Tour & Cruise 577(T)	Cruise 577
Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Dubai
17 Nov-6 Dec 2024 20 days Fares from �3450	22 Nov-6 Dec 2024 15 days Fares from �2855

577(T) Tour & Cruise
Fri 17 Nov London - Damascus	"Tour & Cruise" passengers fly from London to Damascus and transfer to our hotel.
Sat 18 Nov Damascus - Krak des Chevaliers- Palmyra	Today we drive to Maaloula to see the church of St Sergius and Bacchus, before continuing to Krak des Chevaliers. Overnight in Palmyra.
Sun 19 Nov Palmyra - Damascus	Visit the oasis of Palmyra to see the Valley of the Tombs, Temple of Bel and the Great Colonnade.
Mon 20 Nov Damascus	Our sightseeing of Damascus includes the National Museum and the Omayyad Mosque.
Tue 21 Nov Damascus - Bosra - Amman	We drive to Bosra to see possibly the best Roman theatre in existence and continue to Jerash, one of Jordan's major sites. Overnight in Amman.
Wed 22 Nov Amman - Aqaba	Explore the capital's ancient Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre. Before joining Minerva in Aqaba we visit Madaba and Mount Nebo.
577 Cruise Itinerary
Wed 22 Nov London - Aqaba	"Cruise Only" passengers fly from London to Aqaba to join Minerva.
Thu 23 Nov Aqaba	A full day in Aqaba to explore the spectacular "rose-red" city of Petra or you may wish to swim at a local beach or take an alternative excursion to visit the breathtaking scenery of Wadi Rum.
Fri 24 Nov Sharm El Sheik	Today you may wish to relax, or explore the marine and desert life that this area is famous for. Or, take our supplementary excursion to visit spectacular St Catherine's Monastery, site of the Burning Bush.
Sat 25 Nov Safaga	We drive through the desert to visit the famous monuments of Luxor, including the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple.
Sun 26- Mon 27 Nov At Sea	Time to relax and acquaint yourself with Minerva's many facilities. Pamper yourself in the hair and beauty salon or see a film in the Auditorium.
Tue 28 Nov At Sea - Hodeidah	Arrive in the Yemeni port of Hodeidah early evening.
Wed 29 Nov Hodeidah	Explore Zebid, once a centre of learning and scholarship. A supplementary excursion is available to the largest open-air museum in the world, the capital city of Sana'a.
Thu 30 Nov- Fri 1 Dec At Sea	As we cruise the Arabian Sea, relax on deck with a book from Minerva's extensive Library.
Sat 2 Dec Salalah	A morning visit to Salalah, the trading port of the fabled Frankincense.
Sun 3 Dec At Sea	Time to reflect on our experiences of the Arabian Peninsula with our Guest Speakers and look forward to the sights to come.
Mon 4 Dec Muscat	A full day in Oman's capital, Muscat, where we visit the Sultan's Palace and the Natural History Museum or the imposing Nakhl Fort. There will also be a supplementary excursion to Nizwa and Jabrin.
Tue 5 Dec Dubai	Minerva arrives late afternoon in Dubai, the Arab equivalent to Hong Kong. There will be a supplementary evening desert safari.
Wed 6 Dec Dubai	Before our return flight to London we take a city sightseeing tour including the Museum and old Waterfront.

Oliver Miles CMG Entered the Diplomatic Services in 1969; and in the Arab World has worked in Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, UAE and was the last serving Ambassador to Libya in 1984. International diplomacy and politics are his speciality.

Patrick Moore CBE OBE World famous astronomer, he began presenting the BBC TV series 'The Sky at Night' in 1957, is the author of over 60 books and even has a planet named after him. Listen to Patrick Moore to discover more about astronomy and the stars of the east glittering in clear Arabian skies.

The Revd Canon Anthony Phillips Canon Theologian of Truro Cathedral. His background includes classics and archaeology and he has a special interest in Biblical and current law.

Richard Wallace Islamic art, architecture and literature are an interesting aspect of our travels. Richard Wallace, Head of the University of Keele's Classics department for 13 years and National Treasurer of the Classical Association of England and Wales will share his expertise.