As of March 6, 2026, following recent events involving the United States, Iran, and other countries in the region, travelers are closely watching the situation across the Middle East. Separately, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime escalated in late February, leading to unrest along their shared border.  

GeoEx operates trips in Iraq, Jordan, and Pakistan, and is actively monitoring developments in these countries through trusted sources, including the U.S. Department of State, on-the-ground contacts, and International SOS (ISOS), an independent global risk and security firm.  

Below is the current state of travel in these destinations and what travelers should know now. 

What Travelers Should Know About the Middle East Right Now 

Iraq: The U.S. Department of State issued an updated travel advisory on March 2, 2026. The advisory level did not change, and Iraq remains at Level 4: Do Not Travel, a designation the country has held since before GeoEx began offering group trips to Iraq.  

Jordan: On March 2, 2026, the U.S. Department of State updated Jordan’s travel advisory, raising it from Level 2 to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).  

What Travelers Should Know About Countries in the Region 

GeoEx operates trips in Egypt and Türkiye and has been in close and continuing contact with staff and guests on the ground. Travel in both countries remains unaffected.  

Egypt: The current travel advisory level in Egypt is Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (the same level as most of Western Europe). GeoEx’s contacts on the ground report that, despite the conflict in the wider region, travel within Egypt has not been impacted. Hotels are welcoming guests, airports are running smoothly, and all sites are open. GeoEx guests who recently arrived in Cairo have shared the same sentiment—that things are calm and their itineraries are proceeding as planned. GeoEx staff traveling in the country echoed the same and returned to the US on March 2 as scheduled with no travel disruptions. “Things were calm and business as usual in Egypt through my departure,” said GeoEx’s Director of Global Sales, Tina Liadis.  

Türkiye: The country’s travel advisory has been rated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution since October 2024. GeoEx contacts report that daily life in Türkiye is proceeding as normal, with no disruption to tourism. Travelers in Türkiye say the atmosphere feels natural and calm. They’re continuing to visit the sites on their itineraries without disruption, and in Istanbul, there have been no additional security measures affecting their experience. 

What Travelers Should Know About Pakistan Right Now 

Pakistan: On March 2, the U.S. Department of State recalled nonessential government employees and their family members from U.S. consulates in Lahore and Karachi. In the capital, Islamabad, the U.S. Embassy continues to maintain normal operations.  

Pakistan’s travel advisory was updated on March 3, 2026, yet its travel advisory level did not change from Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Pakistan has been at Level 3 since the U.S. Department of State launched the current 1–4 travel advisory system in January 2018.  

How Are Current Events Impacting International Flights?  

Middle East Airspace Closures

Airspace across parts of the Middle East remains closed or heavily restricted, including:  

• Iran  
• Israel  
• Iraq  
• Syria  
• Qatar  
• Bahrain  
• Kuwait  

Flight Disruptions Between Europe and Asia  

Major aviation hubs such as Dubai (DXB) and Doha (DOH) have experienced significant flight suspensions. Long-haul routes between Europe and Asia are currently being rerouted, which may lead to:  

• Longer travel times  
• Additional technical stops  
• Schedule disruptions  

Notably, airspace over Egypt and Türkiye remains open and unaffected since the conflict began. “We’ve been fortunate that air schedules to and from Egypt and Türkiye are running as normal,” said GeoEx Air Specialist, Laura Wadsworth. “And for the places that are experiencing disruption, in Doha and Dubai, there are plenty of alternatives we can offer to avoid those areas.” GeoEx’s in-house air team offers guests who have booked travel with them 24/7 emergency assistance to manage flight delays and cancellations, and they’re available to all GeoEx guests to offer expert advice and support on which flights will work best with GeoEx’s worldwide itineraries.

How GeoEx Assesses Travel Risk  

With over 40 years of experience navigating the complexities of remote exploration, GeoEx maintains one of the most comprehensive risk management programs in the travel industry. The GeoEx team evaluates routes, accommodations, and logistics in real time to ensure that every itinerary reflects current conditions and the most stringent safety standards.

GeoEx continuously monitors developments through multiple trusted sources, including government advisories, in-country contacts, and a third-party security consultant, International SOS (ISOS), an independent global risk firm that supports many Fortune 500 companies.  Further, for countries with a Level 3 or 4 travel advisory, GeoEx automatically includes security evacuation. Learn more about GeoEx’s robust travel protection here.   

As the Situation Evolves  

While events continue to evolve, conditions vary widely across the region. The GeoEx team remains in close communication with trusted contacts on the ground and will continue to monitor developments as they unfold. 

If you have any questions regarding the current state of travel or your specific GeoEx itinerary, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a GeoEx Travel Expert.