Meeting as equals
Direct exchange with local people opens up perspectives far beyond conventional tourist routes.
About the Middle East Excursion
Encounters create new perspectives
What began in 2009 as a trip among friends has grown into a long-standing study travel initiative for people who want to experience the Middle East first-hand.
FoundedExcursions since 2009
ApproachImmersive, not merely observing
TodayFocus on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Our idea
Travel to truly understand
The Middle East Excursion grew from a desire to understand the region not only through media reports, but through personal experience and direct conversations.
Our excursions combine history, politics, culture and society. Visits are complemented by encounters with people from universities, politics, the media and civil society.
Participants have the opportunity to ask questions, hear different perspectives and form their own nuanced view.
“See it for yourself” has guided our trips from the very beginning.
What we stand for
Three principles behind our excursions
Personal encounters and informed context give these trips their distinctive character.
Knowledge and context
Historical background is connected with current political and social developments.
Independent perspectives
The trip invites participants to question familiar images and experience the region’s diversity for themselves.
Our story
From a trip among friends to a study excursion
The initiative’s most important milestones at a glance.
2009
The idea takes shape in Jordan
Three friends travel through Jordan together. Personal contacts and the feeling of being part of the culture make the trip exceptional. This inspires the idea of making similar experiences possible for other students.
From 2009
Middle East Excursion begins
Study trips are regularly organised under the name Middle East Excursion. The team grows, and excursions to different countries and regions of the Middle East generally take place twice a year.
JordanKurdistan Region of IraqIsraelPalestinian TerritoriesLebanonEgyptSyria until 2011
Over the years
New paths emerge
The focus of each trip varies with the country and political situation. Participants gain personal contacts, ideas for theses, internship opportunities and inspiration for later semesters abroad.
Today
Focus on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
The Middle East Excursion now focuses on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Many years of experience and local relationships enable a varied programme with cultural, historical, political and social perspectives.
Tour leader
Mohammad
Regional expert and experienced tour leader
Mohammad studied Media Studies and Political Science at the University of Bonn. He knows the region around the Euphrates and Tigris extremely well and combines in-depth background knowledge with many years of local experience.
His calm and confident manner helps him keep an overview even in demanding situations, guiding the group reliably throughout the programme.
- Degree in Media Studies and Political Science
- Extensive knowledge of the Euphrates and Tigris region
- Arabic, Kurdish, English and German
Lasting impact
More than a trip
Earlier excursions have inspired many different paths for participants.
01
Academic inspiration
Experiences and conversations became starting points for essays and degree theses.
02
Further stays
Some participants later returned to the region for internships or a semester abroad.
03
Personal connections
Encounters during the excursion developed into lasting contacts and friendships.
04
Intercultural understanding
First-hand experience helps challenge simplified images and appreciate diversity in a more nuanced way.
Discover the region with us
Email us for information about the next trip, taking place from 10 to 19 March 2027.