HOW TO PACK FOR THE MIDDLE EAST
For both of my trips to the Middle East, I found myself endlessly scrolling Pinterest and page after page of Google to find a little guidance on what should and should not be in my suitcase! It's a little daunting because in most situations when you're packing for warm and desert type weather, you opt for less clothing! The key points : be conservative and more is always better!A huge part of travel is being respectful of the cultures you've visiting and immersing yourself in the location...also, in parts of the Middle East, it's the law!The basics are outside of the resorts, you should dress with moderate coverage including shoulders and knees. In some situations, you should cover all the way to your wrists and ankles. If visiting mosques, this should include head coverage as well. If you're going to swim in a public beach, be sure to pack pants and tops to swim in. Within the resorts, it is acceptable to sunbath in regular swimwear at the pool and beaches but I always opt for a more conservative coverup when walking around. For most desert safaris and tours, it is okay to where what is comfortable for warm weather -- I saw people in shorts and tank tops but I wore culottes and short sleeve tee with a scarf.When packing, I would say layers are key but often when I think of layers, it involves heavy and winter type items...this kind of layering is more lightweight pieces! I look for really thin (but not sheer!) blouses and tops...some of my favorites are from Rails! I also think having a few scarves are essential!
I love maxi type dresses for this travel because they are often pretty lightweight in nature. Shabby Apple makes some of the cutest (and modest!) dresses around! These are perfect for this type of travel. I also love a great midi skirt and the wide leg culottes, when its' appropriate. Also, the gals I traveled to Qatar with brought some lightweight leggings, which are perfect for wearing under midi skirts or even the culottes!
Don't forget comfortable walking shoes (but also remembering to keep covered) as well as sandals for the beach! It's also generally very warm in the Middle East so sunscreen is essential and I wouldn't go without a good pair of sunnies!
