MENUOur list of articles tagged with "Middle East."
For travelers who love books, history, architecture and design, incorporating visits to some of the world’s most beautiful libraries into private touring is a wonderful way into a destination’s cultural and literary heritage.
On a high mesa overlooking the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea, the awe-inspiring citadel of Masada is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Israel. Artisans of Leisure arranges private Masada tours.
Israel is a fascinating destination for travelers wanting to experience ancient history, important religious sites, beautiful landscapes, and fantastic food and wine. Read more about our top 10 favorite travel experiences in Israel, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the desert regions and the Galilee.
One of the most popular types of trips we arrange are private, personalized luxury tours for grandparents who want to take their grandchildren on incredible one-of-a-kind trips. Read about some of our favorite experiences we arrange that are customized around each family member’s interests and requirements.
A private felucca ride on the Nile River is a favorite experience we arrange for travelers on our private Egypt tours. Gliding on the water in one of these traditional wooden sailboats gives a peek into the rhythms of the ancient river and the life along its shores.
Artisans of Leisure arranges private, customized luxury Oman tours. Enjoy these photos from our most recent visit to Oman, where we experienced the cultural and scenic highlights of the country combined with our favorite luxury resorts in Oman.
Artisans of Leisure travelers just returned from an incredible private Jordan tour. They visited highlights of Jordan including Jerash, Petra and Wadi Rum. Enjoy these photos from their trip!
Bayt al-Suhaymi is a beautiful house museum in Cairo, Egypt. Artisans of Leisure arranges private tours of the interiors and architecture as part of our luxury Egypt tours.
Oman is a fascinating destination of ancient culture and diverse natural beauty, with rugged mountains, desert sand dunes and the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Six Senses Shaharut in Israel offers luxurious relaxation and exclusivity among the dramatic landscapes of the Arava Valley and Negev desert region. Artisans of Leisure arranges private Israel tours that feature the best luxury hotels and resorts in the country.
Egypt is one of our most popular destinations for families. Accompanied by our incomparable private Egyptologist guides, travelers of all ages can discover the splendors of Egypt with incredible ease, access and insight on an Artisans of Leisure private family tour of Egypt.
An Israeli wine expert and educator based in Tel Aviv, Israel, shares her thoughts on the best of Israeli wines and where to experience them when visiting the country.
Jerash is among the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the Middle East and a cultural highlight of a private Jordan tour.
The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx are a bucket-list destination for many travelers and a highlight of any visit to Egypt. Artisans of Leisure arranges private Egypt tours that include the highlights of the country.
One of the best places to discover the fascinating layers of Jerusalem’s history and culture is in the walled Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Read about our favorite destinations in Jordan. Beyond spectacular Petra—a must-see—are ancient Roman ruins, evocative Crusader castles, sublime desert landscapes, fascinating religious sites, and luxurious resorts on the Red Sea and the Dead Sea.
Traveling as a family is an incredibly rewarding way to experience different destinations and cultures. It also brings family members closer and creates memories that last a lifetime.
One of the things we love about traveling is the food! Here are some of the meals and culinary treats that Artisans of Leisure travel experts are dreaming about for when we’re able to travel again.
Artisans of Leisure arranges private international accessible tours and accessible travel in destinations around the world. We work closely with individuals who have mobility limitations to make sure that each tour is personalized to their individual needs, requirements and interests.
The city of Luxor has some of Egypt’s most impressive and iconic historical sites, including Karnak and King Tut’s tomb. The Nile River runs through Luxor, separating it into two incredibly rich archaeological zones. On the West Bank are the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, and on the East Bank […]
Highlights from Artisans of Leisure travel expert Carly Walter’s recent trip to Egypt, including the best of Cairo, the pyramids, and a Nile River cruise.
Cairo, Egypt, is one of our favorite destinations for insider shopping and decorative arts tours in the Middle East.
