Spirit of Adventure

The mysterious countries of Egypt and Jordan represent so many things to travellers - ancient pyramids, the Nile River, the Dead Sea and the ruins of Petra to name just a few. Along with all the spectacular sights, the friendly local people will offer just as many memorable moments on any trip you take to this magnificent region.

On the 18-day Egypt & Jordan Adventure you will spend several nights as guests of the local Bedouin people. The hospitality of the Bedouin is renowned and as their guest you will be made to feel extremely welcome and at home in their presence. Entering Petra from a back door entrance, without the crowds, will show you a side of this legendary city which few are lucky enough to experience.

This adventure in Egypt and Jordan has several departures throughout the year, visit our website for more information.

We are very excited to be able to now have on our website some amazing video’s for you to enjoy! These clips will give you a feeling for what our adventures are like. You will meet some of our incredible local leaders and see the highlights from some of our most popular destinations. From Jordan’s magnificent treasury building at Petra to getting up close with the humpback whales and penguins of the Antarctic, these are sure to inspire!

We’d like to know what you think our new videos. Send us your feedback and the five most useful comments will receive Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book!

Click on the destinations below to view the footage now!

Africa
From hearing the call of the lion in Tanzania to seeing the endangered gorillas of Rwanda up close, discover how you can ‘live East Africa’ on your next adventure.

India
From the back of a rickshaw in Delhi, to riding a camel into the deserts of Rajasthan or staying in a Nimaj palace, explore India with us.

Peru
From trekking the Inca trail, to the highest navigatable lake in the world or the mysterious Nazca lines, see what’s on offer in Peru.

Galapagos Islands and Ecuador
From the enchanted Galapagos Islands to the mighty Amazon jungle, uncover the highlights of amazing Ecuador.

Jordan
From enjoying a feast with the Bedouin nomads in the desert, to taking a dip in the Dead Sea or exploring stunning Petra, discover incredible Jordan.

Antarctica
Explore the pristine Antarctic Peninsula by ship, Zodiac, kayak and on foot.

The High Arctic
From the beauty of towering icebergs to spotting polar bears under the midnight sun, explore the Canadian and Scandinavian High Arctic.

Join us as we explore some of the world’s most photogenic places – from Petra in Jordan to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, India’s Taj Mahal and the magnificent Himalaya. Each private group tour is escorted by a professional photographer, Nobel Peace Prize winner John Rodsted or World-renowned photographer Christian Pearson, who will teach you the best ways to capture your travels with your camera.

Our Nepal and Jordan trips are departing this year so be quick to book your place. In Nepal you can go rambling through the foothills of the Annapurnas, photograph exotic wildlife in Royal Chitwan National Park and also visit Sath Sath in Kathmandu - an organisation providing support to children on the streets and encouraging them to express themselves through photography. In Jordan, your photographic opportunities will include historical sights such as Petra and Shobak castle, and you’ll also get to capture some amazing desert vistas and street scenes.

Our photography adventures are in the following regions:
Nepal in Focus (departing Sept 08)
Jordan in Focus (departing Oct 08)
India in Focus (departing Mar 09)
Cambodia & Vietnam in Focus (departing Apr 09)

Peregrine’s Ancient Empires showcases the best of the ancient world – we discover the history of Egypt, journey through Jordan and uncover the ancient sites of Syria.

We’ll see the famous wonders of Egypt – visit the Pyramids, the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the ancient temples of Karnak and Edfu. But also get off the beaten track in Jordan we’ll explore the amazing site of Petra, with its carved rock buildings set amongst the desert chasms. We’ll also take a jeep safari into the desert at Wadi Rum and visit the stunning Roman city of Jerash, with its colonnaded streets, archways and imposing collection of public buildings.

Syria is perhaps a lesser-known destination, but it offers a rich tapestry of culture and history. Ancient churches, bathhouses and buildings are still being uncovered by archaeologists. In the capital Damascus we’ll venture into the stunningly beautiful Omayyad Mosque. This superb building, built in 705AD, has become a model for mosques around the world. The interior walls are covered with mosaic panels, and the expansive courtyard exudes calm and peace. We’ll also explore the fabulous Roman desert capital of Palmyra, then head out to a Bedouin tent where we’ll enjoy a traditional meal under the stars.

Krak des Chevaliers has been described as the finest crusader castle in the world, and we’ll explore of this ancient garrison in detail. It covers an area of 3000 square metres and has 13 huge towers, many stores, tanks, corridors, bridges and stables. It is said that this massive citadel could accommodate 5000 soldiers and their horses, and provisions for five years!

In Aleppo we’ll have time to wander through the medieval vaulted bazaars, thick with the scent of spices, and to see the 14th-century Turkish bathhouses. A visit to St Simeon’s Monastery and the ancient site of Ugarit, dating back to 1600BC, will also be highlights before our epic journey of the Ancient Empires winds up in back in Damascus.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were seven amazing man-made creations – the list was put together by Philon of Byzantium in 200 B.C. Today only one of the Wonders remains standing – the pyramids at Giza in Egypt.

