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Experience North Africa
and the Middle East
With Arabic spoken across most of the region it is easy to think of the countries in
North Africa and the Middle East as being homogeneous and indistinct. This is far
from the case though, and each has its own unique customs, traditions, and history to be
discovered and experienced.
Ancient sites
Byzantine mosaic, Lebanon
Carpets in Kairouan, Tunisia
Nasir al Mulk Mosque, Iran
From Voloubilis in Morocco to Persepolis in Iran,
the region’s archaeology and architecture
demonstrate the historical and cultural influences
which have come and gone through the millennia
across the region. Egypt has perhaps the richest
collection of ancient monuments, spread
throughout the country and with plenty still to
be discovered. The Pyramids of Giza are without
doubt one of the most recognisable structures in
the world, and exploring the Nile Valley will bring
you to one of the largest religious buildings in the
region, the Temple of Karnak. Archaeological sites
in Lebanon and Syria originate from a medley of
different periods of antiquity, with places such as
Byblos claiming a history of over eight millennia.
In Tunisia, evidence of the Carthaginians was
almost entirely swept from the map with only
tiny vestiges of their civilisation still visible today,
at Kerkouane and the Punic Ports.
The cradle of civilisation
What strikes most visitors to this area is just how
ancient the sites and monuments littered across
the region are. The Pyramids of Giza, for instance,
were more ancient to Jesus than Jesus is to us
now. As far back as the fifth millennium BC, the
Sumerians were developing sophisticated social
structures and around 1400 BC, the Phoenicians
created the first alphabet in their original lands in
the Levant. The Great Pyramid in Egypt was
completed around 2600 BC and Ancient Egyptian
culture flourished for thousands of years before
being absorbed into the Classical World. The
Greeks and the Romans in their turn dominated
the region, leaving behind their trademark
colonnaded streets, temples and theatres. Against
this backdrop, the Jewish and Christian faiths
came into being, followed in the 7th century AD
by Islam, spreading outwards from the Arabian
peninsula with the Arab Conquest. The countries
of the region are thus home to some of the most
important religious monuments in the world,
including the earliest temples, churches, mosques
and the tombs of the prophets.
Local ladies, Egypt
Local culture and etiquette
A degree of cultural sensitivity is required when
visiting the countries in this brochure. Religion is
an important aspect of life for most of the people
you will meet – Islam is the predominant faith,
but Christianity and Judaism are also present,
along with small sects such as the Druze in Syria
and Lebanon. The level of conservatism varies
from country to country, and some have had
greater exposure to European visitors than
others, so the degree of moderation you need
to display does vary. Our specialists will advise
you on this.
However, there are some general rules that you
should always respect. Women should not wear
tight or revealing clothing, and it is always
advisable to keep the shoulders and upper arms
covered, as well as wearing shorts or skirts and
dresses that reach at least to the knee. Men
should always wear a shirt or t-shirt; in some
places shorts are acceptable, in others trousers
are a better option. Where it is possible to visit
a religious building, such as a mosque or a
church, always cover the shoulders, arms and legs.
In mosques you will normally also be required to
take off your shoes and women may be required
to cover their heads. Ramadan, the month of
fasting in Islam, is a time when things slow down
a bit during the day and opening hours are
curtailed, although it is perfectly possible to travel
in some countries at this time.
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