Azamara®: Azamara Pursuit

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summit has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.

Suggested Private Excursions

Piraeus: The Ancient City of Athens - 8 Hours

Piraeus: Cape Sounion - 5 hours

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This Mediterranean city, blessed with a mild, pleasant climate and white beaches, is a popular playground and the country's summer capital. Nightclubs, sidewalk cafes and restaurants lining the Corniche add to Alexandria's attractions. There are museums, Roman theater, and catacombs to explore. Alexandria also serves as gateway for excursions to Cairo and the famous El Alamein battlefield. Visitors will find plenty of interest in this "Pearl of the Mediterranean." Good shopping buys include gold and silver jewelry, especially the gold cartouche with your name inscribed in hieroglyphs, cotton goods, carpets, leather articles, copper- and brassware, basketware and papyrus prints. The city boasts a reputation of having the country's best food. Other sights include: Ras at-Tin Palace, with its surrounding gardens; Hussein Sobhy Museum of Fine Arts; and Hotel Cecil, a grand and elegant hotel with romantic and intriguing history. There is a War Museum and Commonwealth War Cemetery.

This Mediterranean city, blessed with a mild, pleasant climate and white beaches, is a popular playground and the country's summer capital. Nightclubs, sidewalk cafes and restaurants lining the Corniche add to Alexandria's attractions. There are museums, Roman theater, and catacombs to explore. Alexandria also serves as gateway for excursions to Cairo and the famous El Alamein battlefield. Visitors will find plenty of interest in this "Pearl of the Mediterranean." Good shopping buys include gold and silver jewelry, especially the gold cartouche with your name inscribed in hieroglyphs, cotton goods, carpets, leather articles, copper- and brassware, basketware and papyrus prints. The city boasts a reputation of having the country's best food. Other sights include: Ras at-Tin Palace, with its surrounding gardens; Hussein Sobhy Museum of Fine Arts; and Hotel Cecil, a grand and elegant hotel with romantic and intriguing history. There is a War Museum and Commonwealth War Cemetery.

The Suez Canal links two oceans and two seas the Atlantic and Mediterranean via Gibraltar to Port Said, and the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea via Bab Al Mandab and the Gulf of Suez to the port of Suez. It is the longest Canal that has no locks, it can be widened and deepened at any time when necessary. The Suez Canal's strategic importance lies in the fact it is essential for world trade and greatly shortens the distance between East and West. The distance between Tokyo (Japan) and Rotterdam (Holland) is shortened by 23% if it goes round Africa.

The Suez Canal links two oceans and two seas the Atlantic and Mediterranean via Gibraltar to Port Said, and the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea via Bab Al Mandab and the Gulf of Suez to the port of Suez. It is the longest Canal that has no locks, it can be widened and deepened at any time when necessary. The Suez Canal's strategic importance lies in the fact it is essential for world trade and greatly shortens the distance between East and West. The distance between Tokyo (Japan) and Rotterdam (Holland) is shortened by 23% if it goes round Africa.

The port city of Safaga, located on the western flank of the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia, has dusty streets that are for the most part quiet. Diving enthusiasts come to Safaga to take advantage of one of the world’s best locations for underwater exploration. For those guests who feel the 150-mile drive through the desert may be too much, Safaga offers bazaars where bargaining for souvenirs and handicraft items
may be fun. Nearby are a few hotels offering resort and diving facilities.

Luxor: Aside from visiting the pyramids near Cairo, Luxor and Al Karnak are places not to be missed when in search of ancient Egyptian monuments and artifacts. Luxor is on the southern part of ancient Thebes, Al Karnak on the north. Between the two, visitors can lose themselves for days in the hundreds of temples, chapels, tombs and gardens in the area. Too extensive to list all of them, a few of the tombs not to be missed are the tombs of Nefertari, Amenhotep II & III, several Ramesses and Tutankhamen.

The port city of Safaga, located on the western flank of the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia, has dusty streets that are for the most part quiet. Diving enthusiasts come to Safaga to take advantage of one of the world’s best locations for underwater exploration. For those guests who feel the 150-mile drive through the desert may be too much, Safaga offers bazaars where bargaining for souvenirs and handicraft items
may be fun. Nearby are a few hotels offering resort and diving facilities.

