The Prices of Cultural Tours to the Middle East
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For travelers looking to truly connect with a destination, cultural tours around the Middle East are the perfect gateway to its traditions, stories, and artistic heritage. From sharing meals with locals to exploring historic landmarks and participating in time-honored festivals, these tours go beyond sightseeing to offer unforgettable experiences. Picture yourself navigating colorful markets, marveling at ancient architecture, or even learning a traditional craft from a local expert.
In this article, we’ll break down the prices, costs of cultural tours in the Middle East, highlight exceptional options, and guide you to destinations rich in cultural treasures. By comparing price, quality, and unique offerings, we’ve curated the best tours for cultural explorers. So pack your curiosity and get ready to dive deep into the Middle East’s vibrant cultural tapestry!
Why does the Middle East appeal to cultural explorers?
The Middle East's rich history, vibrant traditions, and welcoming communities make it a cultural treasure. The area's diverse traditions and historical influences provide endless cultural exploration.
How much do cultural tours in the Middle East cost?
The average price per day for cultural tours in the Middle East is $234, based on our analysis of 127 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $90 to $550 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $160 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $322 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Tours in the Middle East
Budget-Friendly Tours
Budget-friendly and affordable cultural tours in the Middle East average $160 per day, with daily prices from $90 to $190. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out 11 Days 10 nights Panorama Jordan Tour (CT-JHT-018) here.
Mid-Range Tours
For typical cultural tours in the Middle East that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $216 per day. Daily prices range from $192 to $255. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Road to Jordan with Cruise - 16 days.
Luxury Tours
Luxury cultural tours in the Middle East average around $216 per day, with daily costs ranging from $256 to $550. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is Private 8-Day Jordan and Egypt tour.
Which tour companies offer cultural tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer cultural tours in the Middle East. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Booking Tours
Booking Tours offers local cultural tours through Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Palestinian Territory, and others. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 3 days to 3 weeks. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. Many of their tours are priced in the mid-range category.
See All Tours from Booking Tours
Bein Harim Tourism Services
Bein Harim Tourism Services offers local cultural tours through Israel, Palestinian Territory, and Jordan. Most participants are adults and the tours range in length from 3 days to 12 days. They like to use local guides who offer a specialized experience into the region's culture. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. A large number of their tours fall within in the mid-range price category.
See All Tours from Bein Harim Tourism Services
Cosmos
Cosmos is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. A number of their tours visit destinations in Europe and North America. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Canada, Italy, and Argentina. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as snorkelling, cooking classes, and wine tasting.
GidOman
GidOman is a smaller tour company that focuses on Oman. The small group sizes, often less than 12, make for a very personal experience. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of their tours are priced in the mid-range category.
Cultural Destinations in the Middle East
Wondering where cultural tours visit in the Middle East? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Dubai
Dubai is a cosmopolitan and modern city in the UAE with luxury resorts and high-reaching skyscrapers. It's an ultramodern city with a vibrant nightlife scene and many manmade wonders. It's a desert city with luxury shopping malls and unique adventures that tourists can experience.
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Other popular destinations for cultural tours through the Middle East include Petra, Amman, Jerusalem, Jerash, and Madaba.
Cultural Tours vs. Independent Travel: Pros and Cons
Before deciding to book a tour or handle the planning yourself, it's important to consider the aspects of each travel style.
Organized Tours
Pros- Expert guides provide deep insights into the culture and history of each location.
- Pre-arranged access to exclusive cultural events and sites.
- Structured itinerary ensures you don’t miss key cultural highlights.
- Learning opportunities through local experts who share cultural traditions.
- Less time spent planning logistics and more time exploring.
- Easy access to local communities and cultural experiences.
- Group tours often offer discounted rates for cultural attractions.
- Reduced risk of missing out on cultural nuances or historical contexts.
- Less flexibility to customize the experience based on personal interests.
- Time constraints that may limit immersion in certain cultural activities.
- Group dynamics might not align with individual preferences or interests.
- May be restricted to specific cultural sites chosen by the tour guide.
Independent Travel
Pros- Full control over what cultural experiences you want to focus on.
- Freedom to explore less touristy, more authentic cultural spots.
- Ability to spend more time in places that interest you the most.
- Opportunity to design a unique itinerary based on your cultural interests.
- Choose your own accommodations, dining spots, and cultural activities.
- Time-consuming to research and organize cultural experiences.
- Potential for missing out on valuable cultural context without a guide.
- Language barriers and cultural differences may pose challenges.
- Need to handle all logistics, from transportation to tickets for events.
- Risk of not gaining access to exclusive cultural sites or events.
- Difficulty in finding the most authentic cultural experiences without local expertise.
- May not have the same level of convenience and organization as a guided tour.
Which is cheaper?
Are guided cultural tours more expensive than independent travel? It depends. Tours typically bundle accommodations, transportation, meals, tickets, guides, and activities into one price, while independent travel requires paying for these elements separately. To understand the cost difference, compare the total price of a tour with the estimated cost of handling all arrangements yourself. Personal preferences, like staying in budget accommodations or dining at upscale restaurants, could tip the balance either way. Always check what's covered in the tour to make an informed comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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