Grand Journey Luxury Cruise from Athens to Dubai Itinerary
Day 1 – Piraeus (Athens)
Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility – housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city’s progressive attitude.
Day 2 – Heraklion, Crete
Immerse in a capital town that bustles with life, classical culture, steep landscapes and seductive beaches. Visit Rethymnon’s impressive past and visit Chania’s glorious Venetian architecture. Be guided around the Palace of Knossos – a must for minotaur and labyrinth fans. Walk the Venetian walls that mark the medieval city limits to explore the main archaeological museum, the Loggia Building and the Agios Titos church for relics of St Tito. Scale the heights of Mount Ida, hike paths that span villages and battlefields, scuba dive and nip over to fêted neighbouring Greek isles. Explore the island through the ages at museums, sip raki and delight in local cuisine. Embrace this Isle of the Gods that teems with treasure.
Day 3 – At Sea
Day 4 – Port Said
A place of myth and legend that simmers with heady mix of romance, action, adventure, pharaohs and Pyramids. Choose to crawl through chambers to discover ancient hieroglyphics, gaze at the Great Sphinx, visit Luxor, the Valley of Kings (and Queen) and Tutankhamun’s exhibition at G.E.M. For a different experience, you may prefer to drop into a health spa for pure relaxation, and later share stories as you gracefully sail along in a hot air balloon. Passionate Egyptologists will talk you through the lineage of the Pharaohs, whilst architects and engineers walk you through the construction of the Suez Canal. Come evening, slow down for some Eastern cuisine in the curiously quaint Port Fouad where choice and variety is the order of the day. An incredible global crossroads that you truly need to see and experience to believe.
Day 5 – Crossing the Suez Canal
Egypt’s wondrous waterway, the Suez Canal, unfolds before you on a sensorial sailing. Glide gently through the liquid link as you ebb between auspicious antiquity and modern commerce. Swish beneath bridges and traverse locks as the canal leads you beside fertile farmlands of the Nile delta and rugged desert of the Sinai Peninsula. Embrace your inner explorer to discover the world on a deeper level with this extraordinary canal expansion experience.
Day 6 – At Sea
Day 7 & 8 – Jeddah
Immerse yourself in the bustle and buzz of Saudi Arabia’s oldest city. Pilgrimage to Islamic holy towns, unearth secrets in the backstreets of UNESCO-celebrated Al-Balad, explore ruins and floating mosques, then unwind strolling amongst the charms of the Corniche. Seek breathtaking Edge of the World views, shop heaving souks and set out to Moon Mountain. Fish, quad bike, dive, ride camels, mountain climb, or gallop through the desert on Arabian horses. From the world’s largest dome to the world’s tallest fountain, watch the rise of this captivating city.
Day 9-11 – At Sea
Day 12 – Salalah
Frankincense-scented charms mingle with a sea and sun that swims in a bright blue Mediterranean feel. Here UNESCO-approved ruins, tombs, Arabian palaces with desert backdrops and jaw-dropping mosques await. Refresh in Wadi Darbat’s waterfalls, spot wolves and the last few Arabian leopards in the Jabal Samhan nature reserve, watch dolphins and dhows call in at shores and go full Bedouin on a dune excursion. Stock up on precious metals at the Gold Souk, shop for a turban headdress, mussar, or a kummah hat, and then lose yourself in the Lost City or Empty Quarter. Salalah’s warm-natured people will warm your heart.
Day 13 – At Sea
Day 14 – Muscat
Ease yourself in authentic Arabia with spirit-lifting adventures. Snorkel alongside turtles and rays, come alive at souks bearing gold and silver gifts and enjoy the arid desert on land, by air or in an oasis of water. Browse Omani art and cultural curios and track down the fragrant headquarters of the world’s most expensive perfumery. Learn to cook, rock climb and cliff dive. Submerge in sinkholes and soothe at holistic Arabic-style spas. Hike up terraced trails to cliff-hanging fertile farms in the Al Hajar Mountains to zip off-road to ancient Sabatyn. This lavish capital swirls in twinkling souks, thrilling terrain, and smouldering oud scents.
Day 15 – Khasab
Arrive in a remote Omani peninsula at its filigreed fingertip pointing at the Strait of Hormuz. Burn up rocky peaks on bikes and off-road vehicles, cruise through spectacular inlets on converted dhows to explore the landscape and flit beneath warm waves with schools of dolphins and tuna of Telegraph Island. Look into Old Town forts, laid-back souks and whitewashed mosques. Pass hidden Bedouin houses, mosques and goats to reach a vast green oasis, then swing up to the summit for cooler climes, fossilised fish and views to behold. Blink and you might miss the richness of this discreet legend.
Day 16 – Dubai
Seek out a sun-soaked city of luxurious excess, thrilling innovation and impressive landmarks. So cosmopolitan it hurts. Ski through snow, watch choreographed waterworks, listen to ship-shape opera, behold another Lamborghini, sail an abra and gasp at the floral universe. Delve into Old Dubai’s forgotten past, get the picture at the lofty Dubai Frame and head downtown to the iconic Burj Khalifa and uber-extravagant Mall. Rotate on the cosmical wheel and fine dine in the sky. Like a shimmering mirage, Dubai’s diversity lights up Arabian skies with its ability to evolve and astound.
