To this very day the Middle East has a history littered with episodes of unrest and yet it is an area full of sacred sites, culture, heritage and history, not forgetting an incredibly beautiful landscape. A kaleidoscope of ancient worlds, it has been the crossroads between culture, religion and trade for centuries; acting as a gateway between the east and the west, it is here the orient and the occident collides. Visitors to the region will marvel at mosques and palaces adorning the old towns that bustle with souks (city markets), daily prayer and worship. As old as civilisation itself, each passing generation has left its mark on the Middle East and as a result it is a world area with a superbly colourful history, excellent food and gracious hospitality that is the natural addition to any eastern-based holiday. Best visited during the Spring and Autumn when the climate is glorious and the region’s spirit at its most infectious. Ramadan will commence on the 1st August 2011