Long hidden among the wind-hewn cliffs and gorges of the desert, Petra is one of the world\u2019s most treasured UNESCO World Heritage sites. A wealthy Nabataean city in the 3rd century CE, it was lost to the world for 500 years, and those years of abandonment have lent it the air of mystery that makes it so alluring. Tucked away in a sandstone escarpment, the facades of this great ancient city still bear the echoes of their once ornate carvings and seeing it lit by candlelight as you explore by night is unforgettable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Constructed over 2,000 years and built to mark the birthplace of Amun-Ra, the greatest of all Egyptian gods, Karnak Temple is the second-largest ancient religious site in the world after Cambodia\u2019s Angkor complex. The complex was expanded by each ruling Pharoah aiming to outdo the last. Here, you can see centuries of evolving architectural styles – it is often referred to as \u2018the great historical document in stone\u2019. What was once a place of pilgrimage, exploring this monumental temple certainly makes you feel like you are in the presence of gods, and no more so than the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 richly decorated, towering columns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Medina, also known as Al-Madina Al-Munawara, holds a unique and revered place in the Islamic world as the second-holiest city after Mecca. Nestled in the western part of Saudi Arabia, Medina is a city of profound spiritual significance, as it is the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad. The city’s name, which means ‘the radiant city,’ reflects the tranquillity and serenity that pervade its atmosphere. Pilgrims from around the globe visit Medina to perform religious rituals and connect with the rich history of Islam.<\/span><\/p>\n Previously off-limits to non-Muslims, the heart of the city has now been opened up to all visitors, with the exclusion of the mosques themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Around 80% of Jordan is desert, and Wadi Rum offers a particularly picturesque and accessible section to explore. Also known as the \u2018Valley of the Moon\u2019, the region has hosted humanity from the very beginning \u2013 there is ancient rock art and graffiti to discover among the geological formations \u2013 and is still home to nomadic Bedouins today. The plentiful siqs, arches and towering dunes change moods throughout the day, so it\u2019s good to spend enough time here to see them shift through hues of reds and purples; a luxury desert camp is the best way, and an overnight stay means you will also get to revel in some stargazing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nestled deep in southern Egypt in the Nubian Valley sits the historic site of Abu Simbel, which consists of two magnificent temples built by Rameses II \u2013 one for his favourite wife, Nefertari, and one for himself. Both temples are guarded by imposing statues of the king and queen, with the seated colossi of Rameses reaching over 20 metres high. Although the temples were deconstructed and rebuilt in a new location in the 1960s to salvage them from rising waters caused by the Aswan Dam, their setting overlooking the expanse of\u00a0<\/span>Lake Nasser couldn\u2019t be more perfect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the world\u2019s most famous archaeological sites, this ancient burial ground contains 63 tombs built for the New Kingdom pharaohs who reigned between 1550-1069 BC. Chosen in an attempt to conceal the deceased and their riches from looters, this unassuming valley hides a vast network of tunnels and chambers below ground, each decorated with exquisite carvings and paintings of the kings and queens on their journey to the afterlife. The most famous of the tombs is that of King Tutankhamun, and you\u2019ll get to venture inside and see the mummy of the Boy King himself on our Egypt tours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A spa destination for millennia, the Dead Sea (which is actually a lake) has long been famous for the therapeutic properties of its water. Nestled in the Great Rift Valley, it is fed by the River Jordan, whose waters then evaporate at a rate of millions of litres per day, leaving behind concentrated levels of salt and minerals. Wallowing in its waters and slathering yourself in its rich mud will exfoliate and heal and, apparently, leave you restored and beautified. Whether that\u2019s true or not, floating in the super saline water is extremely relaxing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Just one hour outside Cairo lies the ancient necropolis of Sakkara, known for its painted catacombs and home to the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser \u2013 Egypt\u2019s first-ever pyramid. Constructed in the 27th century BC for Pharaoh Djoser, you can venture inside to view the wonderful carvings on the alabaster stone walls and peer deep into the 90-foot shaft leading to Djoser\u2019s burial chamber below. In fact, the entire site is a treasure trove of archaeological wonders; even the complex\u2019s outer walls (which look surprisingly modern) are over 4,500 years old, and you\u2019ll find thousands of coin-like fossils scattered all over the grounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hegra, also known as Al-Hijr or Madain Saleh, is an extraordinary archaeological site located in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra stands as the first site in the Kingdom to be designated as such due to its remarkable Nabataean architecture and historical significance. The ancient city, carved into rose-red sandstone mountains, served as a crucial stopping point along the incense trade route and thrived during the same period as Petra in Jordan. Hegra’s well-preserved tombs, temples, and inscriptions offer a glimpse into the Nabataean civilization’s unique blend of Arabian and Hellenistic influences.<\/p>\n Jerash was a Roman city and another of Jordan\u2019s jewels to be lost to the sands of time \u2013 quite literally in this case, as the ruins were hidden for centuries by the shifting dunes of the desert. Here, you can walk in the footsteps of Hadrian and Trajan, wandering the colonnaded avenues of what is considered perhaps the best-preserved Roman city in the Middle East. Explore the enormous Forum and Hippodrome, which still hosts chariot races, and admire ceremonial gates, temples, elaborate mosaics and carvings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1345573595.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Karnak Temple, Egypt\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1577005225.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Holy City of Medina, Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shutterstock_2244717215.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Wadi Rum, Jordan\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1319299538.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Abu Simbel, Egypt\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1681467283.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Valley of the Kings, Egypt\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_69620788.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. The Dead Sea, Jordan \u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_554381647.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Sakkara, Egypt\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Sakkara-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Hegra, Saudi Arabia<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/shutterstock_2254383457.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. Jerash, Jordan<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/shutterstock_1459910990.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"\/\/www.wendywutours.co.uk\/\/resource\/upload\/2413\/secrets-of-saudi-arabia-hr-ss-2318795203-banner-4-1536-x-1200.jpg.webp\"\/)
\n