Middle East Tours (Australia) has designed this ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS 21 DAY TOUR, for discerning travellers who wish to visit some of the most exotic destinations in the world.

Our "Sands of Time" tour commences in historical Khartoum, capital city of The Sudan, where the Blue and White Nile Rivers merge. Khartoum, steeped in history, was made famous by the siege of the Mahdi, during the war against the British Army in 1885. During our stay in the city we are invited to witness a uniquely Sudanese religious "Whirling Dervishes" ceremony.

Travelling north, we explore the pyramids and temples from a long ago culture of the Black Pharaohs and wander the land of the ancient Kings of Meroe. Our tour follows the River Nile passing the fourth and sixth Cataract. We overnight in the permanent tented camp overlooking the archaeological site of Meroe.

After saying goodbye to Khartoum we fly to Sana'a the capital city of Yemen. In Roman times Yemen was known as 'Arabia Felix' which translates to Fortunate Arabia, "Land of the Queen of Sheba".

In Sana'a, we walk in the Old City which has remained unchanged since Biblical times. We can purchase local handicrafts in bazaars just as locals have done for centuries. Men and women dress in traditional fashion and there is little western influence to be seen.

We visit the mud brick skyscraper city of Shibam called 'The Manhattan of the Desert'. After our visit of Shibam we travel by 4WD across the infamous desert known as the "Empty Quarter", to the historical Wadi Hadramaut, with its history going back for thousands of years. The southern region was made rich with the trade of incense, myrrh and imported spices which were carried as far as Europe by camel trains and in the mountain regions, the valleys are green with fruit trees and we'll see small forts and palaces built on incredible rocky areas for security. It's a photographer's dream.

All accommodation on tour is best available and has mostly been chosen for the location. Transport is in private air-conditioned vehicles with driver and our full time very experienced English speaking teams and a Middle East Tours (Australia) manager will be escorting the group. The tour price is fully inclusive and our preferred carrier is Emirates Airlines.

Maximum group size is 10 clients.

BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1. Departure from Australia.
Day 2. Arrive in Khartoum, Sudan. O/N Khartoum.
Day 3. Visit Archaeological Museum and Omdurman. Evening 'Whirling Dervishes'. O/N Khartoum.
Day 4. Drive north to Meroe via Sixth Cataract. O/N Meroe.
Day 5. Explore Naga, the 'Kiosk' and Shendi. O/N Meroe.
Day 6. Visit the pyramids and 'Royal Necropolis of Meroe. O/N Meroe.
Day 7. DRive to Atbara, the Bayuda Desert and Jebel Barkal.
O/N Karima.
Day 8. Walking tour of 'Temple of the Pharaohs' , pyramids and tombs. O/N Karima.
Day 9. Full day tours including Prramid of Nuri. O/N Karima.
Day 10. Drive to Khartoum. Evening flight to Dubai. O/N Dubai.
Day 11. Fly to Sana'a in Yemen. Afternoon city tour including the 'old city'. O/N Sana'a.
Day 12. Travel to Mareb. Visit Old Dam, Temples of the Sun and Moon. O/N Mareb.
Day 13. Visit Seiyun and Old Shabwa. O/N Seiyun.
Day 14. Full day tours of Seiyun in the desert. O/N Seiyun.
Day 15. Drive to Al-Mukalla visiting ancient villages on the way.
O/N Al-Mukalla.
Day 16. Drive along the coast road to Aden via Bir Ali. O/N Aden.
Day 17. City tour of Aden and afternoon drive to the old capital of Taiz. O/N Taiz.
Day 18. City tour of Taiz. Later depart to Sana'a via Jibla and Ibb.
O/N Sana'a.
Day 19. Transfer to airport for flight to Dubai. O/N Dubai.
Day 20. Join flight to Australia.
Day 21. Arrive in Australia.