Wonders of Antiquity
A journey from Limassol to Luxor aboard the MS Island Sky with Guest Speaker Chris Bradley
- 24 October 2021
Join the MS Island Sky for this passage through antiquity in the wonderful region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Exploring by sea allows us to incorporate a heady mix of fantastic places with great ease from the ancient sites of Cyprus to the biblical landmarks of Israel and the wonders of Cairo and Luxor on the Nile. Our itinerary represents small ship cruising at its best and is timed for October when temperatures will be pleasant for exploring and, with the aid of our knowledgeable local guides and excellent Guest Speaker, we will learn of some fascinating civilisations.
Our voyage begins in the Cypriot port of Limassol from where we will visit the Temple of Apollo and the ruins of Kourion with its Greco-Roman Theatre and lovely coastal views. We continue to Israel for three and a half days of exploration visiting the ancient biblical cities of Acre, Nazareth and Jerusalem and discovering the ancient ruins in coastal Caesarea and Capernaum’s ancient synagogue on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Following a transit of the Suez Canal, one of the world’s greatest feats of civil engineering, we spend time in Egypt exploring some of the great monuments of the Pharaohs, the divine kings of thirty dynasties who ruled Egypt for some thirty-five centuries. Visit Cairo’s magnificent Egyptian Museum, see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx and spend a day exploring the mesmerising underwater world of the Red Sea.
Upon arriving in Safaga, we have arranged a fitting end to our voyage and will disembark for a two night stay in Luxor in order to maximise our time spent visiting the fascinating sites such as the Valley of the Kings and the great temples of Karnak. With just over 100 passengers, our trips ashore will be a pleasure and whether your interest lies in ancient history, modern politics or simply the joy of experiencing new places, this journey has much to offer.
Useful links & Travel Advice
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Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean 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.
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Limassol, Cyprus.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Island Sky in Limassol where we moor overnight.
Day 2 Limassol.
From our berth we take a morning tour which will include the Temple of Apollo, one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus where Apollo was worshipped as God of the Woodlands. It seems that the worship of Apollo on this site began as early as the 8th century BC and continued until the 4th century AD. We will continue to the ruins of Kourion, a city built in 1200 BC. Of particular interest are the public baths, the necropolis, the Fountain House, House of Gladiators and House of Achilles. The most spectacular site at Kourion is the Greco-Roman Theatre that has been completely restored and is used today for open-air musical and theatrical performances. The afternoon is free for independent exploration before we sail this evening.
Days 3 & 4 Haifa, Israel.
We arrive in Israel at the northern port of Haifa for two days of exploration including options to visit Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. Called the City of Annunciation, Nazareth is revered as the spot where the Angel Gabriel appeared before Mary to tell her she was to bear the Son of God. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and visit the Church of the Annunciation which is built where Mary is said to have lived. Maybe visit the shores of the Sea of Galilee where we find Capernaum’s ancient synagogue and Peter’s House before stopping in Tabgha, home to the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Leaves, with its 5th century mosaic floor. We will drive up Mount Carmel for a breathtaking view over the bay from the top of the city’s famous Bahai Gardens. We also plan to visit Acre, one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites of the region and once the chief port of the Crusaders. Visit the underground city seeing the Crusader halls, crypt and the tunnels used as a secret route to the port. Also visit the bazaar and the UNESCO site of Kahn El Umdan (Inn of the Columns) one of the best-preserved caravanserai in Israel. The last option is to drive to Caesarea – the impressive ruins rest on the coast halfway between Haifa and Tel Aviv. This grand ancient city and harbour were built by Herod the Great between 22 and 10 BC and reigned capital over its region for almost 600 years. Named after the Roman Caesar Augustus, it had all the amenities of a splendid Roman city: baths, a hippodrome, a theatre and an aqueduct and we can explore the remains in the archaeological park.
Days 5 & 6 Ashdod.
