AGENDA
Agenda is subject to change. Please see below for current details.
DAY ONE - SIX: Egypt
Egypt is a country dating back to the time of the pharaohs. Millennia-old monuments sit along the fertile Nile River Valley, including Giza's colossal Pyramids and Great Sphinx as well as Luxor's hieroglyph-lined Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings tombs. The capital, Cairo, is home to Ottoman landmarks like Muhammad Ali Mosque and the Egyptian Museum, a trove of antiquities.
We start the tour in Aswan - sailing the majestic Nile River to Luxor in the comfort and modern luxury of the 5-star Sonesta Star Goddess.
Explore the landmark temples, tombs and ruins in the region. Guided excursions with Egyptologists highlight each day and are followed by business sessions and local product tastings.
At the end of the Cruise, head to Cairo for 2 nights, staying at the Marriott Mena House which is located in the heart of the pyramids.
A major highlight will be discovering the pyramids and Sphinx up close from our exclusive viewing areas.
DAY SEVEN – TEN: Marrakech
Prepare for your senses to be hit. Marrakech's heady sights and sounds will dazzle, frazzle and enchant. Put on your babouches and dive right in.
The Medina, get your map ready! Think of the medina's souqs as a shopping mall, but laid out according to a labyrinthine medieval-era plan. Whether you want to spice up your pantry with North African flavours or buy a carpet to add Moroccan-wow to your house, this magpie's nest of treasures is ideal for shopping fanatics. The main market streets (Souq Semmarine and Souq El Kebir) are where you’ll buy the finer items.
The main artery into this mazy muddle is the vast square of Djemaa El Fna, where it's carnival night every night. Stroll between snail vendors, snake charmers, soothsayers, acrobats and conjurers, musicians and slapstick acting troupes to discover the old city's frenetic pulse. The party doesn't end until the lights go out.
Trip highlights will include a journey through the stoney landscape to the snowcapped Atlas Mountains to meet local Berbers in their homes and villages topping it off with exploration of ancient and modern hospitality and food trends in the Marrakech Medina.
DAY ELEVEN TO FIFTEEN - Lisbon
Seven cinematic hillsides overlooking the Rio Tejo cradle Lisbon's 'postcard-perfect' panorama of cobbled alleyways, ancient ruins and white-domed cathedrals – a captivating recipe crafted over centuries.
Capital of Portugal, Lisbon was, colonised by many civilizations along the centuries: Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors and finally the Portuguese and was transformed into an opulent centre of a vast empire.
But now we recognise Lisbon has one of the best dining scenes in Europe (and the world). From laneway tapas and hole in the wall bars to fresh Atlantic seafood, award winning wines and modern rooftop terraces and nightclubs - we will enjoy the gastronomic highlights of Lisbon as we explore her historic cultural past and charming surrounds.