Luxor: Aside from visiting the pyramids near Cairo, Luxor and Al Karnak are places not to be missed when in search of ancient Egyptian monuments and artifacts. Luxor is on the southern part of ancient Thebes, Al Karnak on the north. Between the two, visitors can lose themselves for days in the hundreds of temples, chapels, tombs and gardens in the area. Too extensive to list all of them, a few of the tombs not to be missed are the tombs of Nefertari, Amenhotep II & III, several Ramesses and Tutankhamen.

Jordan's only outlet to the sea, Aqaba is a popular holiday destination - with a superb climate and beach-edged Red Sea waters that boast some of the world's finest coral reef diving. Aqaba is the only seaport of Jordan. Visit fabled Petra, perhaps the finest archaeological site in the Middle East. The great monuments of this Nabatean 'rose-red city, half as old as time' were hewn from living sandstone some 2,000 years ago, and rediscovered only in 1812. Nearer Aqaba is the spectacular scenery of Lawrence of Arabia's Wadi Rum, where rugged jebel mountains rise sheer from the desert sands.

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Although it's definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. Jeddah is centered on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along its coast road and the old city directly behind them. Jeddah has some great museums, including the Municipality Museum. Located in a 200-year-old restored house built from Red Sea coral, the museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with rooms done up in traditional style. The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hasan Khalil houses 10,000 items in 4 mock-Arab buildings. The museum is a mish-mash of kitsch exhibits, but there are a few gems among the flotsam. The Jeddah Museum is the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography. Jeddah has one of the best markets in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city and is still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddah's 3 reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around North City Gate.

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No information currently available.

No information currently available.

No information currently available.

No information currently available.

Surrounded by striking mountains on one side and soft sandy shores along its coasts, Muscat is an ancient town, characterized by a unique civilization reflecting Arabian and Islamic influences. It maintains a medieval appearance with two ancient Portuguese forts guarding the rocky cove around which the town is built. In the heart of the old, walled-in city is the magnificent Sultan’s Palace and various ancient buildings, distinctive with Eastern Arabian style, Arabesque gates and beautiful engravings. The Muttrah Souq (bazaar) is without a doubt the most interesting souq in the Arab Gulf States - with a vast array of Arabian antiques, bright textiles and exquisite gold and silver jewelry. Muscat is indeed a treasure chest of places to see, where history comes alive and age-old secrets are revealed in a taste of timelessness. Muscat boasts fine museums. Distinctive with its clean silver sands, Qantab Beach is surrounded by mountains which prevent exposure to strong winds. Muscat is a photographer’s delight.

Dubai is a member of the United Arab Emirates, the cluster of sheikdoms along the Arabian Sea. Located at the crossroads between East and West, the emirate's long-standing trading tradition has for centuries brought visitors from throughout the Middle East and neighbouring regions. Now modernized, Dubai continues to attract many with its international facilities and its exotic, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle. Dubai has the best prices in the Arab Gulf states for gold, electronics, perfumes and is a tax-free city. It also has good beaches and excellent resort hotels. The town was the residence of the British political agent for the former Trucial States from 1954 until 1971. Known as the Venice of the Gulf, Dubai is the chief port and commercial center of the United Arab Emirates.

Suggested Private Excursions

The Highlights of Dubai - Full day tour

Dubai - Private Desert Safari Experience - 6 hours or more

Taste of Dubai

Dubai is a member of the United Arab Emirates, the cluster of sheikdoms along the Arabian Sea. Located at the crossroads between East and West, the emirate's long-standing trading tradition has for centuries brought visitors from throughout the Middle East and neighbouring regions. Now modernized, Dubai continues to attract many with its international facilities and its exotic, yet cosmopolitan lifestyle. Dubai has the best prices in the Arab Gulf states for gold, electronics, perfumes and is a tax-free city. It also has good beaches and excellent resort hotels. The town was the residence of the British political agent for the former Trucial States from 1954 until 1971. Known as the Venice of the Gulf, Dubai is the chief port and commercial center of the United Arab Emirates.

Suggested Private Excursions

The Highlights of Dubai - Full day tour

Dubai - Private Desert Safari Experience - 6 hours or more

Taste of Dubai