31 days in Asia & United States Itinerary

With coastlines on two seas, Saudi Arabia boasts some of the world's top scuba diving locations. At the same time, it has tourist attractions of such cultural heft as Mecca and Medina, the most sacred destinations for Muslim travelers and pilgrims. When it comes to relaxation and recreation, a trip to Saudi Arabia opens a world of possibilities for outdoor adventures, which include desert excursions by horse or camel, mountain climbing, cycling, and camping under the starry sky. Think about beginning or ending your tour of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, a cosmopolitan center of commerce, shopping, and dining situated on the Red Sea coastline.

Underdeveloped and largely ignored by foreign visitors until the 1970s, Oman now represents one of the region's top vacation destinations, attracting tourists with its pretty beaches, impressive dunes, and friendly mountain villages. A tour of Oman allows travelers to discover a traditional Middle Eastern way of life, authentic cuisine, and thriving urban centers where centuries-old heritage meets every modern amenity under the sun. In a country of well-maintained roads, many visitors choose to drive from one city to the next, where a typical Oman itinerary will include World Heritage Sites, historic forts, modern beaches, and an eclectic dining scene.

Popular with tourists for its blend of ancient heritage and modern Arabian culture, the compact island country of Bahrain sits near the Persian Gulf's western shores and boasts a lively economy largely based on petroleum refining and international banking. Claiming to be the actual location of the biblical Garden of Eden, the country enjoys a tropical climate and offers a string of luxury beachfront resorts, appealing to some of the world's wealthiest vacationers. Budget travelers on holiday in Bahrain concentrate on the thriving food and arts scenes of capital Manama, known for having one of the world's largest mosques. From there, you'll have easy access to plenty of other popular activities, such as scuba diving, horse racing, pearl diving, and bird-watching.

Small in terms of land area but hugely rich in oil reserves, Kuwait sits in the middle of a region disputed by many would-be conquerors, each of whom has left an indelible mark over the ages. Expatriates make up nearly two thirds of Kuwait's population, drawn here by the thriving economy based almost entirely on petroleum exports. For casual travelers, a holiday in Kuwait means a chance to explore outstanding museums, sun-kissed beaches, and a lively restaurant scene serving authentic Arab cuisine. Less popular than some of the other oil-rich Gulf countries, Kuwait remains relatively unspoiled by mass tourism, though it boasts more than a fair share of extravagant shopping malls, picturesque marinas, and modern waterfront resorts.

More than the country of car-packed streets seen in TV shows and movies, the United States of America is a complex and diverse home to over 300 million people living in a wide range of landscapes and climates. From its big-city skyscrapers to its sprawling natural parks, the country's ''melting pot'' combines many ethnic groups that share a strong sense of national identity despite their cultural differences. A country of road trips and big blue skies, the United States harbors orderly cities filled with restaurants, parks, museums, and innumerable sightseeing opportunities, as well as pristine natural areas perfect for a holiday in the great outdoors. To see as much as you can of this diverse land quickly, drive over some of the more than 6 million km (4 million mi) of highways leading through deserts, mountain peaks, fertile fields, and giant urban centers.