Seeking out a sunny and adventurous destination for October half-term break? Look no further than the Middle East.
For most parts of the Middle East region, autumn is prime shoulder season with mild weather bringing about fantastic exploring opportunities. It’s our favourite time of year for getting into the great outdoors. As many schools in the region – and in the Northern Hemisphere – stagger the timing of their half-term break, crowds tend not to be an issue even in the most popular sites.
Here we are picking out our top 4 destinations to enjoy for a week in October, but the list is honestly limitless!
Take a deep dive into all our favourite destinations and see what’s on offer for family travellers who like to take unique, educational, and adventurous trips with their kids!
Top 4 Middle East Destinations in Autumn
Cruise down the Nile in Egypt
Expected Climate in October: Daytime temperatures in Luxor average around 37°C at the start of the month, dropping to 32°C by month-end.
Why you’ll love it in October: The cooler daytime temperatures make exploring with little ones in tow easier, but you will also miss the peak crowds that come over the coolest winter months. It will still be warm enough that a refreshing dip in a pool will be a welcome retreat after a long day of exploring.
A side trip to Hurghada on the Red Sea would also still be very pleasant in October.
See all the best times to visit Egypt here.
Itinerary & highlights: A Nile Cruise will take you from Luxor to Aswan, or vice versa, over 3/4 days, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way.
Some of the highlights you won’t want to miss with the kids include Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the east bank of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on the West Bank.
In Aswan, you can extend your trip to Abu Simbel or enjoy nearby the Aswan High Dam, sail on a felucca to Elephantine Island and visit the Temple of Philae.
Your family holiday to Egypt will most likely start or end though in Cairo, where you can spend a few days before or after your Nile cruise exploring the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum. You will then need to transit by train or plane to your cruise starting point, which can be an experience.
See our complete guide to visiting Egypt with Kids here
Lose yourself in the lost cities of Jordan
Expected Climate in October: The capital Amman cools from around 32°C at the start of the month to 24°C. Expect slightly higher temperatures at the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, and Petra. Or floating with your book in the Dead Sea, of course.
Why you’ll love it in October: Cooler daytime temperatures make it perfect for hefty days of outdoor exploration. It is still warm enough though, at the seaside resort towns to make diving or snorkelling pleasant without full bodysuits.
The slightly cooler days show off the desert at its best, too, when overnight temperatures are still pleasant.
See all the best times to visit Jordan here.
Itinerary & Highlights: The three biggies that everyone visiting Jordan shouldn’t miss are exploring the Lost City of Petra, sleeping at a bedouin camp in the Wadi Rum desert reserve, and floating in the Dead Sea.
There are, of course, plenty of other important historical destinations in Jordan that you can fit into a full week; the country is quite easy to drive throughout in the space of 7 to 10 days.
We suggest you take our 5-day Jordan itinerary outlined here and add on a couple of days for visiting Tala Bay and the Red Sea in the south, plus a day to see the ancient Roman city of Jerash, just north of Amman.
See our complete guide to visiting Jordan with Kids here
Discover why Oman is the Middle East’s hidden gem
Photo Credit Joey from Flee Me A Trip
Expected Climate in October: Both Muscat and Nizwa (over the Hajar Mountains) have average October maximum temperatures from 35°C, down to 32°C. You will find several degrees cooler in the mountains and Jebel Shams.
Why you’ll love it in October: The perfect time of year to enjoy all parts of Oman. Unlike the spring, there is less chance of rain and flash flooding. The temperatures in autumn are mild enough for outdoor exploration, but a refreshing dip in a wadi can still be enjoyed.
See all the best times to visit Oman here.
Itinerary & highlights: Most start and end their trip in the capital Muscat. After exploring the capital’s highlights, it is easy to hire a car and cruise to the south coast, Bimah Sinkhole, and Ras Al Jinz, before winding your way back through Wahiba Sands, Nizwa, and onto the mountain tops of Jebel Shams before returning down to Sohar and the east coast.
We have a great guide here on how to capture the best highlights on an Oman road trip with kids.
If you are coming from Dubai, we have a detailed guide here on how to make the circular round trip to Muscat and the border crossing process between the UAE & Oman.
See our complete guide to visiting Oman with Kids here
Majestic mountains of Ras al Khaimah & the Musandam Peninsular
Expected Climate in October: It cools in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) from highs of 40°C+ at the start of the month to 35° by month-end. Musandam (Oman) is relatively cooler, with highs only in the low 30’s in October.
You will still experience hot, humid days languishing from summer at the start of the month. However, the mountains can bring a refreshing retreat, anything up to 10°C cooler than on the coast. Be mindful that visibility may not be at its best in autumn due to the humid fog that sits around the base of the mountains.
Why you’ll love it in October: Ras al Khaimah sits to the north of Dubai, only 1 hour away from DXB. It has so much to offer yet is too often overlooked for the shiny lights of Dubai.
We love it because it’s the perfect mix of relaxing beach resorts (often at a fraction of the cost of Dubai), with desert, mountains & local culture right on your doorstep.
Further to the north, following the Hajar Mountains, you will cross to the small Omani enclave of Musandam. Here you can experience one of the most epic trips of a lifetime. Traditional dhows navigate you around spectacular khors (fjords) that have helped earn this region the nickname “the Norway of Arabia”.
Dolphins will play with the boats, and you can enjoy swimming and snorkelling straight off your boat in one of the most serene outdoor settings in the world.
See all the best times to visit the UAE here.
Itinerary & highlights: Spend your first few days lapping in the sunshine at one of Ras al Khaimah’s glorious beach resorts. You can make day trips from here, including a trip up the mountains exploring Jebel Jais (and for the brave taking of the Jebel Jais Zipline). Add on some half-day tours taking in the historic Emirate’s cultural sites and exploring Suwaidi Pearl Farm and the mangroves around Al Rams.
Continue your journey to spend a night or two up in Khasab, the regional capital of Musandam (either on a boat or staying in one of the Atana resorts).
And finish your trip off with an amazing luxury retreat to the Ritz Carlton Al Wadi Desert to enjoy falconry, desert sports, and amazing Bedouin hospitality.
See our complete guide to visiting Ras al Khaimah in the UAE here
Travelling in autumn without kids?
If you are kid-free or not restricted (yet!) by school holiday dates, we suggest you take up these itinerary suggestions in early November. You will still get plenty of sunshine hours and very limited – if any – rain in these destinations; for the most part, water temperatures should still be warm enough to enjoy in November.
Most schools enjoy their holiday break somewhere over the last two weeks of October.
Before you go! Check out these handy Middle East guides:
- Is the Middle East “Safe” for Family Travellers?
- Power plugs & adaptors you will need for Middle East Travel
- Plan your travel year – UAE Holiday Calendar 2022-23
- UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Middle East
- Best Beaches from Muscat to remote Oman
- Short Getaways from Dubai – extend a Dubai trip or escape for a long weekend with these Middle East and Central Asia ideas.
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