JOURNEY THROUGH THE ANCIENT WORLD

Come with us on a journey through the Near East as we visit a wealth of treasures including biblical landmarks, Byzantine settlements, Egyptian temples and tombs as well as impressive Greek and Roman sites. With the aid of our Guest Speaker and local guides, we will learn and reflect on the successive civilisations and a period of history spanning well over 2000 years. Our journey begins with a five day escorted tour of , which from the grandeur of to the desert sands of Wadi Rum and the mystical is a country steeped in history and awe inspiring beauty. Petra, a city set deep in the Edom mountains and lost to Western ‘civilisation’ for hundreds of years was hewn directly from the rock by the and is an amazing feat of engineering and construction. As you explore this vast and complex city, whose wealth came from its proximity to the ancient Middle East trade routes, you cannot help but be impressed by the industry and sophistication of this ancient civilisation. We embark the MS Serenissima in Aqaba for our twelve night voyage to Turkey’s coastal city of Antalya beginning with time spent exploring the wonders of Egypt. See the great temples of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx and visit Cairo’s magnificent Egyptian Museum. Next will be our transit of the Suez Canal, a highlight for many, followed by a visit to Alexandria from where there is the option to travel out to the Western Desert to the Museum and graveyards of El Alamein. After a leisurely day at sea we arrive in Cyprus where from Limassol we visit the Temple the Amphitheatre of Aspendos. This unusual itinerary offers a of Apollo and the ruins of Kourion with its Greco-Roman Theatre fascinating mix of some of the world’s most impressive and before continuing to the Turkish Riviera where we will explore historic sites, including the ‘Rose Red City’ of Petra, combined several ancient sites including Side, Perge and with time to relax on board the MS Serenissima, enjoying good

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com food and informative lectures in the company of just 95 fellow Day 4 Petra. travellers. After breakfast in the hotel we will explore the breathtaking Nabatean city of Petra which was carved out of the rose-red sandstone about 2000 years ago ITINERARY and has been voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Walk past the Obelisk Tomb and then through the , the narrow 1.2 kilometre gorge that leads to Petra’s most impressive monument, the Treasury which Day 1 London to Amman, Jordan. was carved out of the pale reddish sandstone in the 1st century BC. Pass by Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive in Amman this evening and transfer to our hotel the dozens of classical Nabatean ruins and tombs known as the Street of in the Dead Sea area for our two night stay. Facades, the remarkable 3000 seat Theatre, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street, the Byzantine Church, the Temple, the Monumental Arch Day 2 Dead Sea & Bethany. and the mighty Qasr el-Bint Faroun. After lunch amidst the ruins of Petra you will have the option to return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure or stay Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and a leisurely morning. You may wish to swim or and explore the site further independently. Those feeling active may choose to float in the Dead Sea which, at 423 metres below sea level is the lowest spot climb about 900 steps up to the large, 1st century AD monument known as on earth. The high salt content prevents the existence of any life forms but is the Monastery with its remarkable views over Wadi Araba. Meet this evening also believed to provide healing properties with the mud on the seabed being for dinner. rich in minerals. After lunch in the hotel restaurant we will drive to Bethany, the site where John the Baptist met and baptised Jesus Christ. The Day 5 Wadi Rum & Aqaba. excavations conducted at Bethany in Jordan have uncovered a 1st century AD settlement with plastered pools and water systems that were used almost This morning we will drive to Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon certainly for mass baptisms, and a 6th century Byzantine settlement with where the desert landscape is mixed with awe-inspiring shapes to create an churches, a monastery and other structures most probably catering to religious almost supernatural atmosphere. We will embark on an adventurous excursion pilgrims. This evening we will meet for dinner at the hotel. by a Bedouin open top four-wheel drive vehicle. We begin at the visitor centre from where there is a view in the distance of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the Day 3 Kerak & Little Petra. famous landmark named after the book by T.E. Lawrence ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. During our excursion we will also see the Alameleh inscriptions which are a This morning we drive southward along the Dead Sea shore before heading to good example of ancient rock drawings, Siq Um Al Tawaqi, a short canyon the imposing Crusader stronghold of Kerak where we visit the fortified castle containing a carving of the head of T.E. Lawrence and ruins of Allat (Goddess) which was built in AD 1142 and had witnessed many battles between the Temple of the AAD tribe. We will have lunch in the desert before driving to Crusaders and Saladin’s Muslim armies. See the network of the dimly lit Aqaba and embarking the MS Serenissima this afternoon. vaulted rooms and long winding corridors, which lead into each other through heavy arches and doorways. After our visit we continue our journey south to Day 6 Aqaba. the rose-red city of Petra. On the way we will stop at the spectacular site of Little Petra, where a modest gorge (Siq el-Barid) leads into the area of carved Spend a relaxing morning in Aqaba. For those keen to spend time in the tombs and monuments. See the Painted Cave which is believed to have been Aqaba Marine Park containing fringing reefs, over 100 species of hard coral a shelter for a sect focused on , the ancient Greek god of wine, as it and many species of fish, we will base ourselves at one of the beaches from contains remains of Greek-style plaster artwork, quite unique for Petra, where you can enjoy swimming or snorkelling in the clear waters. Alternatively displaying tangled vines and flowers with brightly coloured birds and cupidlike explore the old town of Aqaba and take time to walk through the bustling figures. A kilometre further to the southwest of Siq el-Barid is one of the souk. Return to the ship for lunch and relax on board as we spend the region’s most important archaeological sites, the 6800 BC Neolithic village of afternoon sailing through the Gulf of Aqaba. Beidha which was inhabited, long before the Nabateans, by the New Stone Age people where over 60 stone-built structures have been discovered among Days 7 & 8 Safaga for Luxor, Egypt. the ruins of this early farming community. After our visit we continue to our The port of Safaga will be our base for our overnight trip to Luxor. After driving hotel where we enjoy dinner this evening. through the desert our first call will be on the West Bank, one of the most

