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Genoa
to Naples: Days 1-2
Genoa is often made famous for the
fact that it is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus (1447)
and composer Niccola Paganini (1784) and it is from here that we
set sail at 16h00 on our incredible journey down through the Suez
Canal to Durban, on the East Coast of Africa. Our journey first
takes us overnight to the Italian port town of Naples, the largest
and most prosperous city in Southern Italy. It sits on the coast on
the northern edge of the Bay of Naples, one of the most beautiful bays
in Italy. Its harbor is the most important port in Southern Italy. We
will arrive here around mid day and set sail in the early evening
towards Port Said.
Naples
to Alexandra to Port
Said: Days 2-5
Port Said is a city on the Mediterranean
coast of Egypt at the top of the Suez Canal. It was founded in 1859 by
Said Pasha to house men working on the Suez Canal. Port Said is
also an important harbour both for exports of Egyptian products like
cotton and rice, but also a fuelling station for ships that pass
through the Suez Canal. Port Said also thrives on being a duty-free
port, as well as a summer resort for Egyptians.
Port
Said to Suez to
Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt): Days 5-7
We depart Port Said around 08h00 and head down towards Suez. After
heading down the Suez Canal, we will head up to Sharm El Sheikh one of
the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the
Sinai peninsula. All around are Bedouins, colorful tents, mountains
and sea.
Sharm El Sheikh
to Aqaba: Days 7-8
We
depart to the Jordanian town of Aqaba. Aqaba's reef is well known
for its variety of coral and fish. Common species are branch coral,
fungia and montipora, and the rare archelia, a black, tree-like specimen
found at great depths. Aqaba's
long history dates back to pre-biblical times, when it was known as Ayla.
According to the Bible's Old Testament, King Solomon built a navel base at
Ezion Geber, just 3 kilometers from where the modern town of Aqaba stands
today.
Aqaba to
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia): Days 9-10
We
leave Aqaba and head towards Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian city
located on the coast of the
Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi
Arabia. It is the largest city in
Makkah Province, and the second largest city in Saudi
Arabia after the capital city,
Riyadh. The population of the city currently stands at
over 3.4 million. It is considered the commercial capital of
Saudi Arabia and the wealthiest city in the
Middle East and western
Asia.
Jeddah is the principal gateway to
Mecca,
Islam's holiest city, which able-bodied
Muslims are required to visit at least once in a lifetime.
Seychelles: Days 11-16
We arrive to the warm Indian Ocean as we sail south towards Port
Victoria. Port Victoria, the largest town of Seychelles and one of the
smallest capital cities of the world, arriving at 09h00. The local
markets offer tourists interesting souvenirs, from sea shell and
mother of pearl jewelry, to beautiful batik textiles, basket
ware, tablemates, Rafia and palm
work as well as local paintings
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