We continue our exploration of Israel from the southern port of Ashdod where we will spend a day and a half. During our time here we will organise visits to Jaffa, the ancient port city from which Tel Aviv developed. Famous for its association with the biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon and St Peter, it has a fascinating history stretching back over four thousand years. We will explore the highlights including the Clock Tower, Flea Market and the renovated alleys and buildings of the city. We will also drive inland to Jerusalem including a visit to the Mount of Olives from where we can enjoy spectacular views over the ‘Golden City’ of Jerusalem. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus as you walk through the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent the last moments before his arrest. Wander the streets of the Old City from Jaffa Gate to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and continue through the Christian Quarter to the bazaar, passing the Roman Cardo in the Jewish Quarter and the Western (or Wailing) Wall. Our last afternoon is at sea and we arrive in Port Said in the evening to prepare for our transit of the Suez Canal.
Day 7 Suez Canal.
Spend the day in the transit of the Suez Canal and the Great Bitter Lake.
Day 8 Sokhna for Cairo, Egypt.
Today is a full day tour dedicated to the capital city of Cairo. We visit 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 Grand Egyptian Museum. This complex is a cultural hub and includes one of the largest museums in the world displaying the heritage of a single civilisation. The museum contains over 50,000 artefacts, reflecting Egypt’s past from prehistory until the Greek and Roman Periods. As you enter the museum, you cannot miss the colossal statue of King Ramses II, nor the 87 huge royal artefacts exhibited at the grand stairs. These stairs lead up to an impressive 28 metre high glass facade overlooking the pyramids of Giza. The museum also hosts over 5000 artefacts from the tomb of the golden Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Day 9 Sharm el Sheikh.
After a morning at sea we arrive at the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh. It is, however, offshore that our interest lies with the clear waters of the Red Sea. Maybe join a snorkelling tour to the Ras Mohamed National Park. Designated a National Park in 1983 the reef ecosystems here protect a diversity of fish species and coral. Alternatively take a glass bottomed boat tour as we view some of the many species of colourful fish, coral and sponges that live in these waters.
Days 10 & 11 Safaga for Luxor.
Disembark this morning in the Red Sea port of Safaga as we make our way inland to Luxor for a two night hotel stay. During our time here we will visit 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 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. Also visit the Colossi of Memnon to witness the two imposing 18 metre high quartzite seated statues that marked the entrance to the now vanished memorial temple of the pharaoh Amenhotep III. His reign in the 14th century BC was one of the most opulent in Egyptian history. We will also take a sailing boat on the Nile for a short cruise including lunch and have some time to explore the souk.
Day 12 Luxor to London.
After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.
Dates and Prices
24 October to 4 November 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Magellan Deck Standard Suites | £6295 | £5995 |
Columbus Deck Superior Suites | £6495 | £6195 |
Marco Polo Deck Premium Suites | £6995 | £6695 |
Marco Polo Deck Corner Suites | £7295 | £6995 |
Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites | £7795 | £7495 |
Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £7995 | £7695 |
Explorer Deck Island Suite | £8995 | £8695 |
Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | £8195 | £7895 |
Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | £8495 | £8195 |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK241021
Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel • Nine nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • Two nights hotel accommodation in Luxor with all meals • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Noble Caledonia onboard team including Guest Speaker • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Egyptian visa.
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Deckplan
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean 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.
Travelling with You
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Chris Bradley
Chris Brandley is an Arts Society lecturer who specialises in the Middle East and North Africa having lived and worked in the region for over 40 years.
As a professional tour guide and lecturer he has led many tours in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt and his books include the Berlitz guides to Libya; Cairo; Egypt’s Red Sea; Oman; Abu Dhabi; the Insight Guides to Egypt; Jordan; The Silk Road; Travel Photography, and the Discovery Guide to Yemen. Chris led his first tour around the ancient sites of Israel in 1989 and has returned many times, in particular to the locations of Roman and early Christian mosaics.
In the early 2000s he was an invited consultant for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation analysis on tourism development of Libya helping to open the country to tourism for more than a decade. He still leads several tours each year to a variety of destinations, designing many specialist itineraries. He is also a lecturer to noted societies, such as the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies.
He has been a cameraman and producer on many television documentaries and films for the BBC, Channel 4 and National Geographic TV. In Morocco he developed and filmed Atlas Biker which became Nicholas Cranes first television adventure documentary.
Chris Bradley will be on the following tour dates: 24 October to 4 November 2021
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