To ensure that our cultural heritage is cared for into the future, a new seven wonders have been selected – this time chosen by an international survey of over 100 million people. It’s an interesting list, representing times from ancient to modern. All of the sites are man-made and all are truly magnificent. And all of them can be seen as you travel with Peregrine. The New Seven Wonders of the World, as announced in July 2007, are:

The Inca city of Machu Picchu, Peru
Just about all of Peregrine’s Peru trips visit the amazing Incan city of Machu Picchu. You can take the spectacular four-day trek along the Inca Trail to arrive at Machu Picchu by foot at sunrise, or take the more leisurely option of a train ride up the mountain to visit the site by day.

The Great Wall of China, China
No trip to China is complete without visiting the Great Wall. With Peregrine you will visit an ancient, original section of the wall, or you can even choose to walk for five days along remote sections of the wall, to really appreciate the scale and beauty of this magnificent structure.

The ancient city of Petra, Jordan
Travelling through Jordan with Peregrine, you will be surprised by the size and complexity of the ancient city of Petra. With our local guide we explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several old tombs and climb up to the monastery for a fine view of the entire site.

The Mayan temple city of Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza, in Mexico, is a temple city that once served as the economic and political centre of Mayan civilisation. Its most famous structure is the temple of Kukulcan, a stepped pyramid, but the city includes many fantastic stone structures. To get the full picture of Mayan civilisation, join Peregrine’s Ancient Civilisations for a 23-day journey through Mexico and Central America.

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The newest of the new Seven Wonders, the 38-metre statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio, was inaugurated in 1931. You’ll visit the statue on any of our Brazil trips. While you are in Brazil it’s worth checking out the spectacular Iguazu Falls – a likely contender for the new list of Seven Natural Wonders!

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy
The Colosseum was built as a stadium seating around 50,000 spectators, and the structure has remained as the basic design template for stadiums to this day. Explore Rome and visit this ancient wonder before heading off for the other sights of Italy – the Cinque Terre, rural Tuscany or the serene Italian Lakes.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India
You need to see it for yourself to understand the majesty, grace and beauty of the Taj Mahal. The building itself, set amongst a stunning formal garden, is built from a translucent white marble inlaid with thousands of precious stones. A visit to the Taj is a must of any trip to India – on Peregrine’s Jewels of India, you’ll visit the Taj at sunrise to fully appreciate its beauty.

Maybe you know a little about the’ rose city’ of Petra. Seen Indiana Jones? The Treasury? Contender for New 7 Wonder of the World? Ryan Turner, our Middle East operations coordinator, tells us there’s more to Jordan than just Petra, although it’s a pretty good starting point!

The ancient Nabataean city of Petra, hewn from solid rock, was at the centre of the Arab frankincense trade in pre-Roman times. Once incredibly affluent, one can witness this in the grandeur of the architecture. Walking through the Siq into the Treasury forecourt is one of the truly great experiences of the world - the same route that Indiana Jones rode on his horse. If you only visit one place in Jordan, Petra should be it. But there are other amazing sites in Jordan that will leave even the most hardened traveller eager to spread the virtues of this ancient land.

To start a very long list, there are two other ‘must-see’ destination in Jordan that I urge you to visit:

JERASH, which can generally be visited on a day trip from the Jordanian capital, Amman. The beautifully preserved Roman city of Jerash is one of Jordan’s lesser known treasures. Until recently a farmer’s pasture, almost 90% of the site has now been excavated. These ancient ruins date back to the Neolithic time, but it was during the time of Alexander the Great that the city rose to prominence. The Emperor Hadrian paid a visit in 129AD and a triumphal arch that can still be seen today was erected to celebrate his arrival.

In winter you can wander the site with barely another traveller to be seen, marvel at Roman engineering and maybe even listen to the strange sound of Jordanian bagpipers from within the confines of the Roman Theatre.

DANA NATIONAL PARK. Part of the Rift Valley of Wadi Araba, the same Rift Valley seismic fault that runs for 5000 kilometres south as far as Mozambique. Dana National Park is home to the only hyenas outside sub-Saharan Africa, and one of the very few wildlife reserves in the Arab world. Dana is also home to almost 100 archaeological sites including the 6000-year-old copper mines of Khirbet Firnan. It is a great place for hiking, and spending a few days exploring the 15th-century village of Dana. Dana National Park is one of Jordan’s hidden treasures.

And, if you have time, don’t forget to visit Wadi Rum, Amman, Madaba, Mt Nebo, Shobak Castle and the list goes on and on… but these three sites are a very good starting point!

When Ryan last visited Jordan he travelled on the 22-day Ancient Empires trip.