Ancient Splendours of Greece & Egypt

Aqaba is a Jordanian port city on the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba. Inhabited since 4000 B.C., it’s home to the Islamic-era Aqaba Fort. Its beach resorts are popular for windsurfing and other water sports, and the area is a top destination for scuba divers, with notable dive sites including the Yamanieh coral reef in the Aqaba Marine Park, south of the city

On the shores of the Red Sea, this small fishing port is named after the hot springs found near by and is the ideal jumping off point to explore the oldest Christian monastery in Egypt: St Anthony where 65 Coptic monks live today. Founded by the disciples of St Anthony it has been altered many times over the centuries. The first mention of a monastic movement only appeared in the early 7th century but a village with a church, chapels, monastic cells and gardens was quickly established. And this is how it still appears today, sheltered behind a 10 metre high wall. As a result of being so far away in the heart of the desert, the occupants escaped the troubles of the Arab conquest and continued their intellectual activities until the end of the 15th century.

Magnificent sites and monuments make this a magical island. Blessed with a lovely mild climate, rhodes invites you to explore its pathways, immaculate tiny villages and the fabulous medieval city which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rhodes (Greece) also owes much of its charm and character to the Knights of St John who ruled the island from 1310 to 1522 and built the impressive city walls and picturesque gates.

Known as the “Jerusalem of the Aegean”, Patmos (Greece) is a holy island for Christians and is where St John drafted the Apocalypse. it is also a spectacular island with white sandy beaches in rocky coves and unique landscapes. An impressive silhouette of the crenellated walls of an 11th century monastery stands out against the hills in the centre of an island which has retained its traditional architecture.

Birthplace of the twins Artemis and Apollo, Delos (Greece) is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece. Legend has it that because the island was Apollo’s birthplace it became an important sanctuary visited by pilgrims.

“Queen of the Cyclades” with its white mills, labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways and quaint little port where boats bob lazily at the foot of the terraces, Mykonos never fails to inspire. One of the most romantic spots is the colourful “Little Venice” district where the houses are built right on the sea giving it a special ambiance. Allow yourself to be tempted by the numerous taverns which line its seafront opposite the old port.

Famous for its white marble, the island of Paros is located in the Cyclades. Along the quays of Parikia, its main town, you’ll see Byzantine churches and neoclassical buildings. To make the most of the turquoise waters, you can stop over in Naoussa. This little fishing port is bounded by a very beautiful cove.

The engaging town of Nafplion is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Don’t be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. Some of the must-see visits are the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.