Our 7 wonders of the Middle East

Do something different and experience Peregrine’s 7 ancient wonders of the Middle East.

Whether you’d rather explore Egypt’s lesser-visited Abydos Temple where Osiris, god of the underworld is believed to be buried or wander the classical ruins of the city of Ephesus, one of the world’s best preserved Greco-Roman sites, you’ll see history come alive right in front of you.

1. Abu Simbel - Egypt

These enormous rock temples in Southern Egypt were rediscovered in the 19^th century by Giovani Belzoni (a circus strongman turned archaeologist). The monuments to Ramesses and Nefertari are an engineering wonder, as they are positioned so that they’re are illuminated in sunlight on February 22 (Ramesses birthday) and October 22 (his coronation) each year – except for the sculpture of the God of the Underworld, who is left in shadow.

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2. Petra - Jordan

The ancient city of Petra dates back to the 6^th century BC and was once the home of the biblical Nabateans. The iconic view over Petra’s rocky architecture can be seen from the Siq, a narrow cleft in the scenery that you can walk through, to view a series of tombs and houses hidden behind decorative facades that have been sculpted straight into the rock. You can also climb up to the facade of the Monastery, where you can enjoy amazing views of the entire site.

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3. Abydos - Egypt

Abydos Temple was built by Seti I, who was the father of Ramesses. It’s dedicated to the god, Osiris, the Lord of the Underworld and Judge of Death, who died in an epic battle with his evil brother Seth. After his death, his wife, Isis retrieved his body and through a potion she concocted, managed to bring him back to life. Legend has it that when he eventually died after his rebirth, Abydos was his final resting place.

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4. Persepolis - Iran

Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the ancient Persian Achaemenid empire, dating back to the 6^th century BC. Many dark grey marble ruins remain, despite having been partly destroyed by Alexander the Great. A variety of tombs, sculptures and facades pay tribute to ancient heroes such as Darius I, the fourth king of the Achaemenid empire who expanded the Persian empire to include parts of Greece and Macedonia. He was also instrumental in the original construction of Persepolis.

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5. Ephesus – Turkey

The ruins of Ephesus remain from the ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, that has seen diverse political significance over the centuries. Originally part of classical Greece’s Ionian league, the site has also been used as a Arzawa Kingdom capital city, a subject of the Roman Empire and an early Christian centre. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is one of the key sites of ancient Ephesus.

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6. Jerusalem - Israel

Jerusalem is a city full of wonders, which is not surprising given it is one of the oldest cities in the world and religiously significant to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Explore famous sites like St Stephen’s Gate (also known as Lion’s Gate) which is the entrance to the Old City, the crusader church of St Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, the Wailing Wall and the ruins of the Temple Mount. Make sure to explore both the Muslim and restored Jewish Quarters more broadly.

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7. Wadi Rum - Jordan

Also known as the Valley of the Moon, this stunning site has been cut into the sandstone and granite rock. Wadi Rum is Arabic for sand, which is fitting given this incredible ancient village is set in the middle of the desert. Bedouin tribes inhabited Wadi Rum for centuries, and many of their old trade routes have been discovered over the years. Tourism first boomed in Wadi Rum thanks to the film, Lawrence of Arabia, parts of which were set and shot there.

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