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com famous and important archaeological sites in the world. See the Valley of the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria stood in antiquity. Alternatively take a full day Kings, burial ground of the pharaohs for a period of 500 years. The tombs tour into the Western Desert to visit the Museum and graveyards of El vividly depict the journey of the sun god and pharaoh through the dangers of Alamein. the underworld. In the temple of Queen Hatshepsut you will discover scenes commemorating the reign of this exceptional monarch such as the ambitious Day 13 Limassol, Cyprus. voyage where she sent her ships on the Red Sea to the mysterious land of Punt. After our visit we transfer to our hotel in Luxor for some time to relax Spend the day at sea as we sail to Cyprus arriving in Limassol in the early before meeting for dinner. Our second day will include the temples of Karnak, evening. Maybe take the chance for an after dinner stroll in the town. 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 Day 14 Limassol. Amun-Ra, king of the gods, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu. Just two of the From our berth we take a morning tour which will include the Temple of Apollo, highlights you will see are the great hypostyle hall with over 130 columns one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus where Apollo was some 22 metres high and the obelisk of the powerful queen pharaoh worshipped as God of the Woodlands. It seems that the worship of Apollo on Hatshepsut. We will have some time to explore the souk before continuing to this site began as early as the 8th century BC and continued until the 4th the Nile for short cruise including lunch. In the afternoon we will board our century AD. We will continue to the ruins of Kourion, a city built in 1200 BC. coaches and return to the MS Serenissima in Safaga. Of particular interest are the public baths, the necropolis, the Fountain House, House of Gladiators and House of Achilles. The most spectacular site at Day 9 At Sea. Kourion is the Greco-Roman Theatre that has been completely restored and is Spend the day on board as we sail through the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez. Join used today for open air musical and theatrical performances. The afternoon is one of our lectures or find a spot on deck as we sail to Port Tawfiq where we free for independent exploration. arrive this evening and moor overnight. Day 15 Alanya, Turkey. Day 10 Port Tawfiq for Cairo. Arrive this morning in Turkey and the pretty port of Alanya. After breakfast we Today is a full day tour dedicated to the capital city of Cairo. We visit the will drive through the town, with views of the Taurus Mountains in the east, impressive Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the only survivor of the Seven then towards Incekum along the Turkish Riviera to the west, where we pass Wonders of the Ancient World and the tombs of the great Pharaohs and their citrus and banana plantations and visit Damlatas Cave which is a masterpiece queens. After lunch we visit the Egyptian Museum with 107 halls that are of nature, known for its curative effect on asthma. Drive along the beautiful separated into seven sections. The museum houses statues, jewels and Turkish Riviera towards the ancient city of Side which was one of the leading treasures of Tutankhamun. We will visit the Amarna Room and see the Fayoum Pamphylian cities on the south coast of Anatolia. Visit the Grand Theatre, a portraits and monuments from the later periods from the Greeks and the perfect example of a Roman theatre built on vaults on flat land. Walk through Romans. Return to the MS Serenissima for dinner this evening. the town, view the old harbour and see the remains of the Apollo Temple. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the Day 11 Suez Canal Transit. town of Alanya with its Medieval fort perched on a rocky peninsula. Spend the day in transit of the Suez Canal and the Great Bitter Lake. Day 16 Antalya. Day 12 Alexandria. Today we explore the principal Roman ruins along Turkey’s southern coast. We pass the modern city of Antalya en-route to the ancient city of Perge which Our final day in Egypt finds us in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. Here we dates back to 1000 BC and was founded by Mopsus and Calchas after their have a choice of excursions and you may spend the day exploring Alexandria retreat from Troy. See the Basilica of Perge, which played an important role in with a visit to the new Library of Celsius, and the Archaeological Museum the spread of Christianity, the 2nd century AD stadium, the baths complex and which contains recent finds of Cleopatra’s palace. Also see Pompey’s Pillar, two magnificent round towers of the Greek Gate. We drive further east for a the Coptic Cathedral of St Mark, the Catacombs, the Roman Theatre. Finally visit to Aspendos, whose amphitheatre built in the 2nd century AD is take in the views from the Citadel of Quit Bay, which stands where the famous considered the best preserved in the Mediterranean. After lunch in a local

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com restaurant either return to the ship or make a stop in the city to visit the excellent Archaeological Museum.

