p46-8 tour 3-5 mar27 24/3/09 17:38 Page 48
knowledge touring
ttglive.com
Thebes, has temples including Karnak and
a
c
ations
Kom Ombo. The Valley of the Kings and
Insight V
Queens is where some of the most important
tombs were found.
A Nile cruise is part of most itineraries.
Samples: Bales is one of the few operators to
offer dahabiyya cruises, reliving the elegant
days of the early 19th century when the rich
cruised the Nile on wooden sailing vessels. A 12-
day holiday starts from £1,855 including seven
nights on board between Luxor and Aswan.
■ balesworldwide.com
Cosmos Tourama offers a seven-night Cairo,
Alexandria and Mediterranean tour (£989
including some meals), visiting the city built
The Parthenon temple, on the Acropolis in Athens, is an enduring symbol of ancient Greece’s culture by Alexandra the Great in 300BC. A four-night
Nile cruise can be added for £296.
capital cities in the world with the Forbidden mainland and on many islands, especially ■ cosmostourama.co.uk
City, and Great Wall on its outskirts. The Crete and Santorini. Athens is the best place
ancient capital of Xi’an was the starting to discover them as the Acropolis fortress and
point of the Silk Road, and is home to the most important museums are right there.
CHRISTIANS: HOLY LAND.
Terracotta Warriors and imperial tombs. Samples: Insight Vacations’ seven-day Glories Visiting places associated with the Bible is a
These attractions are usually the main of Greece tour takes in the must-see ancient dream for many people, even if they aren’t
focus, but most tours build in scenic sites including Athens, Delphi, Olympia and committed Christians. Most of these sites lie
attractions such as a Yangtze cruise, or the Mycenae, from £1,340 including flights. within modern day Israel, where security and
bustling cities of Hong Kong or Shanghai. ■ insightvacations.com/uk other considerations are off-putting for some.
Samples: Wendy Wu Tours’ 18-day Ancient Contiki, the 18-35s specialist, includes a four-day Jerusalem is the only city in the world
China itinerary visits Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Spotlight on Greece tour, from £399, visiting held sacred by three religions: Christians,
Shanghai and Guilin, costing from £2,190. Athens, Olympia and Delphi. Jews and Muslims. Christian interest centres
■ wendywutours.co.uk ■ contiki.com around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Great Rail Journeys’ Imperial China and the and Via Dolorosa, but the Old City’s maze of
Yangtse tour uses rail travel throughout China, streets and markets fascinates everyone.
except for the river cruise sector. It costs
THE PHARAOHS: EGYPT.
The Sea of Galilee, where the Bible de-
£4,240 for 14 days with most meals. None of the ancient civilisations excites scribes Christ’s miracles, is a resort area and
■ Greatrail.com as much wonder as the Pharaohs, partly base for visiting Nazareth, home of Mary
because of the riches found in their tombs and Christ in his early years. Bethlehem is
and excavations made fairly recently. close to Jerusalem but in
THE GREEKS: GREECE.
First stop should be the Egyptian Palestinian territory. Most
In the glory days of Ancient Greece – the 10 Museum in Cairo, where the 120,000 tours continue to visit it.
centuries from about 1100BC – the world exhibits include mummified remains Samples: Page & Moy’s eight-
witnessed the first democracy and the first and the funeral mask of the most day tour of the Holy Land costs
philosophers and poets. The Greeks in turn famous pharaoh, Tutankhamun. from £1,367.
influenced the Romans, with a classical style After the obligatory visit to the ■ pageandmoy.com
of architecture and many words and customs Pyramids and Sphinx to have your Superstar offers a three-night
still in use today. The Olympic Games photo taken on a camel, it’s time to city break based in Jerusalem
are perhaps their most enduring legacy. head down south.
Bales
from £549
Ancient sites can be found throughout the Luxor, the capital of Ancient Karnak pillars, Egypt ■ superstar.co.uk
20% MORE LEGROOM
JAL Sky Shell Seat, the world’s first shell-shaped seat in Premium Economy Class and winner of the 2008
Good Design award, offers a spacious 20% more legroom than Economy Class. Now available on our
London to Tokyo and Osaka routes, JAL really is the best option when it comes to comfort and space.
Visit www.uk.jal.com or telephone 0845 7 747 700
48 27.03.2009
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