Top Gear Middle East Special May 2026

They reach the Dead Sea, lowest point on Earth. They try to drive along the shore but get stuck in mud. James attempts to float in the sea (wearing a tweed jacket, naturally). They then head to Petra, the ancient Nabatean city.

They drive through spectacular mountain scenery. James’s BMW continues to misbehave (coolant loss, dodgy electrics). Jeremy’s Fiat has a tiny trunk, so he carries his luggage in the passenger seat. Richard’s Mazda is reliable but boring – “a hairdresser’s car in a war zone.” top gear middle east special

In Syria, they drive through the ancient ruins of Palmyra and cause minor trouble by joking about “terrorist modifications” (roof-mounted machine guns). They are followed briefly by secret police but escape without incident. They reach the Dead Sea, lowest point on Earth

They drive through a military checkpoint into the West Bank. The tension is played for gentle comedy – they hide a bottle of “holy” olive oil from Jeremy’s questionable souvenir buying. They then head to Petra, the ancient Nabatean city

Would you like a list of other Top Gear specials (e.g., Vietnam, Bolivia, Africa) in the same style?