Offbeat Travelling

Fascinating travel adventures in 'difficult' countries

  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Balkans
    • Middle East
    • Post-Soviet
    • Other destinations
  • Latest Posts
  • Photos
  • About
  • Contact
  • More…
    • Publications
    • Travel Tips
    • Countries spreadsheet

Middle East

Top

There is no place like the Middle East. With endless hospitality and great food, it's a fascinating region in this world.

10 Must-Visit Museums in the Age of Dark Tourism

November 9, 2019

Killing Fields Cambodia

This is the darkest article I have ever written. Its content might disturb some readers.

11-day Travel Itinerary for Iraqi Kurdistan (and Epic Photos)

September 15, 2019

Iraq battle tank

Going to Iraq, not as a terrorist but as a tourist. Not many would consider it a safe travel destination, but you would be surprised by my 11-day itinerary!

Tourism in Pakistan: Visiting The Swat Valley as a Solo Backpacker

January 20, 2019

A region home to ‘the most hospitable people’ is slowly getting ready for tourism once again. I went there ahead of the crowds to see what to expect.

10 Incredible Discoveries Inside an Abandoned Beer Brewery in Beirut

April 6, 2017

Abandoned and scarred by civil war, this beer brewery is the oldest in the Middle East and lays hidden in a quiet residential neighbourhood in Beirut.

Visiting Burj Al-Barajneh, the Site of the 2015 Beirut Bombings

August 21, 2016

Burj Al Barajneh

You may call it disaster tourism. Weeks after it happened I went to see what it was like at the site of the 2015 Beirut bombings, deep inside a Hezbollah stronghold.

Petra’s Darkest Secret: The Bedouin Romance Scammers

March 20, 2016

Petra Treasury

It is estimated that hundreds of Western women have fallen victim to romance scamming by Jack Sparrow lookalikes in and around Petra, Jordan.

Is It Safe to Visit the Baalbek Ruins in Lebanon?

December 18, 2015

Under the sounds of the war raging on in and around Syria, I visited the Roman Ruins in the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek, Lebanon.

The End of a 100-Day Journey: My Wrap-Up

December 11, 2015

With an average daily expense of €21, I travelled to 7 countries in 3 continents. This articles gives a small look behind the scenes.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed at Egypt’s Great Pyramids

November 8, 2015

I was shocked to learn how many foreigners get scammed at Egypt’s Great Pyramids. Here is how you can outsmart the touts.

I Got Locked up inside an Ancient Egyptian Tomb

November 7, 2015

Horemheb tomb, in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt

After pretending to be a journalist, I met with Egypt’s minister of Antiquities and managed to get myself locked up inside a 3200 year-old tomb.

7 Things I Never Knew about Iran

January 26, 2015

A man offers me to have some of his oranges

Iran is not the average travel destination and remains shrouded in mystery. Read 7 things I learned from my trip to this amazing country.

Inside Iran – Iran through the Eyes of a Couchsurfer

October 19, 2014

What was once a popular tourist destination, now has to endure persistent perceptions of being unsafe for foreigners. To try find the truth, I went inside Iran and quickly realised I have never felt so welcome and safe in my life.

Newsletter

Never miss a thing!

Here is the best way to stay connected:

Make a selection, hit subscribe and confirm through the link in your mailbox! Check your spam folder if cannot find it.

Your data is safe. By subscribing you agree with my privacy policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. No spam, I promise!

WAIT! Almost done! Check your inbox (or spam folder) now to confirm your subscription. Don't forget or you will still be missing out!

About Bart

"My name is Bart and I travel to some of the world’s most fascinating places"

Follow me on my social media pages (below) if you want to tag along!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Top Posts & Pages

  • 12 Kick-Ass Route Ideas to Travel the World
  • Riding the Iron Ore Train across the Sahara in Mauritania
  • Inside the World's Most Secretive Ship-Breaking Yards
  • The Longest Overland Route in a Straight Line
  • Is It Safe to Visit the Baalbek Ruins in Lebanon?

