Travel advice. Vacation in Asia. Best places to stay in Asia Ranking of Asian countries for holidays

If you want to enjoy more variety, then tourism in Asia is sure to interest you. It is really full of curiosities and unusual places. From Mongolia to India, from Israel to the Philippines, vast territories stretch, scorching the sun for tourists and locals.

What is interesting about tourism in Asia?

Many committing tourism in Asia, only here they learn that philosophy, writing and the wheel were invented in the East. It was in the east that religions were born and peoples experienced various periods of life. Bloodthirsty hordes of nomads, the birth of great civilizations, primitive cruelty and pearls of creativity, the birth of religions and multi-million dollar wars, fertility and devastation. Today there are popular destinations such as: Israel, UAE, Thailand, India, Maldives, Turkey, Oman, Vietnam, South Korea and other countries.

Before heading to the East, we advise you to take care of the availability of a travel guide. In Russia, for example, there is Ural directory, thanks to which you can easily familiarize yourself with the geography of the area. Asia is very diverse in terms of culture and life, although it has common values. Most people prefer a measured lifestyle, so get a map or guide so that you can slowly plan your route on the spot. It is also best to take care of having a guide who will tell you interesting facts about the life of the country.

Why visit Asia?

First of all, it should be noted that the climate in Asia is very diverse, ranging from severe winters to deserts with unbearable heat. Do you want the sea? Then welcome to Israel or the Persian Gulf in the UAE. If you are not well versed in geography, then you probably did not know that the famous Everest is located in the eastern part of the continent. And Irkutsk is the center of Asia and is proudly called “navel”. Also, the East became famous for its spirituality and religion. It is difficult to find people in European countries who would treat religion in this way. But unfortunately, this often served as a pretext for wars.

Recently, tourism and economy have been actively developing in Asia. India and China are prime examples of this. Thanks to this, modern infrastructure, hotels and tourist centers are being built here. Tours to Turkey for a couple of decades they have been in incredible demand, as they offer cheap vacations, bright sunshine and a lot of entertainment.

Despite the cold weather in Asia, the “high season” has just begun, so we decided to consider the most interesting destinations that will definitely surprise you!

1. Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is the most popular resort in Thailand. On the island, in addition to delightful beaches and hotels, there are Buddhist temples, observation decks, waterfalls, gardens. Here you can find small coves to feel solitude or arrange a romantic evening, and club-bar streets filled with noise, music and dancing. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, which makes it easy to get to other provinces or the capital of the country.

2. Boracay, Philippines

This small Philippine island is famous for having one of the ten best beaches in the world - White Beach. A string of bars, massage parlors, souvenir shops and cafes stretch along it. In addition to people who love the nightlife, Boracay attracts divers and kitesurfers, because there are ideal conditions for observing the underwater world, and a steady wind always blows near Bulabog Beach, so necessary for kiting.

3. Hainan, China

On the island of Hainan, you can not only relax on the beach, but also see many attractions. For example, the extinct Ma-An volcano, the crater of which has been turned into an observation deck. Those who want to tickle their nerves should go to the Dongshan Safari Zoo, where bears, tigers and lions walk in natural conditions, and tourists can watch them from a jeep. In addition, Hainan Province is a major cultural center that hosts many different festivals throughout the year.

4. Langkawi, Malaysia

The Malaysian island of Langkawi is located in the middle of an archipelago of 100 islands. Here everyone can feel like a pioneer, without going far from the white beaches and comfortable hotels. Mountains, caves, waterfalls and lakes coexist with the resort infrastructure and many attractions, including the much-loved cable car and the sky bridge that runs right above the jungle.

5. Sri Lanka

Tea plantations, elephants, golden beaches with palm trees descending to the water, ancient temples and statues - all this is on a small island that is lost in the Indian Ocean off the coast of India. Aromatherapy is combined with Buddhist and Hindu teachings to promote relaxation and spiritual enrichment. Water skiing, underwater fishing, surfing and kiting are waiting for those who like active rest.

6. Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Phu Quoc is the pearl of Vietnam. Most of the island is a national park, which allows you to preserve the flora and fauna in their original form, and the presence of good hotels and beach infrastructure does not allow you to forget about the benefits of civilization. In addition, Phu Quoc is famous as a diving center - the largest diving school in Vietnam operates here, and the prices for equipment and instructor services are among the lowest in the world.

