Middle East and North Africa

Navigating the Middle East and North Africa feels like stepping into a tapestry of ancient caravans and modern marvels. From Cairo's chaotic streets to Oman's serene wadis, smart transport choices keep your adventure smooth.

Start with low-cost carriers like EgyptAir or Flydubai for hopping between Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE—flights from Cairo to Amman often run EGP 2,000-4,000 (about $40-80 USD). For iconic routes, book a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan (around EGP 10,000 or $200 USD for 3 nights) to glide past pharaonic temples in air-conditioned comfort.

In cities, grab a Uber or Careem—reliable and cheaper than taxis; a ride across Dubai costs AED 30-50 ($8-14 USD). Jordan's JETT buses connect Amman to Petra for JOD 7 ($10 USD), but for flexibility, rent a car in Oman to explore Muscat's green meadows and coastal roads.

Desert treks? Join a 4x4 tour in Wadi Rum (JOD 60/person, $85 USD) for starlit Bedouin camps. Use the Hello app's trip planning feature to map multi-country itineraries, like Tel Aviv to Petra, and activate eSIM connectivity to stay online without roaming fees—perfect for real-time navigation in souks or remote oases. Track bus times or split desert jeep costs with companions via expense splitting. Pro tip: Travel early mornings in summer to beat the heat, especially at sites like Masada.

The aromas of cumin, mint, and slow-roasted lamb greet you at every turn in the Middle East and North Africa, where meals are shared feasts of history and hospitality.

In Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fna, haggle for tagine—tender lamb with prunes and almonds—for MAD 50-80 ($5-8 USD), served sizzling from clay pots. Egypt's street carts sling koshari, a carb-loaded mix of rice, lentils, and fried onions (EGP 20, under $1 USD), fueling pyramid climbs. Don't miss Jordan's mansaf, yogurt-marinated lamb on rice, a must in Petra's cave restaurants (JOD 10, $14 USD).

For sweets, snag kunafa in Dubai's souks (AED 15, $4 USD), gooey cheese pastry drenched in syrup. Oman's date palms yield sticky bint sahn, honeyed layered bread, paired with kahwa coffee.

Vegetarians, rejoice: Try Morocco's veggie harira soup or Lebanon's fattoush salad with crispy pita. Always wash hands before eating—local custom—and sample fresh juices like Oman's coconut-pineapple blends.

Dining with friends? Use Hello's expense splitting to divide that lavish Bahrain seafood spread (BHD 20/person, $53 USD). Budget tracking in local currencies helps monitor indulgences, ensuring more dirhams for that next mezze platter. Eat where locals do for authenticity, and pair with non-alcoholic mint tea toasts.

Middle East and North Africa pack millennia of wonders into sun-baked landscapes, from rose-red Petra to Morocco's labyrinthine medinas.

Petra, Jordan: Slip through the Siq gorge to the Treasury at dawn—entry JOD 50 (3 days, $70 USD), best with a local guide for Nabataean tales. Egypt's Giza Pyramids demand an early GEM museum visit (EGP 900, $18 USD combo ticket), then float in the Dead Sea's buoyant salts nearby.

Wander Jerusalem's Old City along the Via Dolorosa, free but immersive with holy sites like the Western Wall. Oman's Al-Ahsa Oasis offers lush palm groves and camel markets, while Bahrain's Al-Balad glows under evening lights—a UNESCO gem.

In Morocco, Chefchaouen's blue streets beg for photos, and Luxor's temples like Karnak stun as the world's largest religious complex.

Plan your hits with Hello's trip planning—layer in Nile cruises or Wadi Rum camps. Grab an eSIM for downloading offline maps to Ghadames' maze-like alleys in Libya or Riyadh's Kingdom Centre. These spots blend history and raw beauty; time visits for cooler seasons, and respect dress codes at mosques like Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed.

Cash and cards mingle in Middle East and North Africa, but preparation unlocks seamless spending from souks to luxury cruises.

Carry local currencies: Egyptian pounds (EGP), Jordanian dinars (JOD), Moroccan dirhams (MAD), UAE dirhams (AED)—ATMs are widespread in cities like Dubai or Cairo, dispensing fees around 20-50 local units ($1 USD). Haggle boldly in markets: Petra souvenirs drop 50% with charm.

Cards work at hotels and malls, but souks prefer cash. Budget JOD 100/day ($140 USD) for mid-range Jordan-Egypt combos, covering falafel (JOD 1) to Nile felucca rides (EGP 100/hour).

Track every dirham with Hello's budget tracking in local currencies—log that BHD 5 Bahrain coffee ($13 USD) or MAD 30 Marrakech tagine. Split bills effortlessly post-mansaf feast with companions.

eSIM connectivity dodges roaming shocks for app alerts on exchange rates. Pro tips: Exchange at airports sparingly (poor rates), use apps like XE for live conversions, and tip 10% at eateries—JOD 1-2 ($1-3 USD) delights servers. In remote spots like Oman's deserts, stock cash for Bedouin guides. Secure valuables in riads or cruises, and you're set for worry-free haggling in Al-Balad or Luxor.