Petra & the Red Sea

Some ten years ago Voyages Jules Verne was able to announce the opening of the Ritz Carlton on the Red Sea in Egypt as a new development in luxury accommodation on the Red Sea. The drawback then as now was the lack of easily accessible and rewarding excursions and a lack of interesting local culture in a ‘purpose-built’ resort.

More recently Jordan has developed the historic port of Aqaba as a resort which offers fine hotels, local interest and fascinating excursions, to the extent that, as a specialist in cultural holidays, we have our own exclusive flight to Aqaba each winter, the only direct flight from the UK to Aqaba. In addition to a 5-star Mövenpick hotel, Kempinski and Radisson hotels are coming next winter and a 5-star InterContinental hotel has recently opened in the heart of Aqaba with its own private beach and excellent facilities.

In contrast to Egypt, Jordan offers rich and varied excursions with easy access from the Red Sea at Aqaba: Nabataean monuments in the rose-red city of Petra, stupendous natural landscapes in Wadi Rum and the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea. Time is also allowed for relaxation or water-based excursions.