7. Maldives

The resorts of the Maldives are one of the most fashionable in all of Asia, because the dream of a paradise vacation is realized here. Blue lagoons, white sandy beaches, clear blue skies, comfortable villas and tropical fruits - what else do you need for a carefree vacation? If you get tired of relaxing on the beach or in a hammock, you can go canoeing or catamarans, water skiing or yachting, snorkeling or diving.

8. Bali, Indonesia

While the beaches in Bali are not the best in Southeast Asia, they are ideal for those looking to surf or kite. The island also offers all the conditions for relaxation in numerous spa hotels in an atmosphere of tranquility and exoticism. It is worth visiting this Indonesian resort to enjoy the combination of culture, religion, art and tropical nature.

9. Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is another Thai island in addition to Phuket, loved by tourists. Accommodation for every taste, beaches with fine sand, picturesque bays, Buddhist temples, low prices for goods and services - this is the recipe for the popularity of Samui. The highlight of the island is the ability to rent a bungalow right on the beach.

For a European person, Asia is a fabulous and mysterious side of the World. People come here for impressions, for new knowledge, for answers to unsolvable riddles. And also to the warm sea or ocean, for exotic entertainment and culinary delights.

Asia begins just behind the Bosphorus. Turkey is a well-known country for the mass tourist. Unfortunately, few people perceive the countries of Central Asia as a vacation option. Of the distant countries, Thailand is best known, but Cambodia or Vietnam are rarely considered as the final destination of a flight to the sea.

One of the most important attractions of traveling to Asia is food and accommodation prices. They are extremely attractive and able to inspire tourists with the most modest budgets. Despite the long and expensive flight. In return, traveling to Asia gives the tourist the opportunity to save on housing and food so much that the high cost of the flight will not look so hopeless.

How to make your visit to an Asian country informal, exclusive and inexpensive? Which countries give a chance to tourists with a small wallet? What can you see, where to visit? We have dedicated this article to the answers to these important questions.

Turkey: an all-inclusive country

Tourists love the resorts of Turkey for their low cost of living, inexpensive food and fun entertainment. The abundance of ancient ruins, the secular nature of the state (all Muslim attractions are available for tourists), sandy beaches and the opportunity to relax on an all-inclusive basis are the main attractions for the mass tourist. One cannot but add the command of the hotel and restaurant staff in Russian, which makes resort life easier for our travelers.

The Hagia Sophia Museum - a symbol of the "golden age" of Byzantium, is located in the historical center of Istanbul.

Independent travel to the resorts of Turkey is associated with many troubles. But as a result, the tourist pays more than the average tour offered by tour operators - 200 euros / week. So much is the trip alone, meals - breakfast only, accommodation in a 3 * hotel, out of season.

An independent flight to Antalya and back will cost the same two hundred euros (the cheapest in the PEGASUS company). Accommodation in a modest hotel - from 13 euros / day (91 euros / week) for a double room with breakfast.

Lunch in a modest restaurant will not cost more than 6-7 euros per person. If you eat on your own (many hotels have kitchens), then the daily consumption of food will not exceed 5-6 euros. In this case, it is better to make purchases in bazaars, and in supermarkets to buy only dairy products and semi-finished products.

Excursions to any place interesting for tourists can be bought at tourist kiosks (by no means from street vendors!). A one-day tour to Ephesus or Didim with lunch included will cost about fifty euros per person.

Uzbekistan: the star of the East

A well-known country from Soviet times, today it is perhaps the most developed and pleasant country for tourists in the Central Asian region. If the capital - Tashkent - is not very interesting for travelers, then Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand are able to satisfy the taste of the most sophisticated traveler, not to mention the novice tourist. Ancient mosques, mausoleums, palaces of emirs, endless bazaars, delicious cuisine and a warm climate - what else does a traveler need?

Registan Square in Samarkand.

If you eat in numerous national street restaurants or coffee houses, then lunch will cost you no more than 4-5 euros. The fees for visiting attractions and museums are so low that you can hardly spend more than 5 euros in a week, visiting two or three places daily.

