Middle East & North Africa Highlights in Regions @ Tucan Travel

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Middle East & North Africa Highlights
From Roman ruins to Pyramids, haggling in bazaars to sleeping under starry skies
Take a cruise in a Felucca on a Tucan Travel tour in Egypt
Egypt
Jordan
Morocco
Syria
Turkey





Egypt
Nile cruise in a Felucca
Imagine spending your day lying on the deck of a traditional sailing craft, floating gently down the Nile. There is no sound but the wind in the sail, the occasional shouts of hello from children playing on the banks and the haunting call to prayer. There is nothing to do but relax and watch the life along the banks of the Nile – women washing their clothes at the waters edge, fields of corn tended by men in long white robes and the activity of occasional villages. Along the way we visit riverside temples (including Kom Ombo), villages and sandy beaches and each evening as the sun sets over the edge of the Nile we pull over to the side of the river to settle in for the night. We spend the night under a blanket of stars and wake with the sun as the mist rises from the river. Feluccas are traditional sailing boats that have been used on the Nile for centuries. There is no motor – if the wind is not blowing then we drift as the river takes us.
 
Cairo
Cairo is the biggest city in Africa and can present an all-out assault on your senses as you are thrown headfirst into the hustle and bustle of this wonderful city.  An exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming combination of cars tooting, donkeys braying and the call to prayer; the mix of smells like the aroma from cooking pots and the scent of apple tobacco; the delicious scent of mint tea. A people watchers dream, you can sit in a café and watch women haggling in the bazaars, men talking whilst enjoying shisha pipe, cars vying for space on the crowded roads, camels ambling serenely along and the children playing in the back streets as the endless river of life rolls past.

The Pyramids & Sphinx
On the outskirts of Cairo you can’t miss the amazing Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. The Pyramids really do have to be seen to be believed! A brilliant reward after weaving through the bedlam of Cairo, as the magnificent tombs rise out the desert, and everything else just ebbs away. The Pyramids are an incredible testament to the immense achievements of the Ancient Egyptians, leaving us in awe.
 
Red Sea Coral Reefs
Meaning ‘gold’ in Arabic, Dahab has amazing beaches and an almost unrivalled variety of coral gardens and coloured reefs. Here you may find yourself hanging out in a beach café with a shisha pipe, eating sea food while watching the moonlight reflect on the crystal water, riding a camel in the desert, having tea with a Bedouin family or simply watching the local children wander beneath the palm trees selling handmade Bedouin crafts.

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Jordan
Petra
The Ancient hidden city of Petra is the most mystical and historical of all Jordan’s treasures. Located deep inside a narrow desert gorge you can see the colourful remains of what was once a prosperous, thriving community. Petra is made up of stone structures carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an ancient Arab civilisation dateing back 2000 years. The Nabataeans settled in Petra turning it into an important trade route linking China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
 
Wadi Rum
The spectacular valley cut into the sandstone of the desert area of Wadi Rum in the southwest of Jordan is thought to be one of the desert wonders of the world. Seemingly endless layers of golden and red sands are enclosed in towering carved rock mountains, which inspired British officer T.E. Lawrence to call them ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’. The valley has been inhabited by human cultures since prehistoric times, with many, including the Nabateans, leaving their mark in the form of rock paintings and temples. Here we spend the night in a Bedouin-style camp staying with a local Bedouin family in their goat-hair tents, eating authentic local food cooked over a fire under a full sky of stars.

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Morocco
Marrakech
Marrakech is one of Morocco’s most popular cities, known as the country’s ‘pearl of the south’. Surrounded by the spectacular peaks of the Atlas Mountains Marrakech is a haven from which you can explore the maze of bazaars, souqs and spice markets. You can enjoy local delicacies and indulge in a traditional mint tea or thick Moroccan coffee. In the evening you can visit Djemma el-Fna, the city’s huge open air square that comes alive with fire-eaters, snake charmers, jugglers, musicians and voodoo medicine men. You will also be able to visit the famous Ait Benhaddou; one of the most exotic and well-preserved Kasbahs in the Atlas region.
 
The Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are the greatest mountain range of North Africa and a beautiful, intriguing unspoilt region to discover. Trekking this area you will encounter beautiful scenery, rural farmers and friendly Moroccans going about their daily life in the these spectacular surrounds. Our local guide will inform you on the history of the area and the flora and fauna inhabiting the mountains. We hike to the summit of Toubkal, the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains at 4,167m. From the summit the panoramic view makes the hard work worthwhile!

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Syria
The stunning oasis town of Palmyra is located deep in the desert and was once a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian Desert. In the ‘City of Palms’ you can wander the streets, admire the temples, meet the friendly locals and indulge in the delicious local food. You can still see the remains of Palmyra today. Once a well established and prosperous kingdom dating back to the 2nd Century BC; Palmyra still exhibits many temples remaining in the architecture of the ruins, which cover an area of 6 square kilometres. On a guided tour you can see the remarkable Baal-Shamin Temple, Bel Temple, Arch of Triumph, the Amphitheater, the Baths, the Straight Street, the Congress Council and the Cemeteries. You can then take in the beautiful sunset from the hilltop fortress of Zenobia.

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Turkey
Cappadocia
The spectacular region of Cappadocia is a favourite amongst travellers. Cappadocia is famous for its fairy chimneys and unusual rock formations which were previously underground cities. Its landscape almost resembles a scene from Star Wars, and can be explored on foot, by bike or horse. Ultimately, this amazing area can be fully appreciated by hot air balloon as it is said to be one of the best places in the world to hire one. When you have exhausted yourself wandering the rock formations and have worn your memory card thin, you can visit the open air museums of Zelve and Goreme as well as the underground cities of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu. You can also take advantage of numerous walking and hiking opportunities throughout the area and explore at your leisure.
 
Troy
Troy is a famous ancient city of legend, located near the sea coast in north west Turkey. We visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site of the city, which contains the remains of many civilisations layered on top of each other. In Homer’s Iliad Troy was the legendary centre of the Trojan War. Here you will also see a huge monument of the famous horse – even though this is only around 20-30 years old it is still definitely worth a photo or two.

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