Best General Middle East Travel Guides of 2026

Lonely Planet's Israel & the Palestinian Territories 10 is a comprehensive travel guide that provides up-to-date information, insider tips, and honest reviews for all budgets. The guide covers the major attractions in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa & the North Coast, Lower Galilee & Sea of Galilee, Upper Galilee & Golan, West Bank, The Gaza Strip, The Dead Sea, The Negev, and Petra. The book also features planning tools for family travelers, cultural insights, and over 55 maps. The guide's unique features include a pull-out 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM, and transport info, and a 'What's new' feature that taps into cultural trends and helps travelers find fresh ideas and cool new areas. Overall, Lonely Planet's Israel & the Palestinian Territories 10 is an essential guide for anyone planning a trip to this region.

Lonely Planet Turkey 16 (Travel Guide) is a comprehensive guide that covers all the country has to offer, including popular and lesser-known experiences. With up-to-date information, planning tools for family travelers, and insider tips, this guide helps travelers tailor their trip to their personal needs and interests. The book also features essential information such as hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, and transit tips. The guidebook provides honest reviews for all budgets, covering eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, and hidden gems that most guidebooks miss. Overall, Lonely Planet Turkey 16 (Travel Guide) is an excellent resource for anyone planning to visit Turkey.

Lonely Planet Jordan 11 is an excellent travel guide for those who want to explore Jordan. With updated information, the guidebook provides travelers with insider tips, essential information, and honest reviews for all budgets. The book covers various regions of Jordan, including Amman, Petra, Aqaba, and Wadi Rum, among others. It also includes improved planning tools for family travelers and a pull-out passport-size card with Wi-Fi, ATM, and transport information. The book's cultural insights give readers a richer, more rewarding travel experience, making it a perfect choice for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled.

Lonely Planet Egypt 14 (Travel Guide) is an exceptional guidebook for Egypt, providing up-to-date information on what to see and skip, and what hidden treasures await the reader. It features improved planning tools for family travellers, insider tips to save time and money, and essential information at your fingertips. The book also provides cultural insights into the history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, and politics of Egypt. It is a comprehensive guide to exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Overall, Lonely Planet Egypt 14 (Travel Guide) is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Egypt.

Galapagos Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals is a must-have for anyone interested in the unique ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands. With over 140 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, seashore creatures, and butterflies/insects featured, it is a comprehensive guide. The laminated and lightweight design makes it ideal for field use by eco-tourists visiting the islands. The map highlighting the location of the top 10 most sought-after species is a standout feature. Overall, this guide is an excellent source of portable information, and the simplified introduction to the species makes it ideal for both beginners and experts alike.

Lonely Planet Istanbul 10 is an excellent travel guide for those planning to visit this beautiful city. The guide provides up-to-date information on what to see and skip, insider tips to save time and money, and essential information such as hours of operation, transit tips, and prices. The guide also offers honest reviews for all budgets, cultural insights, and over 30 maps to help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests. Whether you are exploring the top sights or taking roads less travelled, this comprehensive guide has got you covered. Highly recommended for all travelers!

The Monk of Mokha is an inspiring and gripping true story that follows Mokhtar Alkhanshali, a young Yemeni American man who embarks on a journey to revive the ancient art of Yemeni coffee amidst the country's civil war. The book offers a vivid portrayal of Mokhtar's ancestral homeland and the challenges he faces in his pursuit to save the coffee industry while navigating through war-torn Yemen. This book stands out for its exceptional storytelling and its ability to offer hope in the midst of adversity. The Monk of Mokha is a must-read for anyone who loves a good adventure story.

The Saffron Tales is a Middle Eastern cooking book that showcases the food and culture of Iran. It features over 80 modern recipes and stories from Iranian home kitchens. British-Iranian cook Yasmin Khan traveled across the country, from the snowy mountains of Tabriz to the cosmopolitan cafés of Tehran, to collect the most delicious recipes for this book. The recipes range from chicken with walnuts and pomegranates to lamb meatballs stuffed with prunes and barberries. The book is not just a cookbook but also a love letter to Iran and its people. The Saffron Tales is a must-have for anyone who loves Persian food and culture.

Lonely Planet Pocket Jerusalem & Tel Aviv 2 (Pocket Guide) is an essential travel companion for anyone planning to visit these two fascinating cities. The guide provides up-to-date information on the best experiences and local life in each neighbourhood, including insider tips to save time and money. With full-colour maps and travel photography throughout, the guide covers all the essential information such as hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices, and honest reviews for all budgets. The convenient pull-out Jerusalem map (included in the print version) and over 18 colour neighbourhood maps make it easy to navigate the cities. Overall, this guide is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a quick trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

The book “Osman's Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire” by Caroline Finkel is a definitive account of the Ottoman Empire's epic story from its origins in the 13th century to its destruction in the 20th century. Finkel, a renowned scholar and journalist, has produced a scholarly, lucid, judicious and enjoyable account of over 600 years of history in a single volume. The book is a revelation and a vital corrective to the wrong-headed readings of the flagbearers of intellectual Islamophobia. This book is a treasure for anyone who wants to know precisely what happened in the Ottoman Empire and takes into account the writings of the Ottomans themselves.