Western Asia Travel Guide

Water bodies surround Western Asia. The Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea are in the Northeast. The Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are further north. Furthermore, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are in the Northwest. Lastly, South of Western Asia is the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman. Nineteen countries are in Western Asia.

Turkey and Georgia are in the North. Yemen and Oman are in the Southeast. The area surrounding these four countries is called the Middle East or Southwest Asia. The Caucasus mountains to the north separate this region from Europe. The Isthmus of Suez separates Africa from Western Asia. Moreover, this part of the continent has an arid climate. Pleasant oasis’ and fertile valleys break up the expansive desert landscapes.

The countries that are in Western Asia are Bahrain, Armenia, Georgia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iraq, Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Important cities you must visit are Dubai, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Tehran, Amman, Mecca and Tel Aviv.

Dubai is the uber-modern city that is the image of luxury. Istanbul is a perfect blend of Eastern and Western culture. Jerusalem is the one place on earth that is sacred to three prominent religions. For a touristy fun day, go lounge on the beaches of Tel Aviv or browse the big shopping malls. Food tourism in Iran is growing, Tehran being the central focus for foodies.

Getting Around:

You can use air travel to get between countries. However, there is poor public transport in this part of Asia. Thus, you need to depend on cars to get around. Trains are present, but they are not as extensive as they should be. Arabic is the lingua franca in most of the countries. English will help you in the popular tourist destinations. But, if you want to go off the beaten path then you ought to learn Arabic.

November 29, 2016 6:22 pm Published by Staff Writer