There is a very strict police force in Uzbekistan, tourists here feel protected and protected. It should also be added that all the stories about the incredible hospitality of the Uzbeks are true! You will certainly have a lot of friends.

The climate is hot here, especially in summer. Therefore, for a visit, it is better to choose spring or autumn, when the temperature does not break records and you can not only sunbathe well, but also enjoy admiring mosques, medieval quarters, abundant bazaars and green gardens.

Flight from Moscow to Samarkand and back - 400 euros (UTair is the cheapest). Accommodation - from 21 euros / day (for two people in a guest house near the historic center), breakfast - 3 euros.

India: home of Buddha

One of the most exotic and rich in cultural monuments countries in the world. It is interesting here both in big cities and in small villages. People often come here just to live and observe the life of people who neglect earthly blessings. On the other hand, many tourists are shocked by a visit to this country, the worldview of Indians and Europeans is so different.

Bengal tiger in one of the national parks of India.

The sights of India are so numerous and varied that it is difficult to choose the ten or twenty most outstanding ones. Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, ancient palaces and fortresses, the sacred Ganges and national parks with rhinos and tigers are hard to list.

India will be interesting for lovers of antiquity, admirers of natural beauty, seekers of the meaning of life and those who prefer a serene pastime on the beach. To save on transport, it is best to rent a scooter during the visit, it costs 50 euros / week. The vast majority of attractions are free. But to museums and cultural centers, entrance fees can cost up to 10 euros.

You can eat at street stalls (if your stomach is healthy and you can tolerate spices easily) - a huge portion of a vegetarian dish of rice and vegetables - less than 1 euro. If you prefer moderately spicy European cuisine, then lunch at a restaurant will cost from 7 euros per person.

Visa to India for tourists costs 60 US dollars. You can arrange it on the Internet.

Flight from Moscow to Mumbai and back outside the season (April-September) - 415 euros (Turkish Airlines).

Housing in India is very cheap, but if you want to live in a room without beetles, but with air conditioning, you will have to pay from 10 euros per day (double room in city hotels of 2-3 * level).

Vietnam: a small country with great opportunities

Vietnam is not often seen as a holiday destination by budget travelers. Completely in vain! Holidays in this picturesque and hospitable country are cheaper than in vaunted Thailand.

Russians can spend two weeks in Vietnam annually without a visa. The country offers tourists not only perfectly clean beaches and a warm, transparent sea, but also many of the most unexpected cultural and historical monuments, a kind of cuisine, a good-natured and smiling local population. And also in Vietnam, unusually low prices for food and accommodation in a hotel or guest house.

Flight from Moscow to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh and back - from 424 euros (offer from Emirates).

Double room in a modest but clean and modern hotel - from 8 euros / day.

Halong Bay, Hoi An, Mui Ne, Nha Trang - the names of the most attractive resort places in Vietnam say little to the budget tourist. Behind them are unusually beautiful places, cozy restaurants, comfortable hotels, distinctive festivals, green parks and Buddhist pagodas.

Long Son Pagoda (Nha Trang).

Eating in street cafes and eateries, you can easily meet 6-8 euros per day. Lunch at an expensive restaurant - 12-15 euros. Fruit in the land of victorious socialism is so cheap that many tourists switch to a fruit diet and spend no more than three or four euros per day on food. Transportation costs can be easily kept to a minimum by renting a bike at € 30 / week.

Visiting attractions in organized groups, accompanied by a guide - from 35 euros for a day trip, including meals. Country tour (5 days) - 180-220 euros.

There is virtually no street crime in Vietnam. The security level here is very high and the police work very efficiently.

Entrance to a beach party or a nightclub - from 2 euros.

Similar prices, entertainment and attractions in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos. But air tickets to these countries will cost no less than 500 euros. In Sri Lanka, Nepal, and in China, a budget tourist will also feel confident and carefree.

Each of these countries has a lot of exotic entertainment, inexpensive accommodation and delicious food. The main thing is to visit these countries not during the high tourist season, but to book tickets and hotels no later than six months in advance.