Al Manara, a new Luxury Collection hotel on the Red Sea in Aqaba, Jordan is a sophisticated base for exploring the Red Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan and the Negev Desert in Israel.
The lively Lebanese capital city of Beirut is a fascinating cultural destination and the perfect base for exploring the rest of the country.
Artisans of Leisure travel specialist Maria Merrill recently returned from Egypt and shares her thoughts about one of our favorite destinations in the Middle East.
The Negev is a stark and beautiful desert region in southern Israel. Covering more than half the country’s total land area, it has unique geological features, interesting archaeological ruins, great outdoor activities and even a wine region. One of the highlights of the Negev is Masada, a 2,000-year-old fortress on the edge of a high, […]
Wadi Rum in southern Jordan is such a visually gripping and otherworldly place that director Ridley Scott chose it as the location to represent Mars when making his 2015 movie The Martian. It wasn’t the first time the spectacular desert region of red sandstone mountains, towering cliffs and rock bridges portrayed the Martian landscape: It […]
Perched on the edge of a deep gorge high in the Al Hajar Mountains of northern Oman, the luxurious Alila Jabal Akhdar resort offers spectacular views and easy access to soft adventure activities and cultural touring in the surrounding region. Incorporating native rock and timber, the Alila Jabal Akhdar buildings are a contemporary take on ancient […]
All over the world, we love to explore markets to learn more about cities and the people who live in them. In Jerusalem, there’s no better place to do this than Machane Yehuda, a sprawling market in the western part of the city that’s been around since the late 1800s. Known as the shuk (Hebrew […]
Artisans of Leisure has been on the cutting edge of culinary travel for over a decade. Staffed by a group of in-house foodies, food writers, cooks and culinary travel experts, we continue to expand our culinary tours around the world. With an international network of culinary experts, acclaimed chefs, food historians and writers, Artisans of […]
We were touched and honored to read this letter from the mother of a family that travels regularly with Artisans of Leisure. We hope you enjoy reading about how traveling together has become such an important part of their lives. As my eldest daughter enters her senior year of high school, with her two sisters not […]
Clients who recently returned from Israel sent us these photos of the spectacular mosaics they saw at the Zippori archaeological site in the Galilee. Ongoing excavations at Zippori have revealed the site’s many layers of history, from a Roman administrative capital in the first century B.C. to a busy Jewish religious center and, later, a […]
We always enjoy experiencing how different cultures approach the most important meal of the day. Here are a few of our favorites: 1.) Breakfast at a cave hotel in Cappadocia, Turkey We love sitting on the hotel terrace and taking in views of the fantastical rock formations of this beautiful region while eating a classic […]
Lebanon is a fascinating country with important archaeological sites, beautiful scenery, warm hospitality and some of the best cuisine in the Middle East.
Artisans of Leisure founder and CEO Ashley Isaacs Ganz recently returned from touring Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in Israel. Read about the highlights of her trip, including Jewish and Christian touring, incredible cuisine, and fascinating historical sites.
