Windstar’s Arabian Nights & Egyptian Days cruise is a nine-day journey on the Pink Sea, visiting ports in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. Along with pure wonders and historic websites alongside the coast, this itinerary gives friends the chance to see a number of inland sights, together with the pyramids of Giza and the traditional metropolis of Petra.
The coral reefs within the Pink Sea are house to an abundance of marine wildlife, and you’ll have the chance to snorkel in Safaga, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. From camel rides with Bedouin guides to a 4×4 tour on the sting of the Sahara Desert, there are not any scarcity of shore excursions for adventurous vacationers. Friends will even have two days on the magnificent temples in Luxor, full with an in a single day at a lodge alongside the Nile.
Listed below are the highlights:
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
As soon as a small fishing village, Jeddah has turn into the nation’s greatest port metropolis, providing a mixture of historical past and modernity. The outdated city district of Al Balad is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and it’s house to the Matbouli Home Museum, amongst different sights. Courting again 400 years, this museum is a fantastically preserved conventional Hijazi service provider’s house, providing a singular have a look at what life was like lots of of years in the past in Al Balad. In search of coastal surroundings? The New Jeddah Corniche is a three-part waterfront walkway that stretches 20 miles, boasting unbelievable views of the Pink Sea. You’ll see King Fahd’s Fountain, which shoots water 850 ft within the air, making it the tallest fountain on this planet. The Baab Makkah, or Makkah Gate, is without doubt one of the extra in style architectural websites in Jeddah, together with the Al Rahma Mosque, also referred to as the Floating Mosque.
Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Yanbu is without doubt one of the oldest ports on the Pink Sea, relationship again almost 2,500 years. Yanbu’s financial system has lengthy been related to the spice commerce and the export of dates, and it is usually acknowledged for being a serious hub for pilgrims. The Yanbu Waterfront runs for almost eight miles, and this corniche gives entry to gardens, marinas, motels, parks and aquariums. Along with fabulous views of the Pink Sea, enterprise past town for a glimpse at Radwa Mount, the towering string of red-rock peaks, that are a part of the Yanbu Al Nakhil Mountains. Yanbu can be recognized for its distinctive SCUBA diving, because of its giant, unspoiled coral reefs teeming with wildlife. One other in style spot is the not too long ago restored Souq Al-Lail evening market, which is open till midnight. You might also need to make time to go to the house as soon as occupied by T.E. Lawrence, the well-known British officer who was instrumental within the Nice Revolt of 1916-1918.
Safaga (Luxor), Egypt
The charming port metropolis of Safaga serves as a gateway to Luxor, which has probably the most spectacular collections of tombs and temples on this planet. Windstar gives a two-day tour to Luxor that explores sights on the east and west banks of the Nile River, and friends keep on the Hilton Luxor Resort, which is located proper on the water. You’ll marvel on the twin statues of King Ramses II on the Luxor Temple, and the numerous pillars, sphinxes and pylons on the much more spectacular Karnak Temple complicated. Development started on the temple round 1950 BC and continued for almost 2,000 years. The Karnak Temple additionally has a spectacular sound and lightweight present each night, providing guests a singular alternative to see the UNESCO World Heritage Web site after darkish. Alongside the West Financial institution is the Valley of the Kings, which is house to the tomb of the famed youngster king, Tutankhamun, in addition to the Hatsheput Temple. Past the jaw-dropping temples, you’ll have the possibility to trip on a felucca, a standard boat that has been used to sail the Nile since historical occasions.
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
From snorkeling within the Pink Sea to driving camels within the desert, Sharm El Sheikh gives entry to locations in Egypt which can be off the overwhelmed path. Positioned on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Mahammad Nationwide Park is certainly one of Egypt’s hottest diving and snorkeling websites, house to greater than 220 species of coral and over 1,000 species of fish. If you’re extra considering staying on land, you’ll have the chance to go on a camel trip within the desert with Bedouin guides. You’ll have time to speak over tea along with your guides and find out about their semi-nomadic way of life and connection to the land. Historical past buffs will need to make the journey up the winding roads of Mount Sinai to St. Catherine’s Monastery, which is the oldest constantly inhabited Christian monastery on this planet. The monastery’s king submit truss is the oldest recognized surviving roof truss on this planet, and the positioning is sacred to each Christians and Muslims. Again within the metropolis, you’ll need to take a look at the Al Mustafa Mosque, together with the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is taken into account probably the most stunning church buildings on this planet.
Ain Sokhna, Egypt
Named after the close by sizzling springs within the Ataka Mountains, Ain Sokhna is the right place to chill and loosen up. Whereas town is legendary for deep sea fishing and kite browsing (to not point out its uncrowded seashores), it’s additionally near a lot of bucket-list sights. Cairo and the pyramids of Giza are a two-hour drive to the west, and the St. Paul Monastery is 2 hours to the south. The monastery, which was established within the 4th century AD, has a sequence of wall work of holy knights and the hermits who based the monastery, plus a library with over 1,700 manuscripts.
Hurghada, Egypt
Hurghada is yet one more fashionable seashore resort metropolis, and it is house to a number of spectacular diving and snorkeling sports activities. If you’re not a seasoned diver, think about testing the marine life by way of a semi submarine, the place you may get pleasure from views from the underside or high decks, with the choice to swim and snorkel. One other in style exercise for adventurous of us is a 4×4 safari tour, which brings you proper to the sting of the sprawling Sahara Desert. As a part of this tour, additionally, you will go to a Bedouin camp and share tea along with your hosts. The town itself holds loads of attraction, and from espresso retailers to the native fish market, remember to permit time to walk by the streets and vendor stalls earlier than you board your Windstar yacht.
Aqaba (Petra), Jordan
Aqaba is Jordan’s solely port, and this gorgeous metropolis has unspoiled seashores and lux resorts, making it an interesting place to remain for a couple of days. Aqaba is only a one-hour drive from the otherworldly Wadi Rum Desert, which has gorgeous rock formations and sand dunes — plus a spread of distinctive lodging choices. Aqaba is a two-hour drive from the traditional metropolis of Petra, house to the Treasury, or Al-Khazneh. After wandering by an exquisite slot canyon, you’ll catch your first have a look at the temple, which is carved proper into the purple sandstone cliffs. You might also have the possibility to take an evening tour of Petra, which is an unbelievable method to expertise this archaeological surprise.
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