Piraeus is the gateway to Athens, the "Cradle of Western Civilization," famed for its lasting cultural and political influence. Driven by tourism and the 2004 Olympics, Greece has redeveloped many sites. Athens remains a historian's delight, with the Acropolis, Parthenon, Plaka's winding streets, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Archaeological Museum's renowned ancient artifacts.

Located on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el-Sheikh is near the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Horeb, traditionally identified with Mount Sinai, where Moses is said to have seen the Burning Bush and received the Ten Commandments. Pilgrims have visited since the 5th century, and hundreds arrive daily. It is also a major Red Sea diving and snorkeling destination.

Aqaba, in southwestern Jordan, is Jordan's only seaport and the gateway to Petra. Petra dates back to perhaps 7000 BC, was one of the earliest farming communities in the Middle East, and was built from solid red rock with intricate carvings. Once the capital of the Nabataean civilization, it stretched from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Enter through a half-mile chasm and see the magnificent Treasury.

Aqaba, in southwestern Jordan, is Jordan's only seaport and the gateway to Petra. Petra dates back to perhaps 7000 BC, was one of the earliest farming communities in the Middle East, and was built from solid red rock with intricate carvings. Once the capital of the Nabataean civilization, it stretched from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Enter through a half-mile chasm and see the magnificent Treasury.

Cross the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, including Tutankhamen's tomb and Hatshepsut's mortuary temple. Take a jeep safari into the desert to a Bedouin settlement for sweet tea and flatbread, and watch the sunset over the sands. Shop for hand-painted papyrus, mother-of-pearl boxes, alabaster trinkets, jewelry, and ancient-style replicas. Enjoy lamb, falafel, and other Middle Eastern and Egyptian specialties.

Cross the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, including Tutankhamen's tomb and Hatshepsut's mortuary temple. Take a jeep safari into the desert to a Bedouin settlement for sweet tea and flatbread, and watch the sunset over the sands. Shop for hand-painted papyrus, mother-of-pearl boxes, alabaster trinkets, jewelry, and ancient-style replicas. Enjoy lamb, falafel, and other Middle Eastern and Egyptian specialties.

Archaeological finds show 5,000 years of civilization in Jeddah, whose mix of old and new makes Saudi Arabia's "bride of the Red Sea" so appealing. Explore Al Balad's narrow medieval alleys, built from Red Sea coral blocks. Browse the bustling Souq Al Alawi, the kingdom's largest bazaar. Stroll the Corniche past green landscaping, cafes, piers, and King Fahd's Fountain, then try kabsa, Saudi Arabia's national dish.

Archaeological finds show 5,000 years of civilization in Jeddah, whose mix of old and new makes Saudi Arabia's "bride of the Red Sea" so appealing. Explore Al Balad's narrow medieval alleys, built from Red Sea coral blocks. Browse the bustling Souq Al Alawi, the kingdom's largest bazaar. Stroll the Corniche past green landscaping, cafes, piers, and King Fahd's Fountain, then try kabsa, Saudi Arabia's national dish.

Muscat is the capital of Oman, a sovereign country. Muscat has been important since the 6th century BC, when Persians controlled the port. It was under Portuguese domination from 1508 to 1650, and subsequently the Iranians gained control of the city. Muscat became the capital of independent Muscat and Oman in 1741- the country's name was changed to just Oman in 1970. Muscat offers a number of exciting excursions including dolphin watching and off-road desert adventures.

The 1958 discovery of oil transformed Abu Dhabi from a rural backwater into a modern metropolis with one of the world's highest per-capita incomes. Today it features skyscrapers, malls, luxury hotels, tree-lined boulevards, and gardens, while retaining an Arabian mystique. Cruise the Gulf and nearby islands on a traditional dhow, visit Heritage Village to see traditional crafts, or browse the souk for gold and Bedouin silver jewelry.

A most remarkable, and unexpected, haven for Arabia's endangered wildlife. Roughly half of this ancient island is the Arabian Wildlife Park - founded by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, first president of the UAE - home to 17,000 free-roaming animals, including Arabian oryx, gazelles, giraffes, hyenas and cheetahs. Sir Bani Yas also features the only pre-Islamic Christian site to be found in the UAE, a 7th-century monastery abandoned in 750 AD and rediscovered in 1992.

Located in the northeast United Arab Emirates, bustling Dubai attracts visitors with its international facilities and exotic, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle. Known as the Hong Kong of Arabia, Dubai's modern duty-free shopping malls and traditional souks offer some of the best bargains in the world on such luxury items as gold jewelry and designer creations. For a more historic outing, visitors can explore the museum at Al Fahidi Fort or venture out into the Old Quarter of Bastakia.