Jordan

Jordan is one of the Middle East's most rewarding and welcoming destinations. Its crown jewel is Petra — the Nabataean city carved into rose-red sandstone, entered through the narrow Siq to the famous Treasury (Al-Khazneh), with the Monastery a climb beyond. South lies Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, where 4x4 jeeps and Bedouin camps sit beneath towering sandstone massifs (the backdrop to many Mars films). The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, lets you float effortlessly and coat yourself in mineral mud, while the capital Amman, the vast Roman ruins of Jerash and the mosaics of Madaba and Mount Nebo add history and culture. Distances are short, the country is safe and friendly, and a week covers the highlights comfortably.