Southwest Asia includes the states of the Near and Middle East with an ancient history and a predominantly Muslim culture. An exception is Israel - a country of immigration and widespread Judaism with its shrines. Historically, the city of Jerusalem is currently located on the territory of Israel, in which the shrines of three religions are located: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. This, on the one hand, attracts a large number of tourists, partly pilgrims, and on the other, it creates the basis for constant conflicts, which also affects the scale of tourism.

In the countries of this zone, tourists are attracted by the warm sea (especially the Mediterranean, washing the shores of Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Israel), and the subtropical climate. Fans of educational tourism are attracted by ancient cities or their ruins, numerous cities with their historical and cultural heritage - Istanbul (Turkey), Amman (Jordan), the ancient cities of Lebanon Baalbek, Sayda, as well as the organized tourist center Beirut, Nicosia (Cyprus), Iranian cities Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Hamadan, etc.

Individual countries of the Arab East, as well as Turkey, attract many "shuttle traders" - participants in shopping tours. Afghanistan has interesting tourist opportunities, but the events of recent decades make it impossible to use them. The following tourist macro-regions are present in South-West Asia: Cyprus and Turkey, Palestine, Arab states (Middle East), and the Middle East.

Cyprus is a state located on the island of the same name in the northeastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus first gained independence in 1960, but in 1974 Turkish troops landed on the island. After that, the northern territory of the country was ceded to Turkey. There are no diplomatic relations between the Greek and Turkish parts. The Turkish part is closed for entry from the Greek side.

The territory of the Greek part of the island (Republic of Cyprus) is 5.9 thousand square meters. km, the Turkish part (Northern Cyprus) - 3.35 thousand sq. km. The coast of the island in the northern part is indented and rocky, the south of the island is flat, with long sandy beaches. In the center and in the south-west of the island is the vast old volcanic Troodos massif (the highest point is Mount Olympos, 1951 m). The vast and fertile Mesaoria valley stretches between the mountains.

In ancient times, Cyprus was the center of Mediterranean trade, which led to the mixing of cultural monuments of all European civilizations on its land. The capital of the country is Nicosia with the Center for Applied Arts located there, the Archbishop's Square with the Archbishop's Palace, the Gate of Ammochostos and the Statue of Liberty, the archaeological museum, the Venetian walls (XVI century) with the Gate of Famagusta and the ring of the Municipal Park outside, the Church of Chrysaliniotissa, built by the mosque of Oumerijemerie, , the churches of Tripiotis and Faneromeni, the Cathedral of St. John, built in 1662.

Limassol It is best known for its beaches, medieval museum, old castles and winemaking. Monuments Larnaca are the Larnaca Fortress (1625); Jami Kebir Mosque; church of ev. Lazarus; Laiki Getonya (one of the old quarters); the Church of Angeloktistos; the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque (1816), one of the main Muslim shrines (since Umm Haram, the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad is buried here); aqueduct (used for its intended purpose until 1939); catholic cathedral of ev. Sofia (XIII century); Archaeological Museum; royal chapel of ev. Katerina.

Within the resort Pathos interesting are the Port Fortress, the Paphos Mosaics, included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Register, Panaya Limeniotissa, the Odeon Theater, the catacombs of St. Solomon, the Royal Tombs, the Church of Chrysopolitessa and the Column of s. Paul, "House of Theseus", "Villa

Dionysus ”, the beach of Aphrodite, the Bay of Kureniya, the ancient Roman city of Curium with its Greco-Roman theater, the Kolossi castle. The monuments of ancient culture in Salamis are the tomb of St. Catherine, the Costello castle in Famagusta, the Gothic cathedral of St. Nicholas.

Sea resorts Cyprus are Limassol, Protaras, Lara Beach with a sea turtle breeding station, Latchi, Cape Greco, Polis, numerous beach resort complexes on the southwest coast. The Troodos mountain range, where the summer residence of the President of Cyprus is located, provides opportunities for mountain tourism.

Turkey is a state in the southeast of Europe and Western Asia, with a total area of 780.6 thousand square meters. km and a population of 80 million people. Capital - Ankara. In the northwest it borders on Bulgaria and Greece, in the northeast - with Georgia and Armenia, in the east - with Iran, in the south - with Iraq and Syria. In the north it is washed by the Black and Marmara Seas, in the south - by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west - by the Aegean Sea. The European part of Turkey (Eastern Thrace, or Roumelia) is a hilly plateau about 1000 m above sea level. The Asian part (Asia Minor, or Anatolia) is bounded by the mountain ranges of the Pontic Mountains in the north and the Taurus system in the south, between which the Anatolian Highlands are located (average elevation up to 1000 m), with river valleys and cones of extinct volcanoes in the east.

