Ancient Civilizations: Greece, Turkey, Egypt & Jordan

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Take time to relax at Shedia Home, a non-profit cafe providing purpose and employment to over 150 individuals experiencing homelessness in Athens. You'll enjoy a drink while one of Shedia's guides recounts the recent history of Greece's financial crisis which has made initiatives like Shedia even more important for those who have found themselves without work and shelter. Your stop here supports their programs - including the cafe, art program, and magazine - all dedicated to supporting the community.

Join this brief yet captivating walking tour that seamlessly connects your Acropolis exploration to the vibrant heart of Athens. As you walk through the historic streets, you'll pass by key landmarks and picturesque neighborhoods, offering a glimpse of both ancient and modern Athens. Along the way learn about the city's rich history, from its iconic monuments to its bustling squares, before continuing your journey toward Shedia.

Discover the most famous of Athens’ eight hills: the Acropolis, the ultimate architectural and artistic expression of the ancient Athenian spirit. Visit the Parthenon, built for the Goddess Athena in 447 BC. This Greek temple, despite the gradual state of ruin and damage sustained over time, still symbolizes the key ideals of harmony and balance that defined the Classical style of Greek architecture.

Go on a culinary journey in Athens with a local chef. Learn how to make authentic Greek mezze (sharing dishes) such as dolmades (rice-stuffed vine leaves), imam baildi (stuffed eggplants), and spanakopita (spinach pies). You'll also create a carrot tzatziki — a twist on the classic yoghurt dip — to accompany the dishes and finish off the class with the sweet treat of portokalopita (orange phyllo cake). Sit down with your fellow "chefs" to indulge in your delicious creations for dinner and toast with a shot of ouzo.

Please note, direct trains are currently suspended. Today's journey is approximately 3 hours by train and 2 hours by bus.

Explore the Meteora area with free time today and if you're feeling adventurous, lace up your hiking boots and explore the local trails and monasteries on foot.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private bus.

Explore the Thermopylae site and Information Center, dedicated to commemorating the historic Battle of Thermopylae, a pivotal event in ancient Greek history. Learn about how Spartan warriors defended against a Persian invasion at this site in 480 BC through exhibits featuring multimedia presentations and artifacts.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private bus.

Enjoy a brief orientation walk with your CEO, then enjoy a free evening in the ancient city of Delphi.

Visit the ancient city of Delphi, at the base of Mount Parnassos. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes ancient buildings like treasuries, a stadium, a gymnasium, an altar, hippodrome and the Temple of Apollo.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private bus.

Take a quick break at the Corinth Canal, a marvel of engineering, connecting the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf in Greece.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Lose yourself in the narrow pedestrian streets of the old town and explore the many sights, sounds, and smells it has to offer.

Head out and explore the city or nearby landmarks.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit this moving and beautiful site, a great complement to any trip to Turkey, even for those not familiar with the Battle of Gallipoli. Tour the grounds to see ANZAC Cove, the war cemeteries, and Lone Pine. Learn how the Turks fought off the numerically superior, but badly commanded, Allied forces who were forced to withdraw nine months later; this battle holds special significance for Australians and New Zealanders, as both nations lost many soldiers.

Take a ferry from Gallipoli across to Çanakkale City Center.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

See historic Troy, made famous by Homer’s “Iliad,” (and more recently by Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt). Tour the city that, for centuries, was regarded as just a myth, until its ruins were found in in the mid-19th century. Imagine what a great city this must have been, while taking a tour of the remains. Don't miss the chance to have a photo taken with the Trojan horse.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the G-supported çöp(m)adam handicraft cooperation. All products are made out of recycled goods and by making a purchase it will directly support the local women who work in the workshop and over time has contributed to over 500 women who have been part of the project.

Visit the G-supported handicraft cooperation. All products are made out of recycled goods and by making a purchase it will directly support the local women who work in the workshop and over time has contributed to over 500 women who have been part of the project.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Tour the ruins of ancient Ephesus to get a feeling of what life must have been like during Roman times. Take in its massive, well-preserved theatre, which dominates the view down Harbour Street. See the two-story library, whose façade has been carefully reconstructed from all original pieces. Built in AD 125, it once held nearly 12,000 scrolls.

Spend some more time in this quaint town.

Don't waste a minute — get out and explore.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Tour the white cliffs of Pamukkale to learn about this World Heritage-listed site and natural wonder. Made up of 17 hot water springs, the cliffs are formed when the calcium carbonate hardens with time. Explore the ancient site of Hierapolis built on top of the white "castle." See the large, ancient baths within the city (thought to be evidence that the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since second century BC).

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy an orientation walk of Istanbul. Each walk varies, allowing your CEO to show off their favourite spots around the city. Pass by city highlights such as the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia (also known as the Aya Sofya), and the Blue Mosque. Walks may also include the atmospheric Spice Bazaar or breathtaking Grand Bazaar.

With tons to see and do, don't waste a minute.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Enjoy a tour of the magnificent great pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx. No matter how many photos or documentaries you have seen, the first glimpse of these marvels of the ancient world will take your breath away. As a qualified Egyptologist, your CEO has all the facts about these massive structures.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to the single civilization of ancient Egypt. Here you will find vast collections of over 100,000 artifacts, many of which have never been displayed before. Wander the grand halls and take a journey through Egypt’s ancient heritage and modern design.

Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.

Enjoy a comfortable twin-share compartment with bunk beds and lockable doors. The beds convert into seats when not in use and luggage is stored under the bottom bunk. Bedding is provided and there is a small wash basin with soap and a towel provided. Shared toilet facilities are at the end of each carriage. A simple “airline style” dinner is also included. Non-alcoholic drinks are available to purchase and there is a bar car for socializing.