Jordan has far more attractions than its modest size suggests. The most famous is undoubtedly the stunning archaeological site of Petra. Other must-sees include the Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash and Umm Qais; the beautiful natural landscapes of the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Dana Nature Reserve; Crusader castles; ancient mosaics; and Amman, Jordan’s sophisticated capital. […]
Want to learn to make mozzarella by hand on the Amalfi Coast? How about a private karate lesson in Kyoto? A surfing lesson in Bali? Would you like to paint porcelain in Austria or assist on an archaeological dig in Israel? We offer hundreds of such learning experiences that can be incorporated into our private […]
Many people with restricted diets or food allergies worry about finding appropriate meals when traveling overseas. Several of our in-house travel experts have food restrictions, so we understand firsthand the challenges. We also know how to overcome them. Artisans of Leisure regularly works with travelers who have food restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, kosher, gluten-free and […]
Artisans of Leisure travel specialist, Stephanie, tells us how she has been lucky to be able to combine her twin passions–birding and travel–since she was a child. Q: When and how did you become interested in birding? A: My mom has been birding forever, and she would take me along with her when I was […]
Your son likes castles, your daughter likes shopping, your husband likes history, and you like art–how can you make sure that family vacations please everyone? Artisans of Leisure specializes in one-of-a-kind, private, customized family tours that feature a world of engaging experiences sure to satisfy families of all sizes, ages and interests. Here are a […]
We love eating as the locals do when we travel, and we find that food often inspires some of our best travel memories. Artisans of Leisure recently traveled across Israel and we particularly loved visiting the open-air markets, sampling street food, and dining where the locals like to eat. Here are a few of the culinary […]
One of our most popular day tours from Israel is an excursion to Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. Artisans of Leisure travelers enjoy a private ride through stunning landscapes from Eilat to Petra, and the VIP services we arrange ensure a smooth transition during the border crossing. […]
Taking a luxurious cruise down the Nile is the stuff of legend, reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, and evocative of a time when traveling by ship was de rigueur. There are now faster ways to travel from Aswan to Luxor, but none are as memorable or beautiful as a Nile river cruise. There are […]
Artisans of Leisure arranges incredible family vacations customized to families of all sizes and age ranges.
Israel’s most dynamic city, Tel Aviv is the country’s cultural and commercial heart and a highlight of any tour of Israel. Although it possesses no holy sites and a relatively short history (aside from the ancient port of Jaffa), Tel Aviv is a vibrant, 24-hour city with a wide array of cultural offerings, restaurants and […]
Looking for great options for a short international trip over the Christmas and New Year holidays? Our luxury travel experts have selected five of their favorite destinations. 1.) Marrakesh A week in Marrakesh promises over-the-top luxury, thriving traditional culture, great shopping and dining, and plenty of outdoor options. We recommend using Marrakesh as base for five or […]
Artisans of Leisure is well known for our private culinary tours in destinations around the world. We hope you enjoy this interview with one of our culinary travel experts. Q: How does food influence how you travel? A: Basically, I travel to eat. Quite often I plan my touring around a certain restaurant I want […]
Egypt’s extraordinary historical sites and friendly local people make it a dream destination for families and an unforgettable experience for children. Our Egyptologist guides, the best in the country, bring history alive for family members of all ages during private tours of the Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, and the most interesting historic sites around Cairo […]
Many travelers ask us to incorporate people, places and activities of Jewish significance when they are traveling internationally with us. We can incorporate Jewish touring into any of our tours around the world, from Sydney to Shanghai and most places in between. Many travelers simply want us to incorporate some Jewish-related sightseeing in Europe, Asia, […]
Everyone should experience floating in the Dead Sea at least once in their lives. The sea (actually a lake) has such high salinity that it is incapable of supporting marine life (hence the name), and causes an amazing buoyancy. You don’t float so much as bob to the surface—there really is nothing like it! For […]
Abu Simbel is one of the most breathtaking monuments in Egypt, and high up on my list of favorite places in the world. Located by the border of Sudan in southern Egypt and facing Lake Nasser, it is comprised of two temples carved out of solid rock in the 13th century BC: the Great Temple […]
Artisans of Leisure has developed a real following with honeymooners who want our expertise when planning their unique, totally customized, once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons. We asked our travel specialists for their tips: Q: What advice do you give honeymooners? A: Don’t try to do too much (or too little)! We find the best honeymoons have a perfect balance of […]
Introduction to Israel & Jordan
(9 Days)
Jerusalem & Dead Sea, Aqaba & Petra, Negev Desert, Tel Aviv
Rome in Depth
(6 Days)
Rome
Active Tour of Jordan
(8 Days)
Amman & Jerash, King's Highway, Petra, Wadi Rum & Dana Biosphere Reserve, Dead Sea
Highlights of Uzbekistan
(10 Days)
Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand
Discover Colombia
(8 Days)
Bogota, Cartagena & Rosario Islands