Deckplan
Please note that all beds can be configured as twin or double with the exception of suites 601 and 602 which both feature a fixed double bed.
A voyage of discovery visiting Egypt, Jordan & Cyprus aboard the MS Hebridean Sky with Guest Speaker Guy de la Bédoyère
Here is a passage through antiquity, an incomparable journey with a wealth of sites on offer including biblical landmarks, Crusader castles, Egyptian temples and tombs, the superb Nabatean city of Petra as well as the magnificent St Catherine’s Monastery. We have planned the voyage for spring when temperatures will be pleasant for exploring and with the aid of our knowledgeable local guides and excellent Guest Speaker, we will learn and reflect on the successive civilisations and a period of history spanning well over 2000 years.
Our journey begins with a two night hotel stay in Luxor enabling us to maximise our time here visiting the fascinating sites such as the great temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Continuing to the port of Safaga we embark the MS Hebridean Sky and sail to Jordan for our visit to the desert sands of Wadi Rum and the fascinating city of Petra which was hewn directly from the rock by the Nabateans. Returning to Egypt and the port of Sharm el Sheikh we journey to the interior of the Sinai Peninsula and the lonely desert monastery of St Catherine’s, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. We will also explore some of the great monuments of the pharaohs, the divine kings of thirty dynasties who ruled Egypt for some thirty-five centuries. See the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx and spend some time in Cairo’s magnificent Egyptian Museum. Following a transit of the Suez Canal, our final two days are spent exploring Alexandria and Cyprus.
This unusual itinerary offers a fascinating mix of some of the world’s most impressive and historic sites combined with time to relax on board the MS Hebridean Sky, enjoying good food and informative lectures in the company of just 100 or so fellow travellers.
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Fly by scheduled flight via Cairo. Arrive late this evening and transfer to our hotel for our two night stay.
Enjoy a leisurely morning to relax in the hotel or explore independently before we meet for lunch. This afternoon we will visit the temples of Karnak, one of the most memorable and popular historical areas to visit in the world. Here you will witness the unbelievably vast array of monuments dedicated to Amun-Ra, king of the gods, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu. Just two of the highlights you will see are the great hypostyle hall with over 130 columns, some 22 metres high and the obelisk of the powerful queen pharaoh Hatshepsut. Continue to the Temple of Luxor before we walk back to the hotel via the souk. After some free time we meet for dinner in the hotel.
After breakfast we head to the West Bank, one of the most famous and important archaeological sites in the world. See the Valley of the Kings, burial ground of the pharaohs for a period of 500 years. The tombs vividly depict the journey of the sun god and pharaoh through the dangers of the underworld. In the temple of Queen Hatshepsut you will discover scenes commemorating the reign of this exceptional monarch such as the ambitious voyage where she sent her ships on the Red Sea to the mysterious land of Punt. Also see the Colossi of Memnon and witness the two imposing 18 metre high quartzite seated statues which marked the entrance to the now vanished memorial temple of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III whose reign in the 14th century BC was one of the most opulent in Egyptian history. Later we will board a sailing boat on the Nile for a short cruise including lunch. This afternoon we will drive through the desert to the port of Safaga where we will embark the MS Hebridean Sky and sail this evening.
Spend a relaxing morning at sea as we cruise towards Aqaba. This afternoon, from our berth in the city we will drive to Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon where the desert landscape is mixed with awe-inspiring shapes to create an almost supernatural atmosphere. We will embark on an adventurous excursion by an open top four-wheel drive vehicle. We begin at the visitor centre from where there is a view in the distance of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the famous landmark named after the book by T.E. Lawrence ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. During our excursion we will also see the Alameleh inscriptions which are a good example of ancient rock drawings, Siq Um Al Tawaqi, a short canyon containing a carving of the head of T.E. Lawrence and ruins of Allat (Goddess) Temple of the AAD tribe. Alternatively, spend the afternoon at one of the nearby beach clubs enjoying time to relax and swim in the Red Sea.
A full day tour takes us to the breathtaking Nabatean city of Petra which was carved out of the rose-red sandstone about 2000 years ago and has been voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Walk past the Obelisk Tomb and then through the Siq, the narrow 1.2 kilometre gorge that leads to Petra’s most impressive monument, the Treasury, which was carved out of the pale reddish sandstone in the 1st century BC. Pass by the dozens of classical Nabatean ruins and tombs known as the Street of Facades, the remarkable 3000 seat Theatre, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street, the Byzantine Church, the Temple, the Monumental Arch and the mighty Qasr el-Bint Faroun. After lunch amidst the ruins of Petra there will be some free time to explore further at your own pace. Those feeling active may choose to climb about 900 steps up to the large, 1st century AD monument known as the Monastery with its remarkable views over Wadi Araba.
This morning we arrive at the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh where we have a choice of excursions. A full day excursion will bring us into the interior of the Sinai Peninsula and the lonely desert monastery of St Catherine’s. This ancient monastery which is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, traces its founding to about 330 AD, when Byzantine empress Helena had a small chapel built beside what was believed to be the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian ordered a fortress to be constructed around the original chapel and the complex includes nine chapels, a bell tower, gardens and wells to create a spiritual oasis. Alternatively, take a glass bottomed boat tour as we view some of the many species of colourful fish, coral and sponges that live in the waters of the Ras Mohamed National Park. Designated a National Park in 1983 the reef ecosystems here protect a diversity of fish species and coral.
