The Middle East and North Africa regions are a treasure chest for the traveler hungry to hear about robust history and witness natural majesty. The area is most famously known as the Cradle of Civilization where early civilizations built their empires, some of their works still standing today.
Be utterly "WOW"ed at the sights, sounds, and stories that thrive in the Middle East and North Africa, a region overflowing with discovery. Founded on a rich history still alive in tradition, culture, and architecture, the Middle East and North African countries are mesmerizing destinations for travelers. Centuries ago conquerors coveted the region that boasted abundant resources like silk and spices. Its leaders and people undertook innovative projects that change the way we live today, inventi
Be utterly “WOW”ed at the sights, sounds, and stories that thrive in the Middle East and North Africa, a region overflowing with discovery. Founded on a rich history still alive in tradition, culture, and architecture, the Middle East and North African countries are mesmerizing destinations for travelers. Centuries ago conquerors coveted the region that boasted abundant resources like silk and spices. Its leaders and people undertook innovative projects that change the way we live today, inventing everything from a clock to a toothbrush!
Whether you’re looking to get your fill of history, witness some incredible architecture, or bask in the desert sun and mountain vistas, the Middle East and North Africa is yours to explore. Journey to ancient Biblical sites, lush nature reserves, wetlands and deserts, mountains, coral reefs, and historical mineral bath waters. Intimately experience the region’s charismatic blend of traditional and modern culture that’s enveloped in the warm hospitality of its people.
When to Visit
Jordan
April, May, September, and October are the best times to travel to Jordan because of the more moderate weather. For a rather small country, Jordan demonstrates a wide variety of temperature and climate. Although Jordan is mostly desert, the northern hill country abutting the Jordan River is rich with groves of olive trees and remains relatively temperate while the rest of the country bakes during mid-summer months. The southern extreme, Aqaba on the Red Sea, boasts balmy climates while Amman may see snowfall in the winter months. Aqaba is also home to some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world and a popular resort. In between those two extremes, spectacular canyonlands, high deserts and woodlands harbor meadows of wildflowers and nature reserves filled with birds and wildlife.
Morocco
The most pleasant time to visit Morocco is in the spring and autumn, when the weather is warm and dry. The hottest months of the year are July, August, and September, but there is little humidity so temperatures are generally bearable. Morocco boasts diverse layers of geological features including coastline, mountains, and fertile agricultural plateaus — of course there is the unforgiving Sahara Desert. Generally, Morocco’s climate is moderate and subtropical, cooled by breezes off the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the interior, the temperatures are more extreme and winters can be fairly cold and the summers very hot. In fact, the further you go from the ocean the more extreme winter and summer temperatures become. Average summer temperatures in the coastal cities range from 64-82 °F. In the interior, however, highs frequently exceed 95°F.
Morocco Climate
The climate in Morocco is as varied as its diverse geography. Morocco has wide-ranging geological formations, including a vast coastline, interior lowlands extending into the foothills and highlands of the Rif Mountains and the Middle Atlas and High Atlas ranges which sore up to 13,700 f / 4150 m. Between the mountain ranges and the Atlantic lie plains and plateaus of fertile agricultural lands. To the east the mountain slopes are much more arid as they drop into the unforgiving desert of the Sahara. Our Morocco itineraries traverse several of these major geographic features. We begin in Casablanca and Rabat on the Atlantic Coast and work clockwise to the interior city of Fez before crossing the Middle and High Atlas mountains to Rissani and the Sahara and then back across the southern section of the high atlas range to Marrakech.
Generally, Morocco’s climate is moderate and subtropical, cooled by breezes off the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the interior the temperatures are more extreme, winters can be fairly cold and the summers very hot. In fact, the further you go from the ocean the more extreme winter and summer temperatures become. The most pleasant time to visit Morocco is in the spring and autumn, when the weather is warm and dry. Average summer temperatures in the coastal cities, range from 64-82 °F (18- 28°C). In the interior, however, highs frequently exceed 95°F (35°C).
Weather along the coastal region is tempered by the Mediterranean in the North and the Atlantic Ocean along Morocco’s Western coast near Casablanca and Essaouira. Average daily temperatures range from about 54°F (12°C) in winter (Dec-Mar), to 77°F (25°C) and higher in summer (Jun-Sep).
Going inland to the northern plateau region, Fez has a continental climate with more extreme temperatures. In summer it can get over 100°F (38°C), but generally hovers in the 85-95°F (29-35°C) range. Winters, by contrast, can be rather cold with daily temperatures around 65°F and nights dropping to 40°F -45°F (5°C – 7°C).
Turkey
Turkey is a year-round travel destination depending on your itinerary and has equally varying climates like Jordan. Although the popular tourist season run mid-June through mid-September, spring and fall are the best seasons to travel. The sun is warm and skies are generally clear. You can expect mild to very warm temperatures and little rain during this time. While the coastal region is fairly warm all year, the Anatolian plateau can be hot with cool evenings. The coasts have different levels of humidity, with Aegean being moderate and Istanbul much higher. Trekking season in the Kackar Mountains is short, between June and late August. Mountain weather conditions fluctuate and you may experience some rain near the Black Sea. Daytime summer temperatures in the mountains can rise into the 70ºs F, falling to the low 40ºs F at night. By late October there is a chance of light snowfall.
