Petra & the Red Sea

Day 1 Fly from London Gatwick to Aqaba and transfer to the 5-star InterContinental Aqaba for seven nights.

Day 2 Morning tour of Aqaba includes a glass-bottom boat ride to the coral reefs and also visits the Aquarium, Aqaba Fort, Museum and the archaeological site of Old Aqaba, ‘Ayla’.

Day 3 Full-day guided visit to the Nabataean city of Petra. Walk through the ‘Siq’ to the Treasury, Street of Façades, Theatre, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street, Byzantine church, the Temple, Monumental Arch and Qasr el-Bint Faroun (entrance fee included).

Day 4 At leisure.

Day 5 Optional full-day to the Dead Sea via the Wadi Araba Road visiting the small new Dead Sea museum with panoramic views. Entrance fees, towels and lunch at the Mövenpick Resort are included – £41.

Day 6 Optional Red Sea cruise to Pharaoh’s Island including barbecue lunch, tour of the fort and the option to snorkel – £29.

Day 7 Afternoon trip to Wadi Rum includes a 90-minute 4-wheel drive and dinner in a Bedouin tent with local musicians.

Day 8 Optional morning excursion on the ‘Yellow Submarine’: a ‘see-through’ semi-submersible viewing the marine splendours of the Red Sea and Coral Reserve – £25. Return flight.