9 Days Highlights of Bahrain

About the destination: Manama, located on the northeastern corner of the island, is the capital and largest city of Bahrain. Manama is a modern, fast moving city with high-rise buildings and a real authentic flair. Although the city is following the trend of the Gulf, the construction of skyscrapers, Manama has preserved a lot of its original atmosphere. Bahrain’s capital is an intriguing mix of old and new, excavated tombs from four thousand years ago lie a few short miles from modern skyscrapers. Manama Souq, full of multi-colored spices and exotic fruits, glittering jewels and luxurious silks, coexist with ultra-modern shopping complexes and top-notch restaurants and quiet coffee shops contrast with the best nightlife scene of the region. Manama has some interesting sites to see, including Al Fateh Mosque, Bahrain Fort, Bahrain National Museum, Barbar Temple, Corniche al-Fateh and the Museum of Pearl Diving, considered one of the most important historic buildings in Bahrain.

About the destination: Muharraq is Bahrain's third largest city. Adjacent to Muharraq are the man-made Amwaj Islands, known for their large buildings, hotels and beaches. The city is also known for its souq (traditional market) and as a home of traditional arts and music.

About the destination: The Kingdom of Bahrain is a Middle Eastern archipelago in the Persian Gulf, tucked into a pocket of the sea flanked by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It's an oasis of social liberalism – or at least Western-friendly moderation – among the Muslim countries of the region. It's popular with travelers for its authentic "Arabness" but without the strict application of Islamic law upon its non-Muslim minority. Although it has a heavily petroleum-based economy, its more relaxed culture has also made it a social and shopping mecca (so to speak), which has helped it develop a fairly cosmopolitan middle class not found in neighboring countries with just a rich elite and subsistence-level masses.