Day 17 Antalya to London. Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London via Istanbul.

Please Note: Itineraries are subject to change.

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com YOUR SHIP: SERENISSIMA

YOUR SHIP: Serenissima

VESSEL TYPE: Small Ship

LENGTH: 87 metres

PASSENGER CAPACITY: 95

BUILT/REFURBISHED: 1960 / 2013 / 2019

MS Serenissima is a charming vessel and one of her best known and loved features of this vessel is its unique style. During a major refit the then owners commissioned Swedish interior designers to create a Gustavian style interior. This bright >DAILY PROGRAMME Swedish 18th century influenced, country house style works A Daily Programme, detailing the following day's arrangements particularly well on a vessel of this vintage, providing intimacy as well as any specific information about the day's activities is and classic nautical sensibility often lacking in larger vessels. produced onboard and delivered to your cabin each evening The vessel is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac landing craft during the turn down service. allowing us to visit remote places where normal tender DINING, DRINKING AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS arrangements are not possible. The European Captain, Officers, The Venice Restaurant onboard serves international cuisine and Expedition Staff, and crew offer a first class service and have accommodates all guests at a single open seating. Tables seat been selected for their professionalism and caring attitudes. The 4 to 10 diners. In addition, there is an outside dining area for atmosphere on board is warm and welcoming and dedicated to when the weather and itinerary permit. Breakfast and lunch are discovery and relaxation. both buffet style, dinner is waiter service only. Complimentary AIR-CONDITIONING (red and white) house wine, beer and soft drinks are included The ship is air conditioned throughout. Please note that only the with lunch and dinner. Bar drinks and other beverages with Serenissima Suites have individually controlled air-conditioning. meals are not included; these may be purchased onboard and paid for at the end of your cruise. Complimentary tea and coffee are available between 07:00 hours and 23:00 hours at the tea and coffee station located in the Andrea lounge. Please advise of any special dietary requests in advance.

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com DISABLED FACILITIES (MasterCard, Visa, American Express), Debit Card (MasterCard The ship can accommodate passengers with mobility and Visa). Please note that personal cheques and Travellers' restrictions and wheelchair dependent passengers in cabin 407, Cheques are not accepted. which has a wider door and no step into/out of the bathroom PUBLIC AREAS and shower area. There is a lift serving decks 3 to 6, but there is • Andrea Lounge (on Deck 5). The bar is open from 11.00 until no stair lift. 24.00. DOCTOR • Harald Jarl Lounge (on Deck 5). There is a small library here A medical doctor is available on board 24 hours a day. A fee is with books and games. There is also a computer for public use charged for any consultations and medication prescribed. (charges apply for internet access) Please ensure you carry adequate supplies of any regular • Lido area (on Deck 5) with a Jacuzzi and fitness room with two medications you may require. running machines ELECTRICITY • Observation Deck (access from Deck 5 lido area) The electrical outlets in the cabins and public areas are 220V • Deck 5 and Deck 6 outside seating areas and take a two-round-pin plug (as in continental Europe). There SNORKELLING is a 110/220V, 60Hz outlet for electric shavers in the Snorkelling equipment is kept onboard. Please note that there bathroom. We recommend that you bring an international is no snorkelling from Zodiacs. All snorkelling stops will operate adaptor. from a beach. GRATUITIES TELEVISION Gratuities to crew and whilst on excursions are included in the The ship is equipped with a satellite TV system which receives cost of your holiday. 15 channels. TV reception depends on the satellite dish and on INTERNET occasion it may not be possible to receive a signal. There is one The onboard library has a computer equipped for email/internet central video channel on which it is possible to listen to the access and Wi-Fi access is available in public areas, although lectures delivered in the Andrea Lounge. There is also a channel you will require your own laptop, tablet or smartphone, and for the ship's camera located in front of the ship. charges apply - 100mb for €15 Euros, or 500mb for €25 Euros. ZODIACS Please note that connection is dependent on weather Some destinations may require the use of Zodiacs to go ashore. conditions and location. These are usually on expedition cruises though may sometimes LANGUAGE be used on destination cruises. All members of the crew speak English. MONEY The following payment methods are accepted for settlement of shipboard accounts: Cash (Euros or British Pounds), Credit Card

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com INSIDE YOUR SHIP

Classic Stateroom Deluxe Stateroom

Junior Suite Owner’s Suite

Serenissima Suite Standard Single

Standard Stateroom Superior Stateroom

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com PRICING

29-Nov-2021 to 15-Dec-2021 Standard Stateroom 7195 GBP pp Classic Stateroom 7395 GBP pp Superior Stateroom 7795 GBP pp Standard Single 8195 GBP pp Deluxe Stateroom 8295 GBP pp Junior Suite 8795 GBP pp Owner’s Suite 9295 GBP pp Serenissima Suite 9695 GBP pp

Optional extras & upgrades Post-cruise Istanbul Extension. From 595 GBP For those who wish to spend some time discovering Istanbul after disembarking the MS Serenissima we are offering a two night hotel extension with included sightseeing.

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com