The Incense Route, the Silk Road and the Spice Trade

Long before oil, the wealth of Arabia was perfume. Frankincense and myrrh, resins tapped from trees in Dhofar and Yemen, were burned in temples from Egypt to Rome, and the overland incense route carried them by camel caravan up the west of the Arabian Peninsula to Gaza and Damascus. Along the way grew oasis towns and kingdoms, the Nabataeans of Petra and Hegra the most famous.

Further north, the Silk Road connected Chang'an in China to Antioch and Constantinople through Persia and Mesopotamia, carrying silk, porcelain, spices, ideas and faiths. By sea, dhows sailed the monsoon winds between the Gulf, India and East Africa, and ports like Sohar, Muscat, Hormuz and Julfar grew rich on the trade.

A modern journey along the incense route might begin with frankincense shopping in Salalah, fly to AlUla for Hegra and desert resorts, then cross to Petra and Wadi Rum. For a Silk Road flavor, combine Istanbul, Cappadocia and the souks of the Gulf. Perfume lovers should read our page on perfume and oud, and see our trip ideas for ready-made routes. The history timeline puts each era in context.