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Salam Shaqdeeh, Intrepid’s basic supervisor for Egypt and Jordan, displays on the state of affairs within the Center East and the way travellers can assist communities throughout the area.
The continuing disaster within the Center East is really devastating. And globally, many people are feeling the impression.
Whereas many international locations within the area (also called SWANA – South West Asia and North Africa) and past should not instantly affected by the battle in Iran, worry and uncertainty usually journey sooner than info. A single information story can overshadow many years of stability and openness – and I’ve seen how difficult this may be for locations like Egypt and Jordan, the place I oversee Intrepid’s operations.
When headlines concentrate on geopolitics, surging gasoline costs and journey disruption, it’s straightforward to neglect the folks on the bottom, whose livelihoods rely upon whether or not guests select to come back – or not.
Intrepid has been operating journeys within the Center East for greater than twenty years, with over 100 employees and leaders and 7 native companions in Egypt and Jordan alone. Collectively, we’ve navigated intervals of instability earlier than – by prioritising the protection of our travellers, leaders and expertise suppliers and staying related to the communities who make our adventures so significant.
Egypt is open
We paused all Intrepid journeys in Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia on 4 March 2026 and resumed journeys in Egypt, given the low danger and unchanged journey advisories, a couple of month later.
Resuming our small-group journeys in Egypt after this pause was an amazing reduction, not just for me, however many others. One Intrepid chief in Egypt, Mohammed, informed me that welcoming his first group again felt like ‘turning the lights again on’ after a lot uncertainty. He’s been working with Intrepid for nearly a decade however for him and his colleagues, main journeys isn’t only a job – it’s about function and connection; it’s how they share their id and heritage with the world. On this area particularly, leaders play a significant function in translating tradition, historical past and day by day life in a approach that builds understanding. Additionally they foster belief, making travellers really feel protected and welcome whereas guaranteeing communities really feel revered.
And travellers are feeling it. Guests this month from the US, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and extra are telling us they’ve felt supported, cared for and deeply related to the folks they’ve met.
It’s an indication of what’s attainable for these international locations nonetheless ready to reopen. In Jordan, this sort of trade is significant for folks like Om Mohammad, a family-run enterprise proprietor from Petra, who, till latest weeks, often welcomed Intrepid teams into her dwelling to share a standard Jordanian meal. She just lately informed me, ‘When travellers don’t come, issues for us grow to be awkwardly silent.’ Like so many others, she depends on tourism to assist her household and supply training and healthcare for her youngsters. Listening to that places all the things into perspective.
Discovering hope in Jordan
I’m initially from Palestine however have lived and labored in Jordan for a few years. For me, Jordan is a spot of extraordinary generosity and heat. Dealing with battle because it unfolds in neighbouring international locations and in our skies isn’t straightforward. However we’re resilient – we’ve to be. There’s at all times hope, even in unsure instances.
With so few travellers on the bottom in Jordan recently, our Intrepid Basis companion in Amman, Ezwitti, was going through a problem. In the course of the holy month of Ramadan, the pay-it-forward restaurant’s founder, Mahmoud Nabulsi, had hoped to supply free meals for 7000 folks in want. However his not-for-profit depends on assist from worldwide guests, who’ve needed to postpone or cancel their journeys.
We’re resilient – we’ve to be. There’s at all times hope, even in unsure instances.
Fortuitously, he was ready to make use of among the AUD 50,000 Impression Grant awarded by The Intrepid Basis in 2025, a lot of which got here from previous traveller donations, to cowl the shortfall – and went on to feed over 9000 folks. Sooner or later, with continued assist from travellers, Mahmoud plans to achieve extra folks locally by taking Ezwitti on the street with a cell kitchen.
Ezwitti is an inspiring instance of Jordanian hospitality – a practice that’s deeply rooted in our tradition. I get emotional once I think about travellers being welcomed to Petra once more, sharing tea in a household dwelling, or being serenaded below the celebrities by Bedouins at a desert camp in Wadi Rum. Internet hosting is what we do finest, and journey has at all times been a bridge between our communities and the broader world.
Trying to the long run
At instances like this, I consider Intrepid’s distinctive type of journey issues greater than ever. Our small-group journeys create house for connection – via shared meals, actual conversations and real cultural trade. They remind those who there are people behind the headlines; that this area just isn’t outlined by battle – however by the people, households and communities who deserve to inform their very own tales.
Whereas Intrepid journeys in Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia stay paused for now, we’re monitoring the state of affairs carefully, proceed to be guided by authorities journey advisories and real-time security updates, and hope to welcome travellers quickly.
What’s encouraging is that when travellers do return, we’ll be prepared. We’ve additionally been hiring actively throughout the area and have 16 newly educated leaders ready to go in Jordan; they, and the folks behind every of our experiences, are ready and excited to welcome you, when the time is true.
Because the area recovers, these travellers who do select to go to will make a tangible distinction. They’ll assist livelihoods, assist maintain small companies and, finally, ship an vital message: that transferring via the world with curiosity, empathy and open-mindedness has the facility to form a greater future, for everybody.
Egypt is open – discover the best journey for you. Intrepid has hundreds of experiences in over 100 international locations. Not able to journey? Donate to Ezwitti in Jordan or Animal Care in Egypt via The Intrepid Basis to assist communities from afar.
