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Explore Ancient Sites in Middle East Region

17 destinations spanning thousands of years of history

Iraq

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Ancient ruins of Babylon in Iraq with reconstructed walls and the desert plain beyond

Babylon

Babylonian and Mesopotamian

Explore Babylon in Iraq, the famed Mesopotamian city of kings, temples, and legends on the Euphrates plain.

 Ruins of Hatra in Iraq with temple columns and desert landscape

Hatra

Parthian with Mesopotamian and Arab influences

Explore Hatra in Iraq, a fortified desert city famed for its temples, walls, and blend of Parthian and Mesopotamian trad...

Israel

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Aerial view of Masada fortress plateau rising above the Judean Desert in Israel with the Dead Sea visible in the distance

Masada

Hasmonean / Herodian / Roman

Masada is a dramatic desert fortress in Israel where Herod built a clifftop palace and Jewish rebels made their legendar...

 Ruins of ancient Beth She'an in Israel with Roman columns, theater, and the tell rising behind the city

Beth She'an

Canaanite, Egyptian, Israelite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine

Explore Beth She'an in Israel, a spectacular Roman and Byzantine city with theaters, colonnaded streets, baths, and dram...

 Roman ruins and seafront at Caesarea Maritima in Israel

Caesarea Maritima

Herodian, Roman, and Byzantine

Explore Israel’s Caesarea Maritima, a grand Herodian port city of harbors, theaters, aqueducts, and layered Roman histor...

 View of Tel Megiddo archaeological mound in Israel with excavated ruins and surrounding Jezreel Valley

Tel Megiddo

Canaanite, Israelite, Assyrian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman

Explore Tel Megiddo in Israel, an ancient mound with monumental gates, water systems, and layers of Near Eastern history...

Jordan

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The oval Forum at Jerash, Jordan

Jerash: The Pompeii of the East and Jordan's Best-Preserved

Roman / Nabataean

Discover Jerash, Jordan's remarkable Roman ruins. Walk the colonnaded streets of ancient Gerasa, explore magnificent the...

 Temple of Hercules columns and the Hand of Hercules at Amman Citadel, Jordan

Amman Citadel Jordan Guide 2026: Temple of Hercules & Ancient Rabbah

Ammonite-Roman-Umayyad

Explore Jordan's ancient citadel overlooking modern Amman. Discover the Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace, and archaeol...

 Interior frescoes and paintings in Qasr Amra desert castle, Jordan

Qasr Amra Jordan Travel Guide 2026: Desert Castle Frescoes

Umayyad

Discover Qasr Amra's extraordinary 8th-century frescoes in Jordan's eastern desert. Our guide covers Umayyad art, the as...

 Black basalt ruins of Umm Qais overlooking the Sea of Galilee and Jordan Valley

Umm Qais Jordan Travel Guide 2026: Gadara & Views to Galilee

Greco-Roman (Decapolis)

Visit Umm Qais, ancient Gadara, for dramatic views over the Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights, and Jordan Valley. Explore bl...

Lebanon

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Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek, Lebanon

Baalbek: Rome's Mightiest Temple Complex in Lebanon's Beqaa

Roman / Phoenician

Explore Baalbek's colossal Roman temples, including the best-preserved Temple of Bacchus. Discover the mystery of the 1,...

 Ancient ruins of Byblos under the Lebanese sky, showcasing Phoenician architecture in Lebanon

Byblos

Byblos, in Lebanon's Mount Lebanon Governorate, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s oldest continuous...

Saudi Arabia

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Rock-cut tombs at Hegra (Madain Saleh) in Saudi Arabia under warm desert light

Hegra (Madain Saleh)

Nabataean

Explore Hegra (Madain Saleh), Saudi Arabia's Nabataean rock-cut city of tombs, desert landscapes, and ancient caravan hi...

Syria

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Ruins of Palmyra in Syria with desert landscape, colonnaded street, and monumental stone remains

Palmyra

Aramaean, Roman, and Palmyrene

Explore Palmyra, Syria’s desert oasis city of grand colonnades, temples, and tomb towers shaped by Roman and caravan tra...

Turkey

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Roman theater and dunes at Patara archaeological site, Turkey

Patara Turkey Guide 2026: Lycian Capital & Roman Granary

Lycian-Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine

Plan your Patara, Turkey visit: explore Lycian and Roman ruins, climb the theater, and pair the site with Xanthos or bea...

 Rock-cut Lycian tombs and hilltop fortress at Tlos, Turkey

Tlos Turkey Guide 2026: Lycian Tombs & Roman Stadium

Lycian-Hellenistic-Roman-Byzantine-Ottoman

Plan your Tlos, Turkey visit with cliff tombs, Roman baths, and fortress views, including transport from Fethiye, ticket...

Yemen

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Mud-brick tower houses of Shibam in Hadramawt, Yemen

Shibam

Hadrami

Explore Shibam in Yemen, the famed mud-brick high-rise city of Hadramawt and one of the Arab world's most remarkable his...