Middle east

Dubai

Vacation Tour Name	Duration	Tour Highlights
Dubai Adventure	8 Days	At the edge of the desert, Dubai’s dashing architecture blends with endless summer skies as tradition merges with contemporary. In Dubai, you can discover the unexpected. On the beautiful sandy beaches you can sunbathe beneath palm trees or swim, snorkel, scuba or dive in the warm azure sea. Indulge in retail therapy from haggling for bargains in the souks or strolling down the shopping malls with their tax-free designer boutiques.

Egypt

Vacation Tour Name

Duration

Tour Highlights

Classical Egypt

10 Days

In Cairo our guide unravels the complexity of the dynastic periods on a visit to Memphis and its splendid necropolis, Sakkara. We see the first Step Pyramid and visit several outstanding Old Kingdom tombs. We also explore the Egyptian Museum (including the Tutankhamun exhibition) and visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. A comfortable overnight sleeper train takes us south to Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. Here we visit Karnak Temple, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the splendid royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. We then board our comfortable riverboat for a relaxing cruise, visiting Edfu Temple and the lovely ruined temple at Komombo along the way. Reaching Aswan we enjoy a visit to the charming Temple of Isis at Philae and have time for an optional visit to Abu Simbel. Back in Cairo we head into the medieval city, exploring the fascinating Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine 17th century villas, and the nearby Mosque of Ibn Tulun. Our final Egyptian highlight is a visit to the celebrated Khan al-Khalili Bazaar.

Egypt in Depth

12 Days

We begin with an extensive exploration of Cairo, introducing you to Pharonic Egypt, with the pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum, as well as its fascinating Arab-influenced medieval side. We visit the excellent Islamic Art Museum, Khan el Khalili bazaar, Al Azhar Mosque and enjoy a walk through the atmospheric streets of Islamic Cairo. In Aswan, we soak up the town’s laid-back charm, visit the impressive Temple of Isis on Philae Island, explore the excellent souk (market) and the following day, there’s time for a morning trip to Abu Simbel before we board our Nile cruise boat, bound for Luxor. After visiting the temples of Komombo and Edfu along the Nile, we have time to see all the highlights of Luxor. We spend a morning in and around the Valley of the Kings, and discover Karnak Temple – one of Egypt’s best. Returning to Cairo, we unveil yet another facet of Cairene culture, Coptic Cairo, and also visit the quirky Gayer-Anderson Museum and magnificent Ibn Tulun Mosque. This tour is a must for those yearning to see Egypt…in depth.

Egypt, Jordan and Israel adventure

20 Days

Travel through time on this magical carpet ride through the Middle East! We enjoy an in-depth discovery of ancient Egypt, covering all the major sites and then relax on a three day riverboat cruise along the Nile. Medieval Cairo and Mount Sinai are also explored before we cross the border into Jordan. Here, we spend a night camping with the Bedouin in Wadi Rum, delve into a crusader castle and enjoy a day in the extraordinary city of Petra. The Dead Sea, Jerash and the capital, Amman, are further treats, before we cross into Israel. Words cannot do justice to Jerusalem – it is a truly amazing city. We have plenty of time to discover its highlights and surrounds, including Bethlehem, Masada, Nazareth, the Dead Sea and Tiberias. This trip showcases the region’s fascinating history, intriguing cultures and greatest treasures.

The Nile & Red Sea Explorer

12 Days

There’s ample time to explore Cairo, where you discover the Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum, as well as atmospheric Islamic Cairo. In Aswan, we visit the Temple of Isis on Philae Island, and you can hunt for bargains in the excellent souk (market) and visit Abu Simbel on an optional side trip, before boarding our comfortable Nile cruise boat. We visit the temples of Komombo and Edfu then arrive in Egypt’s treasure trove, Luxor, where Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut deserve our attention. After all that exploring, the Red Sea resort of Hurghada offers the ideal chance to relax, before we head back to Cairo.

Nile Valley Highlights

9 Days

This is a wonderful journey of discovery through the Nile Valley. In Cairo we visit the outstanding Egyptian Museum, the pyramids and Sphinx before travelling to Luxor to see Karnak Temple. We browse the bazaars and the next day we cross the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings and the splendid Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. A relaxing cruise takes us south, with timeless views of the Nile. We visit the riverside temples at Edfu and Komombo and arrive at the laid-back city of Aswan where there’s time to visit Abu Simbel before we return to Cairo. Our final day is spent exploring the medieval quarter, visiting the 17th century Gayer Anderson Museum, the mosque of Ibn Tulun and the bustling Khan al-Khalili Bazaa

Treasures of the Pharaohs>

12 Days

We ride camels around the Pyramids and clamber aboard donkeys to get to the Valley of the Kings; we take horse drawn carriages to Karnak Temple and float in a felucca around Aswan. Our tour stays in 5 star hotels, takes in all the best parts of Egypt and includes a wonderful cruise down the Nile on a luxury boat. The Egyptians are incredibly friendly and there are few better places to travel with your family.