Spend the day cruising through the Gulf of Suez.
A full day tour is dedicated to the capital city of Cairo. From our berth in Sokhna we drive to the impressive Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the tombs of the great pharaohs and their queens. After lunch we visit the Egyptian Museum with 107 halls that are separated into seven sections. The museum houses statues, jewels and treasures of Tutankhamun. We will visit the Amarna Room and see the Fayoum portraits and monuments from the later periods from the Greeks and the Romans.
Spend the day in transit of the Suez Canal and the Great Bitter Lake as we sail from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
Our final day in Egypt finds us in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria which was a centre of Hellenic scholarship and science and where we have a choice of excursions this morning. You may want to visit to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, built by the ancient harbour in the centre of the city. The 11-storey library contains up to 4 million volumes of books as well as a planetarium, several museums, a school for information science, and conservation facilities. Continue to the Royal Jewelery Museum which contains pieces including jewels and other exquisite items formerly owned by queens and princesses of the last royal family of Egypt and date from the period of Mohamed Ali Pasha when he became the Khedive of Egypt in 1805. Alternatively, we drive towards Montazah Palace. Built by Khedive Abbas II, this palace was the summer residence of the royal family before the 1952 Revolution and King Farouk’s abdication and overlooks magnificent gardens and groves. Continue along the “Corniche” displaying most of Alexandrian sights on the way to the Qait Bay port, passing by the Mosque of Abu-Al Abbas Mursi that is modern but an impressive example of Islamic architecture. We end at Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th century Mamluk fort which overlooks the entrance to the Eastern harbour in Alexandria. Built on the foundations of the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World and incorporates both a castle and a mosque within its walls. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at sea.
After a morning at sea we arrive into Cyprus over lunch. This afternoon we drive to the Temple of Apollo, one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus and the ruins of Kourion, a city built in 1200 BC. The most spectacular site at Kourion is the Greco-Roman Theatre that has been completely restored. We will also visit Kolossi Castle, which was built in the 15th century on the ruins of a former fortress dated to the beginning of the 13th century. Return to the ship as we moor overnight.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
31 March to 11 April 2025 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Amundsen Deck Standard Suite | £7495 | £6995 |
Byrd Deck Superior Suite | £7795 | £7295 |
Mawson Deck Premium Suite | £7995 | £7495 |
Mawson Deck Corner Suite | £8395 | £7895 |
Scott Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £8995 | £8495 |
Shackleton Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £9495 | £8995 |
Shackleton Deck Hebridean Suite | £9995 | £9495 |
Amundsen Deck Standard for sole use | £9495 | £8995 |
Byrd Deck Superior for sole use | £9995 | £9495 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHKS310325
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Two nights hotel accommodation in Luxor with breakfast • Lunch on Days 2 & 3 and dinner on Day 2 • Nine nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia onboard team including Guest Speaker • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas for Jordan and Egypt (please note it is currently possible to apply for visas online and/or obtain on arrival. Full details pertaining to the procurement of visas will be sent to passengers 12 weeks before departure).
Please note that all beds can be configured as twin or double with the exception of suites 601 and 602 which both feature a fixed double bed.
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Guy de la Bédoyère [pronounced: Bed-why-air] is a historian and archaeologist well-known for his frequent appearances on Channel 4’s Time Team as resident Roman expert and historian, as well as his numerous books on Roman history and other topics for Thames and Hudson, Yale University Press and other publishers. His latest book, Pharaohs of the Sun, a history of the Eighteenth Dynasty, was published in July 2022 and was a Radio 4 Book of the Week.
Guy has degrees in Archaeology and History from the universities of Durham and London, worked for many years in the BBC and is an elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. His special interests are the Roman Empire and Ancient Egypt. Guy has lectured to societies in Britain, including at BBC History Magazine Weekends and the Gloucester History Festival, and in Western Australia, and New Zealand. Some of these were in his capacity as a registered lecturer for the Arts Society, for example the tour of New Zealand in 2020. He lives near Grantham.
If you would like to spend some time in Cyprus after your cruise, we are offering a two night stay in Limassol.
Day 1 Paphos, Cyprus.
Disembark this morning and make a brief stop at the most famous landmark in Cyprus - Aphrodite’s Rock. See Saint Neophytos Monastery and continue to Paphos where we will visit the 13th century Chrysopolitissa Church. Saint Paul visited Paphos in 45 AD in an attempt to convert the ruler of the time to Christianity. He was successful in his efforts, but not before being tied and whipped to an otherwise unremarkable lump of stone, the Pillar of Saint Paul which we will see during our visit. After lunch and some free time in Paphos, we continue to the archaeological park, known as the House of Dionysus to see the fabulously preserved mosaics which date back to the 2nd century AD and the Tombs of the Kings. Return to Limassol this afternoon and check into our hotel. After some time at leisure we will meet for dinner this evening. (B, L, D)
Day 2 Limassol.
Spend the day at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the hotel or take the local bus into Limassol town centre. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the impressive remains of the archaeological site of Amathus. (B, D)
Day 3 Limassol to London.
Check out this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London. (B)
11 to 13 April 2025 | |
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Category | Price |
Twin | £795 |
Single | £895 |
Price Includes: Two nights hotel accommodation in Limassol, meals as indicated (B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner), Noble Caledonia Tour Manager, tours as described, gratuities, transfers. Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000