Turkey attracts recreational tourists: the coastal regions (along the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, Black Seas) are known for their favorable conditions (warm sea, subtropical climate), which contributed to the emergence of the famous resorts of Antalya, Alanya, Kemer, Belek, Side, Izmir, Marmaris and others (fig.9.1). There are resorts in the interior of Turkey, famous for their mineral springs. For example, springs near the city of Bursa were used by the Byzantines. Lovers of winter recreation are attracted by the modern ski resorts of Palandoken, Uludag, etc.

But, of course, Turkey is also famous for its historical and cultural values. Many of them are concentrated on the shore

Symbols Excursion centers ^ Ski resorts A Sea resorts

The boundaries of the tourist

recreational areas

Tourist and recreational

1 Sea of Marmara Region
2 Aegean region
3 Mediterranean Sea Region
4 Central Anatolia
5 Black Sea Region
6 Eastern Anatolia
7 Southeast Anatolia

Rice. 9.1. Tourist and recreational centers in Turkey

Chapter 9. International tourism in Asia

the Bosphorus in Istanbul(in the past - the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople, in ancient Russian documents - Constantinople). The transformation of an Orthodox Byzantine city into a Muslim city changed its appearance: Orthodox churches turned into mosques. There are many of them, therefore, there are also many minarets. The most famous temple is the outstanding work of Byzantine architecture, Hagia Sophia. There are also museums in Istanbul, including archaeological (with the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great), antiquity, conquerors, Muslim art, etc., the church of St. Irina, the choral monastery church, the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, mosques - Ahmed (Blue Mosque), Mikrimakhi, Selim the Conqueror, Bayazid, Suleiman, Eyyup, underground palaces-reservoirs, the remains of a Byzantine fortress. In the XX century. Istanbul is largely Europeanized.

Other centers of educational tourism in Turkey: the capital Ankara(where ancient buildings and the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey Ataturk (Kemal Pasha) are located; Homer's homeland Izmir, which is famous for antiquities and annual fairs; Bursa, Adana, Erzurum with their ancient monuments and numerous mosques. Aspendos is a city created by colonists after the Trojan War , in which there are many beautiful buildings, including the theater-palace of the architect Zeno (II century) and the Roman arched aqueduct; Mira - the ancient capital of Lycia, "the country of light rays", famous for its necropolis, carved into the rocks, as well as the church of St. Nicholas, a place of pilgrimage for Christians.There are many nature reserves in the country - Olympos-Beydaglari, Munzur-Vadisi, Köprülü Canyon, etc.

Most of Turkey is made up of plateaus and low mountains, which in the east of the country turn into highlands. There is located the Ararat massif, sacred to Armenians (but located after the First World War on the territory of Turkey), where, according to the biblical tradition, Noah completed his journey, the large and picturesque Lake Van. So in the east of Turkey there are many elements of natural attraction ™. However, so far this undoubtedly potentially resort area has been little developed.

Palestine. This macro-region includes the state of Israel, inhabited mainly by Jews (indigenous people and immigrants), and Arab territories that have been fighting for the creation of an Arab Palestinian state for many decades.

The territory of Palestine has seen many historical events in its lifetime. Suffice it to say that the very first city in the world was discovered in the Jordan Valley - Jericho ("the city of dates"), which is seven thousand years old.

Jerusalem, the city of three historical denominations (Jewish, Christian and Muslim) attracts the largest number of tourists. Among the historical and cultural monuments, it is enough to name the Jewish Wailing Wall, Christian shrines - the chapel of the Holy Sepulcher, Golgotha, where Christ was crucified, the rock where he prayed (and many more places associated with evangelical subjects). According to Islam, the Muslim prophet Muhammad later ascended to heaven from the rock where Christ prayed (the mosque of Omar was built here). It is no coincidence that during the division of Palestine after World War II, the UN decided on a special status for Jerusalem, which is historically divided into the Old and New City.

