias trip planner.

Explore your travel options from Jerusalem to Tiberias with the Route module. In May in Tiberias, expect temperatures between 80°F during the day and 68°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Baalbeck.

Baalbek, properly Baʿalbek and also known as Balbec, Baalbec or Baalbeck, is a town in the Anti-Lebanon foothills east of the Litani River in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, about 85km northeast of Beirut and about 75km north of Damascus. Start off your visit on the 9th (Tue): contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Temples of Baalbek and then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Saieda Khaoula - Mosque. On your second day here, admire the verdant scenery at Bekaa Valley and then brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Chateau Rayak.

To find other places to visit, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Baalbeck travel planner.

You can drive from Tiberias to Baalbeck in 5.5 hours. In May in Baalbeck, expect temperatures between 82°F during the day and 65°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Wed) so you can catch the flight to Wadi Rum.

Tourism in Wadi Rum revolves around UNESCO-protected desert scenery and spectacular limestone rock formations following a dry river bed, which in World War I served as the headquarters of a British-inspired Arab revolt against the Ottomans.

Start off your visit on the 11th (Thu): explore the ancient world of Lawrence's House and then explore the fascinating landscape at Wadi Rum Protected Area. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: trot along with a tour on horseback and then see the sights as you ascend with Desert Guide Camp.

For other places to visit, maps, photos, and tourist information, read Wadi Rum trip itinerary builder site.

Fly from Baalbeck to Wadi Rum in 7 hours. Alternatively, you can fly. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Fri) early enough to drive to Petra - Wadi Musa.

Visitors flock to Wadi Musa to witness the rose colored rock-carved temples and tombs of Petra, the famous ancient city and World Heritage Site.

On the 13th (Sat), contemplate the long history of Petra. Keep things going the next day: steep yourself in history at Obelisk Tomb and then make a trip to Little Petra.

To find ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Petra - Wadi Musa trip planning website.

Traveling by car from Wadi Rum to Petra - Wadi Musa takes 2 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Sun) early enough to travel to Medina.

Most tourism in Medina, the second-holiest city in Islam, comes from pilgrims who visit as part of the Hajj, an annual traditional journey that ends in Mecca.

On the 15th (Mon), contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Masjid Al Qiblatayn, take in the spiritual surroundings of Masjid Quba, then make a trip to Masjid Al Ghamamah, and finally explore the different monuments and memorials at Jannatul Baqi. On the next day, see the interesting displays at Koran Museum, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Al Masjid an Nabawi, and then wander the streets of Masjid Jummah.

For other places to visit, where to stay, maps, and more tourist information, refer to the Medina trip itinerary site.

Traveling by combination of car and flight from Petra - Wadi Musa to Medina takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Petra - Wadi Musa to Medina. In May, daytime highs in Medina are 102°F, while nighttime lows are 80°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Tue) to allow time to fly to Abu Dhabi.

Take a trip to Abu Dhabi to discover a modern metropolis built on a strip of land jutting out into the Persian Gulf.

Kick off your visit on the 17th (Wed): steep yourself in history at Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and then make a trip to The Corniche. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: browse the different shops at Marina Mall, steep yourself in history at Heritage Village, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and finally admire the masterpieces at Louvre Abu Dhabi.

To find maps, ratings, and tourist information, read our Abu Dhabi route planner.

You can fly from Medina to Abu Dhabi in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. The time zone changes from Arabian Standard Time (AST) to Gulf Standard Time (GST), which is usually a 1 hour difference. In May in Abu Dhabi, expect temperatures between 102°F during the day and 81°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Dubai.

Take a holiday in Dubai to experience a mix of excitement, entertainment, and relaxation.

Let the collections at Dubai Museum & Al Fahidi Fort and OliOli capture your imagination. Get a sense of the local culture at Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum's House and Alserkal Cultural Foundation. Next up on the itinerary: take in panoramic vistas at Burj Khalifa, make a splash at Wild Wadi Waterpark, browse the different shops at The Dubai Mall, and admire the landmark architecture of Emirates Towers.

To see maps, photos, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Dubai travel itinerary planner.

You can drive from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and subway; or fly. May in Dubai sees daily highs of 100°F and lows of 82°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 22nd (Mon) to allow time for the flight back home.