Middle East Travel: Jordan, Bahrain & My Adventures

ByTodd, Founder of Visit50

My trip to the Middle East started with a place I’d dreamed about for years: Petra. But getting there turned into an adventure of its own. An unexpected 19-hour stopover in Bahrain gave me an entirely unplanned introduction to a country I had barely heard of, while Jordan delivered everything from floating in the Dead Sea to getting spectacularly lost on the road to Petra.

My favorite part? Jordan somehow exceeded the expectations I’d built up for years. Petra was every bit as extraordinary as I’d hoped, while Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and the kindness of the people I met gave me plenty of reasons to want to return.

Jump to: Jordan | Bahrain | Featured Middle East Adventures | Middle East Countries | Why Travel the Middle East?

Featured Middle East Destinations

🇯🇴 Jordan

One of my favorite countries I’ve visited, Jordan combines ancient ruins, spectacular desert landscapes, the Dead Sea and some of the friendliest people I’ve met anywhere.

🇧🇭 Bahrain

Bahrain was an unexpected stop on my journey to 50 — a tiny country where I discovered fascinating architecture, a surprising camel farm and plenty of adventures I hadn’t planned on.

The Monastery at Petra, The Monastery of Petra, (aka Ad-Dayr or Ad-Deir in Arabic), in Jordan
Petra’s Monastery
One of the highlights of my long-awaited trip to Jordan
Floating in the Dead Sea in Jordan Look closely and you'll see I'm reading a Japanese newspaper!
Floating in the Dead Sea
An unforgettable experience — and a painful lesson about salt water.
Royal Camel Farm in Bahrain
500 Camels in Bahrain
The unexpected Bahrain adventure I still remember

Petra’s Monastery

One of the most spectacular sights in Petra — and one of the places that made my long-awaited trip to Jordan live up to the dream.

Floating in the Dead Sea

Yes, you really can float in the Dead Sea. Just don’t make my mistake and get the incredibly salty water in your eyes!

500 Camels in Bahrain

I hadn’t planned on visiting a camel farm. Somehow it became one of my favorite surprises in Bahrain.

Top 5 Middle East Adventures

If you’re looking for some of my favorite experiences from the region, these are a few places and adventures that stand out:

1. Explore Petra, an Ancient City Carved from Rock

Petra was the reason I finally made it to Jordan after dreaming about it for years. The remarkable rock-carved city somehow lived up to my enormous expectations.

2. Float in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is one of those travel experiences that feels almost impossible until you actually do it. I floated, covered myself in Dead Sea mud and learned the hard way just how painful the water can be in your eyes.

3. Discover Wadi Rum, a Surprisingly Beautiful Desert

I never thought I’d describe a desert as beautiful, but Wadi Rum changed my mind. The red sand, dramatic landscape, sunset and sunrise made this one of my favorite places in Jordan.

4. Meet 500 Camels in Bahrain

I went to Bahrain expecting to see architecture. I didn’t expect a camel farm to become one of the highlights of my visit. My guide took me to a farm he said had once been home to 500 camels.

5. Get Spectacularly Lost on the Road to Petra

One shortcut looked perfectly logical on the map. It wasn’t. The drive turned into a foggy, fuel-depleting adventure involving closed gas stations, mountain roads, wildlife and an unexpected encounter with the Jordanian military.

Middle East Countries Explored

Here is a directory of my Middle East travel posts and experiences:

🇯🇴 Jordan

Jordan is one of my favorite countries I’ve visited. From the ancient city of Petra and Roman ruins at Jerash to the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and the Red Sea, I packed an incredible amount into one trip — and still want to go back.

Jordan Travel: My Experiences & Adventures

Explore my Jordan travel experiences, including Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and some of the unexpected adventures I encountered while traveling around the country.

Floating in the Dead Sea

Yes, you really can float in the Dead Sea. Here’s what it was like to experience this strange and unforgettable natural wonder — including one painful lesson I learned the hard way.

Petra, Jordan

Petra was the reason I traveled to Jordan. I had dreamed about seeing the ancient city carved into the mountains for years, and somehow the real thing lived up to the photographs.

The Road to Petra: Getting Lost Driving in Jordan

What looked like a shortcut on the map turned into one of my wildest driving adventures, involving fog, dwindling fuel, closed gas stations and a very questionable mountain road.

Wadi Rum

I never thought I’d call a desert beautiful until I visited Wadi Rum. The red sand, dramatic scenery, sunset and sunrise made this one of the highlights of my Jordan trip.

Dead Sea Mud

Getting covered in Dead Sea mud was part of the fun of visiting this remarkable place. I also met some travelers who took their enthusiasm for the mud to another level.

🇧🇭 Bahrain

Bahrain wasn’t even supposed to be part of my Middle East adventure. A 19-hour stopover turned into an unexpected day exploring a country I had barely heard of — from futuristic architecture to a camel farm.

Bahrain Itinerary

How I packed as much as possible into an unexpected 19-hour stopover in Bahrain.

Bahrain World Trade Center

Two towers connected by massive wind turbines make this one of the most memorable buildings I encountered in Bahrain.

Architecture in Bahrain

Bahrain surprised me with its fascinating mix of modern architecture, distinctive buildings and unexpected design.

500 Camels in Bahrain

One of my favorite Bahrain experiences wasn’t even on my itinerary. My driver and guide took me to a camel farm that he said had once been home to 500 camels.

Not every recommendation from my local driver in Bahrain was a winner. One suggestion led me to the strangest “attraction” I’ve ever visited: the King’s Parking Lot.

Continue Exploring Visit50 – Related Regions

Why Travel the Middle East?

The Middle East is one of the most fascinating regions I’ve traveled through, with an incredible combination of ancient history, dramatic landscapes, distinctive architecture and memorable cultural experiences.

My own Middle East adventure began with a long-held dream of visiting Petra, but the trip quickly became about much more than one destination. I discovered the surreal experience of floating in the Dead Sea, watched the sun rise and set over the red sands of Wadi Rum, explored ancient Roman ruins at Jerash and found unexpected adventures in Bahrain.

Just as memorable were the people I met along the way. Jordan in particular left a lasting impression on me because of how welcoming and helpful so many people were.

I only visited two countries in the region on this trip, but Jordan remains one of my favorite countries I’ve traveled to — and I’d happily return to explore more of the Middle East.