South of Jerusalem is located Bethlehem, over which, according to legend, a star was lit when Jesus Christ was born. A grandiose temple was built here.

Tel Aviv- the capital of Israel (although the country's leadership considers Jerusalem as the capital, which is not recognized by most countries in the world) with its Museum of Mediterranean Art "Haaretz", an art gallery. Among the streets of Tel Aviv there are streets Korolenko, Zola, etc. Jaffa, in contrast to the young Tel Aviv, dating back several centuries of its existence. In this city you can walk along the streets of Pushkin, Pestalozzi, Michelangelo, Gorky, Ozheshko, Dante.

In the area of cities Haifa and Natanya on the Mediterranean coast, as well as in the Eilat region in the Arabian Gulf of the Red Sea, there are seaside resorts. There are resorts on the coast of the Dead Sea located below ocean level, the very high salinity of the waters of which allows swimmers to freely float on the water. A corresponding infrastructure has been created for tourists in Israel.

The Arab countries of Southwest Asia include almost the entire area, with the exception of Palestine, Israel and the Middle East. In essence, we are talking about the Middle East or most of Western Asia (from Lebanon in the northwest to Yemen in the southeast). All these are Muslim Arab states.

With the exception of some outskirts - Mediterranean Lebanon and partly Syria in the northwest and "happy Arabia" (southern Yemen) on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula - all countries in the region are arid desert and semi-desert territories. Therefore, civilization developed only where it was possible to create irrigation systems at the expense of rivers (as in Mesopotamia) or groundwater - in oases. From the middle of the XX century. oil is extracted in many countries of the region, which leads to the formation of oases on an "industrial basis" due to the supply of water from deep horizons or desalination of seawater. In the course of these processes, a modern civilization is formed with all its pluses and minuses. In particular, the centers of this new civilization attract a large number of shuttle tourists from the CIS countries to the countries of the region. In some states of the region, modern sea resorts appear on the shores of the seas. There are also mountain resorts in the cities of Lebanon. All this serves the development of recreational tourism.

Almost in all countries of the macroregion there are many historical and cultural attractions - monuments of distant millennia and centuries. So, on the territory Lebanon located one of the earliest human settlements - Baalbek, where the ruins of religious buildings dedicated to Jupiter, statues, sculptural images of Venus, Bacchus, rows of columns and sculptures, stairs are preserved. One of the oldest settlements in Lebanon is the city of Sayda. The very same capital of the country - Beirut - along with the old quarters, is distinguished by quite modern buildings, corresponding to the role of Beirut as a center of finance and culture.

IN Syria The ancient cities of Palmyra and Aleppo with their monuments of Hellenistic art are of great interest to tourists. The capital of the country, Damascus, attracts with objects of Muslim culture, among which one of the most famous shrines of Islam is the Omayyad Mosque.

Muslim architecture is typical for most areas of the capital Iraq- Baghdad. The Nazimiya Mosque, or the Golden Mosque, is very famous, decorated with four minarets with gilded domes (which is a rarity in such structures). The city has many modern buildings and monuments stylized in the spirit of Muslim traditions. Away from the capital, located on the banks of the Tigris River, are the ruins of ancient cities, including Babylon. There are in Iraq (in the north and north-east of the country) and summer alpine resorts. Despite the undoubted tourist attraction of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, the flow of tourists to these countries is limited due to political instability.

Others are much less interesting for educational tourism. Arab countries of the Middle East: Jordan, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain. In these countries, whose economies are based on oil production (Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates), modern cities attract attention.

Saudi Arabia occupies a special place among the countries of the Middle East. It is on its territory that the main places of pilgrimage for Muslims are located - the holy cities of Mecca (with the black stone Kaaba) and Medina, cities associated with the activities of the Prophet Muhammad and the birth of Islam. Hundreds of thousands, and in some years millions of Muslims from all over the world come here as pilgrims. The pilgrimage (hajj) brings huge profits to the country, and the pilgrims "attach" themselves to eternal life in paradise. On the Red Sea coast of the country is the city of Jeddah, through which thousands of pilgrims go. There are also several historical monuments, among which, according to legend, the grave of the first woman Eve.

