Legends of the Sands – Istanbul To Abu Dhabi

Indulge your eyes and senses in this magnificent city astride two continents. Visit beautiful Topkapi Palace, the awesome Hagia Sophia and the impressive Blue Mosque. Cruise the Bosphorus to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective. Visit one of the many museums or stroll through the spice market and the famous Grand Bazaar.

Indulge your eyes and senses in this magnificent city astride two continents. Visit beautiful Topkapi Palace, the awesome Hagia Sophia and the impressive Blue Mosque. Cruise the Bosphorus to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective. Visit one of the many museums or stroll through the spice market and the famous Grand Bazaar.

Meander through the ruins of ancient Ephesus and marvel at the famed Library of Celsus, the huge amphitheater, the marble roads with their chariot marks, the amazing mosaic sidewalks and the superb, rarely opened Terrace Houses. Or journey to three monumental cities of antiquity – Priene, Miletus and Didyma – renowned for their majestic temples and impressive, beautifully preserved stadiums.

Enjoy a walking tour of the old fortified city and stand in awe of the impressive Grand Master’s Palace. See where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood and savor the charm of this remarkable walled town. Or drive along the scenic coast to Lindos. Enjoy the whitewashed little town and climb to the ancient acropolis, its temples and wonderful views.

Limassol is the jumping off point to explore the ancient riches of Cyprus. See ruins, majestic mountains and scenery, stunning beaches, and vast groves of lemons, oranges and olives. Visit Lemesos Castle, where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre, and its fascinating museum. Or stroll through ancient Curium and admire its stunning mosaics, theater, basilica and panoramic views over the sea. Venture inland to Nicosia and its wonders like the Cathedral of St. John, the Venetian fortifications, a restored old town and mosque, and the Cyprus Museum.

Visit the land of miracles – Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beautitudes and Tabgha. Venture to Nazareth, home of the young Jesus. See the largest hanging gardens in the world at the Bahai Gardens of Haifa. Or visit the Nahalal Moshav, a commune established in 1921 by Jewish immigrants.

Visit the land of miracles – Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beautitudes and Tabgha. Venture to Nazareth, home of the young Jesus. See the largest hanging gardens in the world at the Bahai Gardens of Haifa. Or visit the Nahalal Moshav, a commune established in 1921 by Jewish immigrants.

Visit Aqaba’s castle fortress, archaeological museum and mosque. Or journey to magnificent Petra, an ancient city hidden behind rugged mountains. As you enter Petra’s main square through a narrow chasm, the superb facades of imposing monuments carved into the cliffs are revealed, the hues of the stone changing as the sun moves across the sky.

Port Safaga, also known as Safaga, is a town in Egypt, on the coast of the Red Sea, located 53 km south of Hurghada. This small port is also a tourist area that consists of several bungalows and rest houses, including the Safaga Hotel, with a capacity of 48 rooms.

Port Safaga, also known as Safaga, is a town in Egypt, on the coast of the Red Sea, located 53 km south of Hurghada. This small port is also a tourist area that consists of several bungalows and rest houses, including the Safaga Hotel, with a capacity of 48 rooms.

Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea, is a modern commercial hub and gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities Mecca and Medina. Resort hotels, beaches and outdoor sculptures line the Corniche, a seafront promenade anchored by the iconic King Fahd’s Fountain. The city’s Al-Balad historic district dates to the 7th century and retains traditional homes built from coral.

Admire the colorful Sultan’s palace and the Jelali and Merani forts, stroll through the markets and narrow alleys and browse in the bustling souks. Or view the city from above by traveling on the Corniche and head out along the scenic Batinah coast and enjoy the desert, the oases, fishing villages and the historic medieval Nakhl Fort. Then spend time at a glorious beach resort.

Explore this amazing emirate where ultra-modern architecture soars over traditional Arab styles. See the impressive Jumeirah Mosque and stroll through the narrow alleys of old Dubai. Visit a museum in a former all-boys school or journey along Dubai Creek in a dhow. Visit fascinating Sharjah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its fabulous souks.

Explore this amazing emirate where ultra-modern architecture soars over traditional Arab styles. See the impressive Jumeirah Mosque and stroll through the narrow alleys of old Dubai. Visit a museum in a former all-boys school or journey along Dubai Creek in a dhow. Visit fascinating Sharjah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its fabulous souks.

Explore this amazing emirate where ultra-modern architecture soars over traditional Arab styles. See the impressive Jumeirah Mosque and stroll through the narrow alleys of old Dubai. Visit a museum in a former all-boys school or journey along Dubai Creek in a dhow. Visit fascinating Sharjah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its fabulous souks.

The only emirate on the Gulf of Oman rather than the Persian Gulf, Fujairah is blessed with fine beaches and offers excellent deep-sea fishing and snorkeling. It’s separated from the rest of the country by the Hagar mountain range that looms majestically behind the port of Fujairah. Built in 1670, Fujairah Fort and the spring-fed Ain Al Madhab Gardens lie nearby.

Admire the colorful Sultan’s palace and the Jelali and Merani forts, stroll through the markets and narrow alleys and browse in the bustling souks. Or view the city from above by traveling on the Corniche and head out along the scenic Batinah coast and enjoy the desert, the oases, fishing villages and the historic medieval Nakhl Fort. Then spend time at a glorious beach resort.

Bahrain has a history that dates back to 2300 BC, when the ancient city of Dilmun served as a major trading post between Mesopotamia and India. Remnants of this ancient culture can be found at an archaeological dig near Bahrain Fort (Qal’at al-Bahrain), one of the country’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other draws include the Bahrain International Circuit, a major Formula 1 track that’s the site of the Bahrain Grand Prix and the UNESCO site at Muharraq.

Qatar’s capital and largest city displays a broad sea-front corniche lined with impressive, towering, and strikingly modern architecture. View it from the sea with a ride on a traditional dhow. Notable highlights include the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, which houses the largest collection of Islamic artifacts in the world and the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum displays one man’s massive collection of everything from cars to stamps and ancient treasures.

Founded in 1971 by the founding President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this ambitious visionary project is located on a natural island that has been occupied for centuries. There are over 40 archaeological sites on the island and is filled with native and endangered species of Arabian flora and fauna. Over half the island is dedicated to the Arabian Wildlife Park.

As the world’s richest city, Abu Dhabi boasts opulent hotels, museums and a yacht-filled marina, all marvels of modern architecture. Explore the emirate’s old souks, sip a fragrant Arabic coffee, ride the dunes on an exhilarating desert safari, or dive into dazzling marine life.

As the world’s richest city, Abu Dhabi boasts opulent hotels, museums and a yacht-filled marina, all marvels of modern architecture. Explore the emirate’s old souks, sip a fragrant Arabic coffee, ride the dunes on an exhilarating desert safari, or dive into dazzling marine life.