Barcelona to Dubai

One of Europe’s most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balances the medieval intimacy of its Gothic Quarter with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards in the Moderniste Eixample. It was the home of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell and Casa Milà are the most profound statements of Modernisme. View the splendid works at the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation, or discover Barcelona’s passionate ambiance at a flamenco show.

Messina, the third largest city in Sicily, was the most important port of departure for European knights on their way to the Crusades in the Middle Ages. Today, this extensively rebuilt port city still boasts many historically and architecturally significant landmarks, particularly the renowned cathedral with its unusual astronomical clock, the 12th century Catania Church and the ornate Teatro Vittorio Emanuele. Messina is also the starting point for a day trip to the peak of breath-taking Mt. Etna-Crateri Silvestri.

Visit the land of miracles – Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beautitudes and Tabgha, or venture to Nazareth, home of the young Jesus. See the largest hanging gardens in the world at the Bahai Gardens of Haifa.

Visit the land of miracles – Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beautitudes and Tabgha, or venture to Nazareth, home of the young Jesus. See the largest hanging gardens in the world at the Bahai Gardens of Haifa.

Travel to Cairo and marvel at the Giza pyramids and Sphinx standing at the edge of the vast Sahara. Visit the fabulous Egyptian Museum and see its awesome collection of artifacts or head for Alexandria and its ancient sites and museums. Browse Cairo’s bazaar for unusual jewelry like Eye of Horus amulets, hand-painted papyrus copies of ancient tomb paintings, glass, alabaster and artifact replicas. Or find an ancient relic approved for export. Relax over a cup of sweet tea and sample delicious vegetable appetizers or some spicy lamb kebabs, a typical Middle Eastern dish.

One of the great engineering marvels of the world. The canal stretches over 100 miles from Port Said and the Mediterranean Sea to Suez and the Red Sea. Excavation of the canal began on April 25th, 1859, and on November 17, 1869 the barrage of the Suez plains reservoir was breached and waters of the Mediterranean flowed into the Red Sea. Unlike the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal has no locks, because the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Suez have roughly the same water level. The passage takes between 11 and 16 hours at a speed of around 8 knots. The low speed helps prevent erosion of the canal banks by ships wakes. Please be advised that due to the under-developed nature of this destination, organized tours are not available.

Take a one- or two-day journey to Luxor and thrill to the majesty of the Karnak and Luxor temples. Cross the Nile to the famed Valley of the Kings and the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamen and the huge mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. In the evening, witness the fabulous sound and light show at Karnak. Take a jeep safari into the desert to a Bedouin settlement for sweet tea and flatbread and enjoy the dramatic beauty of the sunset over the sands. Buy lovely hand-painted papyrus copies of tomb paintings, mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes, alabaster trinkets, jewelry, and replicas of ancient artifacts. Enjoy sizzling lamb dishes, falafel, and myriad other Middle Eastern and Egyptian specialties.

Take a one- or two-day journey to Luxor and thrill to the majesty of the Karnak and Luxor temples. Cross the Nile to the famed Valley of the Kings and the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamen and the huge mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. In the evening, witness the fabulous sound and light show at Karnak. Take a jeep safari into the desert to a Bedouin settlement for sweet tea and flatbread and enjoy the dramatic beauty of the sunset over the sands. Buy lovely hand-painted papyrus copies of tomb paintings, mother-of-pearl inlaid boxes, alabaster trinkets, jewelry, and replicas of ancient artifacts. Enjoy sizzling lamb dishes, falafel, and myriad other Middle Eastern and Egyptian specialties.

Aqaba, in southwestern Jordan, is the only seaport of Jordan. It is also our gateway to Petra, which dates back to perhaps 7000 BC and was one of the earliest known farming communities in the Middle East. The town was built out of solid red rock and features intricate carvings. It was once the capital of the flourishing Nabataean civilization that stretched from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Enter the site through a half-mile long chasm and come face-to-face with the magnificent Treasury, Petra’s ancient masterpiece.

The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, neighboring Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In 1970, the son of Sultan Said bin Taimur overthrew his father’s government and renamed the nation the Sultanate of Oman. During the Persian Gulf War, Oman served as a landing base for the allied forces. Salalah is gateway for visitors to explore the site of “Jebel Qarra,” fabled to be the tomb of the biblical Job.

Muscat is the capital of Oman, a sovereign country. Muscat has been important since the 6th century BC, when Persians controlled the port. It was under Portuguese domination from 1508 to 1650, and subsequently the Iranians gained control of the city. Muscat became the capital of independent Muscat and Oman in 1741- the country’s name was changed to just Oman in 1970. Muscat offers a number of exciting excursions including dolphin watching and off-road desert adventures.

Khasab is an eclectic and off-the-beaten-path port with pristine seas and jagged peaks. It’s location at the northern tip of the peninsula makes this city the apex of the triangle between Dubai and Muscat. Choose to take a dhow cruise along the Strait of Hormuz or go on a humpback dolphin watching excursion on the bay, either way your experience will be far from ordinary.

Located in the northeast United Arab Emirates, bustling Dubai attracts visitors with its international facilities and exotic, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle. Known as the Hong Kong of Arabia, Dubai’s modern duty-free shopping malls and traditional souks offer some of the best bargains in the world on such luxury items as gold jewelry and designer creations. For a more historic outing, visitors can explore the museum at Al Fahidi Fort or venture out into the Old Quarter of Bastakia.

Located in the northeast United Arab Emirates, bustling Dubai attracts visitors with its international facilities and exotic, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle. Known as the Hong Kong of Arabia, Dubai’s modern duty-free shopping malls and traditional souks offer some of the best bargains in the world on such luxury items as gold jewelry and designer creations. For a more historic outing, visitors can explore the museum at Al Fahidi Fort or venture out into the Old Quarter of Bastakia.