They found Ubar (sort of). They got sunburn in places the sun should never go. Clarkson wore a tea towel on his head. Hammond tried to race a camel (the camel won). May spent 20 minutes explaining the geological history of the sand dunes while the other two threw rocks at his head.

The trio manages to reach Israel on Christmas Eve. They navigate the traffic and chaos of Jerusalem before finally arriving in Bethlehem. However, they cannot enter the town center due to a tank blockade (and the fact that they are a film crew). They stop on a hillside overlooking the town.

May, in the Fiat, attempted a sensible bypass route. He got stuck immediately. Hammond, laughing hysterically, drove the Golf around them—only to bury the front axle up to the headlights.

Syria: In hindsight, this segment is a haunting time capsule. The trio visited the bustling markets of Aleppo and the ancient ruins of Palmyra, showcasing a beautiful, peaceful Syria just months before the devastating civil war began.