Head out and explore this sleepy town.

Board a local boat, to take a trip along the magnificent Nile, with views of the Aga Khan Mausoleum and Kitchener Island. Stop on one of the inhabited Nile islands in this area, to tour a local Nubian village. Walk through the village and fields and learn more about the life of the Nubian people before enjoying a delicious traditional dinner at a local home.

Explore Aswan or go further afield.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy a visit to this temple located in a scenic spot, right on the banks of the Nile. It was dedicated to the crocodile god, and you can still see the remains of an ancient mummified crocodile that was worshipped here thousands of years ago.

Board a felucca (local boat), to take a trip along the magnificent Nile, with views of the city. Journey 4 hours on the water to Aswan Bridge. Lunch will be served on board.

Rise early to cross the Nile to the west bank, passing through farmers fields on your way to the Valley of the Kings. Descend the narrow, rock-hewn corridors and take in the magnificent decoration and designs of the tombs of the pharaohs. While the treasure has now all gone, the tombs contain the incredible paintings of the life of their incumbent and stories from the Book of the Dead. Continue on to visit to the impressive Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which seems to rise out of the surrounding limestone outcrops - a reminder of the power women held in the Ancient Kingdom. End the day with a stop at the two mammoth statues of Amenophis II at the Colossi of Memnon. Please note, there is an additional 300 EGP fee to take photos in the Valley Of Kings.

Sit down to a traditional lunch with a local family on the West bank of the Nile.

Start exploring Luxor.

Enjoy a visit to the Karnak Temple, which was once the centre of all religious life in ancient Egypt. Built and extended by successive generations of rulers, admire the amazing architecture, massive columns, and painted hieroglyphs.

The group will sail by ferry to the West Bank to meet our student-guide. Together we will bike through the village and visit the Funtasia Project Center where the group will learn about the Planeterra project at this location over tea with our guide. Funtasia is a local nonprofit that works with young people in the West Bank of Luxor to develop life skills and social consciousness. They work with youth in after school programs that teach art, communication, and social skills.

Explore the bustling local bazaar at your leisure, checking out the sights, sounds and wares for sale. Pick up a few if you like! Please note that this visit is self-guided.

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take a step back in time visiting Jerash, one of the most well-preserved Roman sites outside of Italy. Wander amid its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains, and city walls pierced by towers and gates – all in exceptional condition.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Discover the legendary healing qualities of the Dead Sea, famous for its unique mineral makeup and salinity. Spot salt chunks drifting by like icebergs on the water’s surface. Take a dip yourself and float like a buoy or cover yourself in the mud along the shore, believed to have medicinal and therapeutic benefits. There are showers nearby to wash off after.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Including stops along the way.

Visit Mount Nebo, a historic site believed by many to be the location of Moses' death and has thus been a centre for pilgrimage since the earliest Christian times. Reach to the summit (817m or 2,680 ft), and be rewarded with views of the stunning surrounding countryside and Israel in the distance.

Explore Madaba’s long history on this guided tour, including its role as the centre of early Christianity. See some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, including the famous sixth-century mosaic map of the Middle East. Tour churches, the Archaeological Park, and the local museum that's housed in several old Madaba residences.

Take a walk through history on this guided tour of Karak Castle, the largest late-Islamic castle in Jordan. Explore its unique construction – initially built in the Crusader period, it was expanded and refortified during the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras.

Journey to Petra to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. Wind your way through the Siq, a narrow, 1km-long (.6 mi) gorge flanked by soaring 80m-high (262 ft) sandstone walls. Take in the astounding colours and patterns of the rock, and, at the end of this passage, catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh, the famed treasury of Petra. Explore in depth with your Expedition Leader and get a brief history of the city, one of the greatest attractions in the Middle East. The Nabateans carved this capital from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Visit monuments that include the Pharaoh's Column, the triumphal arch, the amphitheatre, and the monastery.

Drive time doesn't include stops in the gorgeous desert along the way.

Journey into the stunning, colourful desert on this 4x4 excursion. Make stops along the way to get out and explore, learn about the region or scramble up rocks or sand dunes. Reach the Bedouin camp for nightfall to learn about a new culture and eat traditional food beneath the starry skies.

Stay overnight in the desert, enjoying a traditional meal and learning more about the ancient Bedouin culture. Spend the evening sitting under the stars, around a fire, listening to stories from the Bedouin hosts. If really lucky, they may bring the drums out for some music! Your accommodation in the desert is in individual cabins that are all attached. Each room contains a bathroom and basic linens are provided, but many travellers prefer to bring a sleep sheet for extra comfort.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Make the most of this Red Sea resort town. Free time is yours to use any way you want!

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Stop for lunch at Al Safi Kitchen to enjoy a traditional Jordanian meal. Take a tour of the grounds, taste a delicious meal with the freshest ingredients from Safi’s farms, and learn about how this nonprofit is working to create a sustainable future for community members near the Dead Sea. The mission of the company is to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and natural resources of the area. They also offer equal job opportunities for all members of the local community.

A visit to Safi Crafts offers a captivating experience that merges cultural education with conscious shopping. Guests are welcomed into the facility where they can observe the artisans as they meticulously carry out the natural dyeing process, and learn about the local plants and ancient techniques used. This is a unique opportunity to witness traditional craftsmanship firsthand and gain a profound appreciation for the artistry and dedication involved. By purchasing a product, travellers not only take home a beautiful, handmade souvenir but also directly contribute to the economic empowerment of these skilled women, supporting their continued success and the preservation of this invaluable heritage.

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.