Top 10 Travel Destinations From Saudi

One of the advantages to living in the Middle-East and Saudi-Arabia is the travel opportunities it opens. Many places become geographically closer for the expats coming from the Americas, Europe and Asia. Travel is also relatively affordable and there are direct flights and good flight connections from Saudi and the GCC countries. Many expat workers have 50+ annual leave days a year as benefits to use for travelling!

During my four years here I traveled to 15 different countries for a holiday directly from Riyadh. Some of them are worth mentioning so here goes: My top 10 places to travel to from Saudi-Arabia in no particular order:

1. Qatar

The reason I like Qatar so much is that it manages to keep its traditions alive without drowning in the commercial madness like neighbors Dubai and Bahrain. Qatar has almost a small town feel to it despite the emerging skyscrapers. Some of the ME best museums and cultural villages can be found here. The numerous souqs have been restored and wandering among them feels like stepping back in time. Qatar also has great restaurants and beaches for those in search of a beach holiday!

2. Maldives
The ultimate honeymoon and couples destination is easily reached with a 6 hour flight from Riyadh. Picture perfect beaches and world class diving await the visitors. Still on my bucket list!

3. Oman
IMHO the world's most hospitable people are the Omanis. I have never felt so welcomed and my every need and wish catered to than in Oman. Some examples of the Omani people's character: I traveled here alone so I felt a bit awkward at times as a female in an Arab country. However I was not harassed once! One time as I was collecting small pink seashells from the beach a group of young Omani boys came to help me. After we had gathered a large amount I thanked them and  being accustomed to the thought of little boys only doing such arduous jobs for money thought to myself, they surely want to get paid now! As I was handing over some cash for them to go buy ice cream they all firmly refused. I was insisting but they declined and smiled and told me it was a gift. I thought it was the perfect example how Omanis don't see tourists as only walking money machines but as honored guests to their beautiful country.
Oman has many places worth seeing, the capital Muscat has a mystical feel to it and it's nothing like the other busy, crowded and materialistic GCC countries. The country is full of interesting historical sites and amazing landscapes. Oman is one of the few places in the world where tourists can be 100% sure to be able to watch sea turtles come to shore to lay their eggs. Beach destination Salalah is worth a mention as well.

4. Sri Lanka

Easy and cheap to reach from Riyadh with a direct flight, Sri Lanka is an enchanting little island in the Indian Ocean. A nice combination of nature, culture and people, Sri Lanka has surprisingly many options for the traveler despite its small size. The magnificent tea farms and majestic mountains make for wonderful trekking opportunities! There are palaces and temples to explore, traditional dances to see, delicious spicy food to enjoy and bustling little cities and towns waiting to be explored. And of course some pretty amazing beaches!

5. Jordan

Very easily reachable from Saudi even for an extended weekend, Jordan is an absolute must see destination! From Amman the Dead Sea is quick to reach and the spas dotted along its coast are just divine! We stayed at Movenpick and loved the tranquil atmosphere.
The world famous tombs of the Nabatean people can be seen in Petra. This place is crowded with tourists year round and its best to book early for peak seasons. The ancient site is surrounded by the most strangely shaped beautifully colored mountains. Jordan has plenty of other historical sites and a beach destination Aqaba as well.

6. Hong Kong
The dynamic Hong Kong has something for everyone! Worth a visit on its own but also great for a stop-over when continuing further east.

7. Tanzania

 The best safari experience I had so far has been in Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater. Especially during the great migration this place is truly magical! A visit to Tanzania would not be complete without seeing Zanzibar, the Spice Island! One of those few places left where the only people on the beach besides you are the local fishermen. Amazing diving!

8. Kuwait
Saudi-Arabia's tiny little neighbor is greatly under valued as a tourist destination. Only an hour flight away from Riyadh, Kuwait is definitely worth a weekend trip and great for a quick getaway from Saudi. Personally I like the vibe here more than for example Dubai. Read more about Kuwait here: http://blueabaya.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-saudi-arabia-could-learn-from.html

9. Malaysia
Very popular among Saudi tourists, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi are the best know destinations in Malaysia. But this country has so much more to offer! Diving, trekking, history, rain forests, wildlife, architecture, shopping..Malaysians are known for their courtesy and fabulous food! My absolute favorite place in Malaysia is the tiny island of Perhentian Kecil!

10. Turkey
Particularly Istanbul! Check out my pictures from Istanbul to understand why it's worth a visit! http://blueabaya.blogspot.com/2011/10/incredible-istanbul.html

Now I've caught the travel bug!! What places would you add to the list?

P.S. Apologies for poor quality of the images, all my travel photos were destroyed after my computer crash last year so these are only copies from my Facebook files.