Israel

Vacation Tour Name	Duration	Tour Highlights
Jordan & Israel Explorer	12 Days	To explore the ancient lands of Jordan and Israel is to come face-to-face with the various epochs of history that have made us who we are. The Jordanian capital, Amman, was previously known as Philadelphia and its Roman theatre reminds us of the glories of that great empire. Mysterious Petra appears out of nowhere – a remarkable rose-coloured city hewn from the sandstone cliffs by the Nabataean people and now regarded as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. The desert at Wadi Rum resonates to the exploits of T.E. Lawrence, more popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia. Then there is Jerusalem – one of the history’s great cities and holy site for many of the world’s religions. From the Wailing Wall to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and from the Temple Mount to the narrows streets of the Old City, there are few cities in the world that are more evocative, exciting and still mean so much to so many people.

Jordan

Vacation Tour Name	Duration	Tour Highlights
Jordan Explorer	10 Days	With the modern sophistication of the capital Amman, the vast echoing deserts of Wadi Rum, the hidden beauty of spectacular Petra and the ancient Roman ruins at Jerash, Jordan truly is an adventurer’s paradise. On this great trip we venture away from the tourist trail to visit the beautiful Dana National Reserve in the Rift Valley of Wadi Araba. We ride cmels into Wadi Rum where we sleep in a traditional tent just as the Bedouin have been doing for centuries. Any trip to Jordan must include the wonderful Petra; we stay in a village at the back of the site and avoid the tide of visitors. The highlights continue with the coastal resort town of Aqaba, a visit to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth above sea level, the ancient Roman city of Jerash, Mt Nebo and the crusader castle at Karak. The people, the food, the scenery and the sights will all leave an amazing impression of this inspiring country.

Sudan

Vacation Tour Name	Duration	Tour Highlights
Sudan land tour	5 Days	Sudan is a land of ancient historical sites and nomadic/tribal cultures, vast desert and the grand Nile River.  On our Sudan Tours, you will explore colorful North African souqs of Khartoum, observe life in the Nubian villages, and encounter friendly Sudanese people eager to meet you.  During your Sudan travel experience you will visit the impressive ruins of Meroitic and Christian Kingdoms of the North, Pharoanic and Ottoman castles, tombs, pyramids and temples.  Be one of the few visitors to connect with this richly rewarding culture in its authentic nature.

Syria

Vacation Tour Name	Duration	Tour Highlights
Syria & Lebanon discovery	11 Days	Like a jigsaw puzzle, Syria and Lebanon have been recast many times over the centuries. Crusader fortresses rise from Phoenician foundations, Roman buildings emerge from Greek ruins and Byzantine churches became Ottoman mosques. In Damascus we visit the museum, bazaars and the breathtaking Omayyad Mosque. To the west, the desert capital at Palmyra is a wonderful prelude to the ancient site at Apamea and the massive acropolis at Baalbek. Krak des Chevaliers, the world's finest Crusader castle, whets our appetite for Saone and the Crusader ports of Tartus, Byblos and Sidon. In Aleppo, surrounded by spicy scents, we explore magnificent vaulted bazaars and stay in a historic hotel. We discover incredible mosaics at Maarat, explore the splendid palace at Beit Eddine and end our adventure in the lively city of Beirut.

Uzbekistan

Vacation Tour Name	Duration	Tour Highlights
Highlights of Uzbekistan	9 Days	Uzbekistan located the Great Silk Road, the ancient trading route between China and the West. The country is the proud owner of some of the finest architectural jewels among the Silk Road countries, featuring intricate Islamic tile work, turquoise domes, minarets and preserved relics from the time when Central Asia was a centre of great empires and learning. Good examples of this architecture can be found in the ancient walled city of Khiva in Urgench, the winding narrow streets of the old town of Bukhara and Samarkand. The Ferghana Valley, surrounded by the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains, still produces silk and is well worth visiting for its friendly bazaars and landscape of cotton fields, mulberry trees and fruit orchards.