Instagram

Chasing the micro states of Europe, here’s anoth Chasing the micro states of Europe, here’s another one visited: San Marino, one of the world’s oldest republics. It is home to just 33,000 people and is completely surrounded by Italy.

Have you ever heard of this place before? Have you visited?

#sanmarino #unesco #unescoheritage #micronation #travel #happyeaster #instatravel #backpacker #solotravel #mountain #castle #globetrotter #eps #everycountry #wanderlust #passionpassport #everypassportstamp #adventure #italy #enclave #tourism #tourist #natgeo
I visited Ukraine several times, heartbreaking to I visited Ukraine several times, heartbreaking to see what is happening now. Hoping for better days and for all hostilities to end asap…

#ukraine #kyiv #travel #peace
Back in 2014 I visited, by myself, the Ukrainian-c Back in 2014 I visited, by myself, the Ukrainian-controlled part of eastern province Donetsk to see the direct aftermath of the 2014 war.

I’m shocked to learn that a full scale war has now returned to Ukraine.

Places that I visited back then, Kharkiv, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk are now under attack by Russia. My thoughts are with all people affected.

Pray for Ukraine.
Exploring ancient lands in a forgotten corner of t Exploring ancient lands in a forgotten corner of the world. 

This is Alinja castle, the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan but without the visitors. It’s hidden within the mountains of Nakhchivan, an autonomous region and exclave of Azerbaijan that hardly sees any visitors.

Have you heard of this place before?

#azerbaijan #nakhchivan #naxcivan #azeri #alinjafortress #alinjagala #asia #caucasus #globetrotter #nomadmania #everycountry #adventure #wanderlust #exploretheworld #travelstoke #lonelyplanet #lp #everypassportstamp #voyage #travel #instatravel #explorer #machupicchu #landscape #mountain #hiking #nature #passionpassport #backpacker #goexplore
Secret picture inside a militia checkpoint in Iraq Secret picture inside a militia checkpoint in Iraq.

Reliving my 2021 experience travelling independently through Iraq (backpacking style)

#iraq #samarra #middleeast #solotravel #traveller #instatravel #traveler #travel #tourist #tourism #visitiraq #passionpassport #adventure #wanderlust #globetrotter #everycountry #everypassportstamp #backpacker #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #exploremore #traveladdict #roamtheplanet
Is this the most beautiful monument in the world? Is this the most beautiful monument in the world?

It has the most mesmerising curved shape, two carefully positioned pieces in dreamy and heavenly colours. An oasis of beauty and peace in a city so hectic, congested and scarred by years of conflict. 

This is the Al-Shaheed (Martyr’s) monument, completed in 1983 and dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iraq Iran war of the 1980s. 

#iraq #visitiraq #baghdad #middleeast #history #martyr #art #monument #eastereggs #onion #traveler #instatravel #travel #tourist #tourism #natgeo #passionpassport #wanderlust #globetrotter #traveladdict #solotravel #adventure #backpacker #beautifuldestinations #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #everycountry #eps #blue #exploremore
Mysterious ancient Roman arch found in middle of n Mysterious ancient Roman arch found in middle of nowhere near Mosul, Iraq.

#iraq #middleeast #history #ancient #mosul #bridge #arch #traveler #instatravel #travel #tourist #tourism #natgeo #nationalgeographic #mesopotamia #roman #romanempire #passionpassport #everycountry #traveladdict #adventure #visitiraq #solotravel #backpacker #wanderlust #beautifulworld #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces
Iraq, where you can have ancient Mesopotamian wond Iraq, where you can have ancient Mesopotamian wonders (dating back 4,000 years) all to yourself.

#iraq #nasiriyah #mesopotamia #ziggurat #ur #uruk #visitiraq #middleeast #architecture #history #ruins #tourist #traveler #travel #instatravel #archeology #exploretheworld #natgeo #everycountryintheworld #everypassportstamp #eps #everycountry #passionpassport #wanderlust #offbeat #traveladdict #globetrotter #happy #everydaymiddleeast #postcardsfromtheworld
Follow on Instagram

© 2016–2022 Offbeat Travelling - All rights reserved PRIVACY POLICY | COPYRIGHT | CONTACT