Jordan
According to Countryaah, there are 19 countries in Western Asia. Jordan is one of them. Politically, Jordan is a very young country, but it has a very eventful history. In a relatively small area (Jordan is about the size of Austria) there is an almost unbelievable number of historical sites, from Stone Age settlement sites to Bronze and Iron Age sites to the great city complexes of the Greco-Roman Decapolis, as well as the desert castles of the Omajjaden- Caliphs and castles of the crusader era. The undisputed highlight of a trip to Jordan is “Petra”, a world heritage site – once the capital of the ancient trading people of the Nabataeans, whose incomparable rock facades are in perfect symbiosis with the surrounding mountain landscape.
The landscape diversity of Jordan stretches from the fertile Jordan Valley over the Dead Sea and the almost African-looking Wadi Araba with its umbrella acacias to the beach of the Red Sea. The green hill country of the northwest contrasts with the barren highlands further south, criss-crossed by wild gorges and canyons, and the unique desert landscape of Wadi Rum, which captivates the visitor with its gigantic rock massifs and red dunes.
Climate:
Northern Jordan is characterized by the Mediterranean climate, the summers are dry and the winters mild and humid. Summer gets very hot in the south and east of the country. The Red Sea is warm all year round.
Best travel time:
If you want to visit a green blooming Jordan, you should especially use the two spring months of April and May. Travelers can also expect pleasant temperatures from October to November. From May to September is the optimal time for all bathing vacationers and divers on the Red Sea: Here the thermometer sometimes reaches over 35 ° C.
Iran
Iran is a country located in Middle East. First and foremost, Iran is a cultural travel destination. 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites bear witness to a thousand-year-old high culture that is waiting to be discovered. Architecture lovers will be amazed by the special structures of the desert dwellers such as wind towers, ice houses and qanats. The seemingly endless wealth of geometric patterns and stucco work in the mosques, palaces and bazaars is fascinating. Miniature painters, enamel artists, calligraphers and cloth printers like to look over their shoulders at work in the bazaars. Anyone who has ever visited a Persian garden will understand why the term paradise originated here.
Less known, but just as attractive, is Iran as a destination for nature travelers. Snow-covered mountain ranges, extensive forest areas, hot deserts, the Caspian Sea, islands in the Persian Gulf, flora and fauna in national parks – a great variety awaits you. Visit Iran and experience the world champions of hospitality.
Climate:
Most of the country, but especially the central Iranian highlands, is determined by the continental climate. The summers are hot but pleasantly dry, with daytime temperatures between 35 and 45 degrees Celsius. In winter, an average of 2 degrees above zero is reached. A pleasant 25 to 35 degrees Celsius prevail during the day in spring and autumn. The two large deserts Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut are among the hottest areas on earth with temperatures around 50 degrees Celsius. In absolute contrast to this are the alpine climatic conditions in the area of the Elburs Mountains in the north of the country. It gets subtropical in the south on the Persian Gulf.
Best travel time:
Due to the very different climate zones, Iran is a year-round travel destination – depending on what you want to experience in the country. For cultural trips, the weather is most pleasant in the spring months from mid-March to May and in the autumn months from mid-September to mid-November. While even the summer months are bearable in the central Iranian highlands due to the low humidity, this is the only time when we do not recommend traveling to the Lut and Kavir deserts or to the Gulf Coast. For trekking enthusiasts and mountaineers who want to conquer the highest peak in Damavand (5671 m), the best conditions prevail from mid-June to mid-September.
Egypt
Located in northeast Africa, Egypt offers its visitors a multitude of sights and a great variety of nature. The cultural heritage of this country is immense and far from fully explored. New discoveries are made year after year and there is always the possibility that history will have to be rewritten a bit afterwards.
Climate:
Over 95% of Egypt consists of desert, so hot, dry summers and comparatively mild winters are typical throughout. There are massive temperature differences between day and night and throughout the year. In the desert up to 50 degrees Celsius are reached, on the Mediterranean coast the average temperatures are 26 degrees. In the Nile Delta it occasionally rains in winter. The climate on the Red Sea coast can be described as more moderate.
Best travel time:
Beach holidaymakers who want to enjoy the Mediterranean get their money’s worth in summer from May to September. On the coast of the Red Sea you can even swim all year round at water temperatures between 20 and 29 degrees. Trekking vacations, trips to the desert and round trips are particularly cheap in October / November and in the period between February and April. In summer, because of the very hot temperatures, it is better to avoid desert tours and trips to Upper Egypt. In December and January, travelers in the regions mentioned have to be prepared for quite cool nights.