From Jeddah to Jeddah · Mediterranean · 9 nights
The Explora Journeys fleet continues to expand and the fifth vessel, Explora V, launches in December 2027 offering inaugural journeys in the Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsula.
Explora Journeys continues to grow whilst still nurturing its
commitment to sustainability and Explora V will be LNG-powered and
will also be the first ship in the fleet to be equipped with
next-generation fuel cell readiness, allowing the ship to use
hydrogen as a power source.
The port city of Jeddah has long been a cultural crossroads, serving as the gateway to Mecca for pilgrims making the Hajj, and there's a cosmopolitan feel here that other Saudi cities lack. The old Al-Balad neighbourhood is home to the city's most characterful buildings, while the buzzing Corniche promenade is a great spot for people watching.
The Red Sea port of Al Wajh is the gateway to Al-'Ula and the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hegra was only opened to tourists in 2020, and the rock-hewn tombs are reminiscent of its much more famous sister city, Petra, which lies a few hundred miles to the north in Jordan.
Prepare to be amazed – the thin belt of greenery along the banks of the Nile in Upper Egypt gives Luxor a lush setting for an extraordinary collection of tombs, temple complexes and stone structures that hint at the magnificence of this former Ancient Egyptian capital.
Ain Sukhna is the nearest Red Sea port to Egypt's capital, Cairo. Obviously the highlight of your visit may well be the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, but on no account neglect a visit to the Egyptian Museum, which has a truly stupendous collection of ancient artefacts, not least, of course, the Tutankhamen treasures.
Sharm El-Sheikh is Egypt’s most popular beach resort, situated on the Red Sea coast on the Sinai Peninsula. The wonderfully warm waters of the Ras Mohamed National Park offer fantastic snorkelling and diving, and other nearby attractions include the impressive Byzantine-era St Catherine’s Monastery.
Aqaba is Jordan’s principal beach resort, situated on the Red Sea coast close to the Israeli border. The main attraction in Aqaba itself is the incredible diving, though many visitors will choose to instead use the port as a jumping off point for the 'Rose City' of Petra and the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum.
The port city of Jeddah has long been a cultural crossroads, serving as the gateway to Mecca for pilgrims making the Hajj, and there's a cosmopolitan feel here that other Saudi cities lack. The old Al-Balad neighbourhood is home to the city’s most characterful buildings, while the buzzing Corniche promenade is a great spot for people watching.
