middle east
The Middle East may not have peace, but the region is perfect for travelers looking for gorgeous views, rich history, and cultural diversity.
Mount Nebo: Improvised Travel, Biblical History, and Grief in Jordan
After an improvised crossing from Israel into Jordan, a taxi ride to Mount Nebo became a strange, comic, and quietly mournful detour. Arriving an hour early, I wandered the desert hillside with figs, whole kiwis, and water, hearing only a disembodied groundskeeper, meeting a dog, and watching a distant Bedouin goatherder. The landscape felt harsh yet alive, an oasis of silence, history, and endurance. Inside the sanctuary, cooler air, Byzantine ruins, mosaics, and biblical memory deepened the visit. Yet the journey was shadowed by grief: it unfolded during a birthday week and just before my father’s funeral, giving the beauty a muted, tragic undertone.
By Scott Douglas Jacobsenabout 22 hours ago in Wander
The Best Tacos I've Had Outside of Fiji Are in the Last Place You'd Expect
I need to talk about Reberu. Not in the "here's a listicle of ten restaurants you should try in Doha" way. In the "I've eaten my way across sixty-plus countries and this place stopped me mid-bite" way.
By Destiny S. Harris8 days ago in Wander
The "Alternate Route" Guide: Navigating the 2026 Sri Lanka Transit Shift. AI-Generated.
For the first two months of 2026, Sri Lanka was the undisputed darling of the global travel scene. The island shattered arrival records, welcoming over 550,000 visitors who flocked to our shores for the T20 World Cup and the blooming hills of the tea country. But as of early March, the "aerial bridge" through the Gulf—the massive transit corridor through Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi that typically carries over a third of our island’s tourists—effectively shifted into a complex logistical puzzle due to regional airspace closures.
By Seth Marshal8 days ago in Wander
Turkey: Take THEM With You.
The first time I went to Istanbul, I went with my sister. The second time, I brought family. Picture from the trip. Same city. Same accommodation - right in the center of everything, the spot we'd found the first time and couldn't justify leaving.
By Destiny S. Harris10 days ago in Wander
They Read My Future in a Coffee Cup in Istanbul
See Pictures from the trip here. That's the honest starting point. I sat down, drank the coffee - which is strong in a way that makes you question every cup you've had before it, the kind of strong you'd rather smell than commit to - flipped the cup upside down on the saucer, and waited.
By Destiny S. Harris10 days ago in Wander
Cairo: Everything I Wasn't Expecting and Everything It Gave Me Anyway
I landed in Cairo and someone immediately tried to take me somewhere. Not aggressively. Smoothly. The kind of smooth that makes you feel rude for saying no - like they're doing you a favor and you're the problem for not accepting it.
By Destiny S. Harris15 days ago in Wander
How To Choose The Best Ramadan Umrah Package
Ramadan is almost here, and many Muslims wish to perform Umrah in this sacred month. Why? Because of the immense rewards, Umrah in Ramadan is equal to performing Hajj. During the holy month, the rewards of good deeds and acts multiply, and what better than performing Umrah, one of the greatest acts of worship.
By Abdul Rahim Khan21 days ago in Wander
Where Hills Speak and Water Remembers:
When I first saw Nazareth’s skyline rising from the Galilean hills, it felt more like stepping into a long-held memory than just arriving somewhere new. Stone buildings tumbled down the slopes, with minarets and bell towers reaching into the same sky. Still, I was drawn to one place above all: the striking, modern Basilica of the Annunciation.
By Chad Pillai26 days ago in Wander
10 Countries You Probably Didn’t Know Existed (But Absolutely Should!)
We all dream about visiting iconic destinations like France, Italy, or tropical paradises like Hawaii and Bali. But what if I told you there are countries and territories most people have never even heard of?
By Areeba Umair29 days ago in Wander
10 Times Tourists Completely Ruined Priceless History
There’s something magnetic about ancient architecture and historic artifacts. Whether it’s a crumbling amphitheater, a sacred temple high in the mountains, or a centuries-old painting in a quiet chapel, we’re drawn to these places. Maybe it’s the mystery. Maybe it’s the legends. Maybe it’s the simple realization that these structures have survived hundreds, sometimes thousands of years.
By Areeba Umair29 days ago in Wander
8 Incredible Places You Must Visit Before They Disappear Forever
Vacations are the perfect excuse to explore, relax, and witness the beauty of the world. But some places are vanishing due to climate change, rising sea levels, or human activity, and if you don’t visit them soon, you might miss your chance. Here’s a list of eight phenomenal destinations that belong on every traveler’s bucket list.
By Areeba Umair30 days ago in Wander
