Pharaohs, the Pyramids & Petra

The Swiss explorer Jean Louis Burckhardt was commissioned the ‘Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa’ to discover the source of the Niger. After learning Arabic at Cambridge he travelled first to Syria, adopting the name, clothing and manners of ‘Ibrahim ibn Abdullah’. En route to Cairo, and in what is now present-day Jordan, he heard stories of an ancient ‘lost’ city in the valley of Wadi Musa. On the pretext of making a sacrifice at the Tomb of Aaron (Jebel Harun) he subsequently ‘re-discovered’ what he (correctly) thought to be the remains of the capital of Arabia Petraea. Unlike many ‘Wonders of the World’, Petra is a complete city hidden by mountainous terrain where every path and vantage point brings a new discovery or perspective. Further explorations took him along the Nile to re-discover the monumental temples of Abu Simbel. This new itinerary follows Burckhardt’s travels in Jordan and Egypt on one extended arrangement, commencing with a week’s cruise on the Nile and the option to visit Abu Simbel, followed by a stay in Cairo. Travel onwards across the Sinai to St Catherine’s Monastery and then to Aqaba, from where a sortie to the fabled ‘rose-red’ city of Petra is undertaken before returning to London directly from Aqaba.

Exclusive VJV Event - Luxor Temple Reception
Those who rediscovered ancient Egypt in the 18th and 19th centuries enjoyed magical overnight stays and this has prompted us to arrange private evening access to the Luxor temple, enhanced by striking illumination, to savour the unique night-time atmosphere. A private reception has been arranged at the temple exclusively for the guests of Voyages Jules Verne. Walk down the illuminated avenue of sphinxes and enjoy a cocktail served by staff in pharaonic uniform at the illuminated Temple before strolling through the temple unimpeded by other visitors. A recording of Verdi’s Aida, once staged in the temple, will provide a musical background to the occasion and local musicians will play the Egyptian ‘takht’ music.
Click here for more exclusive arrangements by VJV.