Saudi Arabia covers an area of 1.6 - 2.4 million square meters. km (according to various sources). The population of the country is over 18 million people, the capital Riyadh.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)- a country with an area of 83.6 thousand square meters. km and a population of more than 2 million people - this is a bright sun 360 days a year and a warm clear sea, landscapes of the desert with oases and zones of red sands, wadis (dry river estuaries) and dunes, peaks of the Al Hajars massif, numerous key lakes of volcanic origin and color palette of stones.

The coral reefs of Kor Fakan are famous for the flora and fauna of the underwater world, and the coast of the Persian Gulf is famous for its golden sands and exceptional water clarity. Hotels on the seashore offer tourists swimming pools and comfortable hotel beaches, equipped with everything you need.

The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi. In the city of Dubai there are ancient Arab buildings of the Bastakiya district, the Dubai Historical Museum (Al Fahidi Fort), the Jumeirah Mosque, Sheikh Said Palace, the Historical Village Museum, the Dubai Zoo - the best in the Middle East, Wonderland - one of the largest water parks in Asia. Once a year, Dubai hosts the world's largest shopping festival, attracting over 2 million visitors. Dubai Hotel "Arab Tower" (Burj al-Arab) is the world's tallest hotel (height 321 m). Hatta is a mountain resort that belongs to the emirate Dubai, located in the center of the Hajar mountain range and is a picturesque place surrounded by palm trees, transparent lakes and small farms.

In the city of Ajman there is a museum, which is located in a fort built at the end of the 18th century, and until the end of the 1970s. which is the residence of the emir. Its exposition includes a collection of archaeological finds, ancient manuscripts, weapons, reconstructed traditional Arab rooms and a market.

Emirate Ras el-Khaimah represented by ancient cities (Yulfar - a flourishing pearl trading center in the past, Digdagh - the largest old city of Ras al-Khaimah), hot springs of the Hatts, the emirate museum (a huge military fort) with traditional household items, jewelry, archaeological finds, the oldest of which dates back to the 1st millennium BC.

In the emirate Umm al-Quwain("Source of strength") are located: Falaj Al Muala - a huge date garden, surrounded by high dunes; water park "Dreamland" with an artificial volcano 18 m high with an imitation of fire, lighting effects, numerous water attractions; Fujairah city with sandy beaches and mountain headlands is one of the best snorkeling spots.

Mereja, the "museum treasury of the UAE", is the oldest district of the emirate Sharjah where are located: one of the largest in the Middle East, the King Faisal Mosque, which can accommodate up to 3000 worshipers; numerous museums and exhibitions, beaches of Khalid lagoon. New, but already popular entertainment in the UAE - skiing on the sand, rallying by car in the desert.

The countries of the Middle East are Iran and Afghanistan.

Iran- a country of diverse nature and ancient history. Nature lovers will find in Iran the seas and rivers, plains (low and elevated) and high Elbrus mountains with the main peak Demavend (in the north of the country), various forests, dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, healing mineral springs and curative mud. In Iran, there are many monuments of Muslim culture (civil and religious buildings) - in the capital Tehran, the cities of Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Qazvin, etc. At present, due to the difficult international situation of Iran (largely due to its isolation), the flow of tourists to the country very limited.

Afghanistan - a multinational mountainous country where military operations have been going on for many years. Therefore, and also because of the very low level of development of tourist infrastructure, the harsh, but impressive nature of Afghanistan, and its historical and cultural sites located in the capital of Kabul, the cities of Herat, Kandahar, etc. remain unclaimed. One of the most famous tourism objects throughout Asia - Biamin. In this depression, located in the central part of the country at an altitude of more than 2 thousand meters, there are rocks dug by hundreds of caves, and in the rocks there are two carved 50-meter statues of Buddha. The Shahar-i-Gulgula fortress is located on the hill. The possibilities of the winter resort of Jalalabad, hunting and observing local ritual holidays are not in demand either.

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Region Southeast Asia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The reason for this is the winter seasonality, unique exotic nature, a combination of skyscrapers and urbanization with white beaches and azure sea, where you can escape in the middle of our winter bad weather. A big plus is a wide selection of the cost of tours from democratic reed bungalows to luxurious hotel complexes with a worldwide reputation.

Ready to dive headlong into the exotic? Then go ahead!